known him for several years, but since we’ve been living here, he’s taken a more focused interest in Jack’s campaign.”
“Say,” said Sophie. “Maybe you can clear something up for me. It seems I remember Jack was accepted at Stanford shortly after he returned from Vietnam. He got his undergraduate degree there in 1974, that is, if I recall correctly.”
Jenny nodded. “Yes, I think that’s right.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve come across anything about the year he spent in Green Dells, Wisconsin. He was donating time at a place called Damascus Gate.”
Jenny thought for a moment. “No,” she said slowly. “I don’t recall the name. I suppose I could check the records I have and see. Why are you so interested?”
Sophie pulled on her earlobe. “Oh, you know. I just have a mental block about dates sometimes. When I don’t remember things exactly, it drives me crazy.”
Jenny gave her a shy, sweet smile. “I know what you mean. Ryan is the same way.”
Sophie liked Jenny. She wished she could say the same for Ryan. On the other hand, they’d only just met. She knew she had to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I think I’m going to do a little exploring before I head back to the house. Is Ryan home tonight?”
“No,” sighed Jenny. “He’s been doing a lot of research for some of Jack’s speeches. I hardly see him anymore. I guess, for now, that’s to be expected.” She looked at her watch. “I suppose maybe I’ll drive over to the Mudlark later, just to get out. Would you like to come with me?”
“Do you go there often?” asked Sophie. Her curiosity was piqued. She wondered if Jenny was one of the
regulars.
“Not really. I have a couple of girlfriends in Knife River that I see once in a great while. I just feel like, I don’t know, doing something tonight. What do you say? You want to come along?” Jenny pulled on her oversized, lumpy green sweater and looked hopeful.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check. I promised Amanda that we’d have a game of cribbage before bed. I think she needs the company right now. She’s still pretty upset about her father.”
Jenny nodded, her face full of sadness. “Death is an awful thing. So unreal.”
“Unreal?”
“Yeah, you know. Being human, our spiritual insight is so limited. But sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise. Well, I better get inside.”
Sophie would have pursued the comment, but saw that the light was fading fast. If she wanted to walk down by the lighthouse and do some exploring, she’d better get going. “Will we see you at the barbecue tomorrow?”
“Yes, you definitely will. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”
“It will?”
“Oh, yes! You can count on it.” Her face suddenly flushed.
Sophie wondered if the evening light was playing tricks with her eyes. For a second, Jenny’s intensity seemed to border on the frightening. “Well, so, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“You sure will!” She gave Sophie a quick hug and then set off toward the cottage.
Sophie waited until she was safely inside before turning her attention to the lighthouse. Standing this close to it now, she was truly amazed at how tall it appeared. Much taller than she’d remembered. The entrance was through a weathered wooden door. As she tried to push it open, she noticed a newly installed dead bolt. Well, wasn’t that just peachy? Amanda had warned her that the inside stairs were badly in need of repair. With Jenny’s day-care center so close, it did make sense to prevent the children from getting inside. Oh weIl, it would be dark soon anyway. She could get the key and come again tomorrow.
Before heading back through the tall grass, Sophie tilted her head and gazed one last time up at the top. Several gulls had perched on the iron railing that circled just under the narrow open windows in the
“Say,” said Sophie. “Maybe you can clear something up for me. It seems I remember Jack was accepted at Stanford shortly after he returned from Vietnam. He got his undergraduate degree there in 1974, that is, if I recall correctly.”
Jenny nodded. “Yes, I think that’s right.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve come across anything about the year he spent in Green Dells, Wisconsin. He was donating time at a place called Damascus Gate.”
Jenny thought for a moment. “No,” she said slowly. “I don’t recall the name. I suppose I could check the records I have and see. Why are you so interested?”
Sophie pulled on her earlobe. “Oh, you know. I just have a mental block about dates sometimes. When I don’t remember things exactly, it drives me crazy.”
Jenny gave her a shy, sweet smile. “I know what you mean. Ryan is the same way.”
Sophie liked Jenny. She wished she could say the same for Ryan. On the other hand, they’d only just met. She knew she had to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I think I’m going to do a little exploring before I head back to the house. Is Ryan home tonight?”
“No,” sighed Jenny. “He’s been doing a lot of research for some of Jack’s speeches. I hardly see him anymore. I guess, for now, that’s to be expected.” She looked at her watch. “I suppose maybe I’ll drive over to the Mudlark later, just to get out. Would you like to come with me?”
“Do you go there often?” asked Sophie. Her curiosity was piqued. She wondered if Jenny was one of the
regulars.
“Not really. I have a couple of girlfriends in Knife River that I see once in a great while. I just feel like, I don’t know, doing something tonight. What do you say? You want to come along?” Jenny pulled on her oversized, lumpy green sweater and looked hopeful.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check. I promised Amanda that we’d have a game of cribbage before bed. I think she needs the company right now. She’s still pretty upset about her father.”
Jenny nodded, her face full of sadness. “Death is an awful thing. So unreal.”
“Unreal?”
“Yeah, you know. Being human, our spiritual insight is so limited. But sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise. Well, I better get inside.”
Sophie would have pursued the comment, but saw that the light was fading fast. If she wanted to walk down by the lighthouse and do some exploring, she’d better get going. “Will we see you at the barbecue tomorrow?”
“Yes, you definitely will. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”
“It will?”
“Oh, yes! You can count on it.” Her face suddenly flushed.
Sophie wondered if the evening light was playing tricks with her eyes. For a second, Jenny’s intensity seemed to border on the frightening. “Well, so, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“You sure will!” She gave Sophie a quick hug and then set off toward the cottage.
Sophie waited until she was safely inside before turning her attention to the lighthouse. Standing this close to it now, she was truly amazed at how tall it appeared. Much taller than she’d remembered. The entrance was through a weathered wooden door. As she tried to push it open, she noticed a newly installed dead bolt. Well, wasn’t that just peachy? Amanda had warned her that the inside stairs were badly in need of repair. With Jenny’s day-care center so close, it did make sense to prevent the children from getting inside. Oh weIl, it would be dark soon anyway. She could get the key and come again tomorrow.
Before heading back through the tall grass, Sophie tilted her head and gazed one last time up at the top. Several gulls had perched on the iron railing that circled just under the narrow open windows in the
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