The Challenge(43)

“You were out walking around with Justin?” He seemed surprised, and wondered if she was interested in him too, maybe because he was older.

“I just ran into him on my way back from the bathroom,” she said casually, and noticed Peter’s return out of the corner of her eye. He came up to them two minutes later with a Coke for her and one for himself.

“Hi, Mr. Marshall. Have you had fun?” Peter asked, the perfect host. He had lovely manners and was always polite to Tom and all adults.

“Your parents give a great party.” Tom smiled at him. He liked Peter. He just didn’t want them to do anything foolish and get in over their heads. But he was equally aware that sooner or later, if they were determined enough, their parents wouldn’t be able to stop them. Young love, and young bodies, usually won out. He just hoped they would wait a few years, until they were mature enough to deal with an adult situation. It was like holding back a tidal wave. “Your father makes the best barbecue in Montana,” Tom said, and Peter grinned. “I want to take lessons.”

They’d all been talking about their annual camping trip to Yellowstone on the last weekend before school started. The parents of the Lost 7, as some people called them, were less enthusiastic than usual. They were afraid that it might bring up bad memories for their children, but the kids seemed game to go anyway. Tom had suggested a weekend in Las Vegas, where there would be plenty for the kids to do, but it was more complicated to organize, and some families thought it was too expensive. No final decision had been made yet.

Peter sat with Juliet and her father for a while, then left to say goodbye to some of the guests with his parents, and Tom suggested they call it a night. It was one in the morning, and they’d been there since six o’clock. Juliet noticed Justin leaving with his mother and Noel. She hoped Justin wasn’t driving, and saw his mother get behind the wheel. She saw him stumble once on the way to the car, but no one seemed to notice.

Tom and Juliet left a few minutes later and thanked the Pollocks warmly for a terrific evening. “I want barbecue lessons!” Tom told Pitt, who laughed.

“Family recipe!” he said. “But for a couple of bottles of wine, or a hot stock market tip, I’ll share.” The two men liked each other. Tom noticed Bill then, leaving with his boys.

“Where’s Pattie?” he asked casually. He had seen her earlier.

“She wasn’t feeling well,” Anne explained. “She gets migraines. I think she had one.”

“Too much barbecue,” Pitt said, laughing. A few of the guests had had too much beer or wine, but not many. It was easy to get carried away on a fun evening where everyone was relaxed.

“Are you on for the camping trip?” Pitt asked him.

“Is it still on?” Tom was surprised when Pitt said it was, and he looked at Juliet. “I was hoping for Vegas myself, but it’s up to Juliet. I didn’t know how she’d feel about camping after Granite Peak.” Pattie had already said she didn’t think Benjie should go, with his bear terrors.

“I want to go, Dad,” Juliet said in a firm voice, and Tom suspected that a weekend in tents with Peter had something to do with it. He’d have to be vigilant, and so would the Pollocks.

“We can’t lose our traditions,” Pitt said. “There are usually forty or fifty of us, and we still have the campsite reserved in Yellowstone. It’s a fun event, and very civilized, no big challenges or uncharted territory.”

“I’m game if Juliet wants to go.” Tom smiled at his daughter, and she looked relieved. She and Peter had been talking about it for weeks, and now that she would be going to school in Fishtail, she’d be there. If she weren’t, she’d have been back in New York by then with her mother. Beth wasn’t coming back until after school started, and Juliet was nervous about that. But Peter said he’d take care of her on the first day of school. They were hoping they’d be in the same classes. “I guess we’re in,” Tom said to Pitt about the camping trip, and Pitt looked pleased. So did Peter and Juliet.

They left a few minutes later, and Juliet yawned on the way home.

“Did you have fun?” her father asked her. He’d had a good time, enjoyed everyone he talked to, and had been happy to see Marlene out for an evening. They had talked for quite a while by the pool, and sat together for dinner when he brought a plate back to her so she didn’t have to move. She was grateful for his thoughtfulness.

“I did,” Juliet said with a sleepy smile.

“How did you think Justin was?” her father asked her, and she only hesitated for a fraction of a second. She had already decided that she wasn’t going to tell anyone about seeing him with the wine bottle, not even Peter, and she hadn’t.

“I think he’s fine,” she said innocently. “Why?”

“His mom thinks he’s having nightmares, and he’s very upset about his dad, understandably. It’s hard for all of them, watching him die slowly every day. It’s gone on for a long time.”

“I know.” Juliet looked serious when she nodded. “They were afraid he’d die while we were lost. It’s so sad.” Everyone felt sorry for them, and Tom did especially for Marlene. He could see how painful it was for her, and her boys.

“Marlene’s worried that he’s depressed, and maybe suffering some kind of trauma from your adventures.” Justin was the only one who had gotten physically injured, which was hard too. Eventually, he’d have to have surgery to take the pins out.