Back at the Casino hall, her heart had been beating just as fast as the cheers of her classmates sounded. There also seemed to be an extra lilt in their voices, as others began to throng the entranceway. Dan’s progress was slow, and through the mass of bodies, she saw him high-fiving individuals. Wendy dug her elbow into Camilla’s side, “What are you waiting for?”
“It’s so crowded,” she exclaimed, but involuntarily moved forward. Now that he was here, she thought she just couldn’t wait any longer. Two other friends detached themselves from the crowd and turned back to Wendy and Camilla. One walked over to Wendy and whispered in her ear. “What’s going on?” Camilla asked Lily Pete, who stood rather awkwardly to one side. She shrugged but looked over at her companion, still rapt in low-voice conference. Wendy stared over at Camilla, and suddenly she felt a pang of apprehension.
Was her hesitation due to fear? Camilla felt her heart rate increase as she navigated the series of upward turns the road made. The rain was fierce, striking down onto the car with force, but at least it wasn’t hail. The Camry hugged the road as she wanted it to, but the heavy rain and darkness seemed like assailants. One vehicle, a pickup truck, passed her, shifting off its high beams momentarily. The motor gave a sudden roar as it shifted into low gear and she squinted ahead well aware that after going up, there would be a descent that wasn’t likely to be smooth.
Her subconscious remained in that crowded room, drawing closer to the moment she’d been dreaming of even as she sensed a new element. She passed a tight knot of onlookers and space opened up directly in front of her. She saw him at that moment and for that brief time he seemed to radiate welcome. Dan was tall, relaxed, casually but expensively dressed in modish jeans, tooled leather belt with an artistic buckle, and a Ryan shirt he could never have afforded back in high school. His gaze fell on hers and he smiled. Camilla tensed, waiting for the electric pulse that had always marked their rediscovery of each other after an absence — but it wasn’t there. One second his eyes bored into hers and the next, his head turned and looked down.
That moment opened up a new perspective now, one she hadn’t heeded before. Wrapped against his side was a slender woman, her well-curved figure also expensively clothed. Blonde hair spilled over her shoulders and she smiled easily. Camilla knew at once that she worked in some area of the entertainment industry, since there was a buzz among classmates who seemed to know her from somewhere. Magazine, movies, television, what did it matter… Camilla’s gut truly wrenched. This woman’s air of easy possessiveness told Camilla what she didn’t want to acknowledge. Using every ounce of energy and poise she could muster, Camilla did the only thing she could: smile.
“Camilla!” Dan cried and leaned forward to grab her hand. He half-hugged her and enthused “You look great!” Camilla stepped back as quickly as she could, in time to see the blonde grin at her. “Oh, your old girlfriend, Dan?” she cooed at him. “How sweet.” The next two minutes flashed by in unbearable slow motion. Camilla felt that she’d actually left her body, occupied now by a walking, talking, smiling automaton. Other classmates pressed in gradually, and Camilla was able to extricate herself from the chattering group.
Wendy took her arm. She and Lily dragged Camilla over to one of the food tables. They stared at her, Wendy squeezed her arm. “We figured you weren’t in a position to follow any news or gossip, and it seems we were right,” Lily stated glumly. “She’s a sportscaster for one of the national television channels. They met at some party in Hollywood a couple of months ago.” Wendy shook her head. “She’s also five or six years older than Dan. Ex-husband was a star on the U.S. Olympic hockey team.”
(continued next week)
