It was foggy on the campus of the Kraft School, which felt emptier than it had been during Acadia’s prior visit. Many students had no doubt left already for the Easter holiday week. So much the better, she thought as she sipped from her third double espresso of the day and pretended to admire the architecture of the closest building. It would be easier to—
Damon Cross exited the far door of his dorm and set off on a paved path across the quad, carrying a Puma duffel bag and an orange backpack. Acadia moved diagonally toward the teenager, getting just ahead of him at an intersection of the paved paths. She never looked his way.
“Hi there, Ms. Mepps,” Damon said behind her.
Acadia smiled to herself, then pivoted with a more quizzical expression, saw him, and acted surprised. “Now, look at this. I never expected to see you again, Mr. Damon Cross.”
The teenage boy took that statement somewhat awkwardly.
“Well,” Acadia said. “I just put down a deposit on my nephew’s tuition.”
“He got in that fast?”
“Smart boy, great grades, sugar,” she replied. “How are you?”
“Good,” he said with a hint of bashfulness. “I’m heading to catch the jitney to Albany and the train back home for nine days of sleep!”
Acadia smiled, said, “How much do the jitney and train cost?”
“You mean, like, together?” he asked, checking his watch.
“Yes.”
“I dunno, sixty-eight for the train and like twenty for the jitney. Look, good seeing you, and glad your nephew was admitted, but I got to go.”
“Maybe I can save you seventy dollars,” Acadia said.
Damon had been turning. Now he halted, looked back. “Excuse me?”
“I am on my way to Virginia on business and have to go right through Washington,” she said. “You give me twenty dollars for gas and you pocket the difference.”
Two other students, a boy and a girl, walked by, carrying their bags. The girl glanced at Acadia, said, “We’ve got to hurry, Damon.”
“Okay, Silvia,” he said, looking embarrassed. “I’ll be right along.” When they’d left, he looked at Acadia and said, “I dunno. I don’t think so.”
She shrugged. “Suit yourself. I could have used the company and some help driving. My left eye’s been bothering me and it’s a long way. Good-bye, Damon Cross. I wish my nephew was going to meet you.”
Acadia started back in the direction of the admissions office, thinking that men are like boys in that they always want what they’ve been denied.
“Okay,” Damon called before she’d gotten twenty yards on. “If I can help you with the driving because of your eye, and the gas, I guess it’ll be fine.”
She turned, grinning. “You don’t know how much of a help this is.”
“I should run up there and tell the jitney driver,” he said.
“Do that, and I’ll come around to pick you up,” she said.
Ten minutes later, the jitney left. Acadia pulled up in front of Damon and said, “Get in.”
“You want me to drive, Ms. Mepps?” he asked, putting his backpack and bag in the backseat.
“My eye’s got at least an hour in it,” she said as he got in and buckled his seat belt. “And call me Karla.”
As she drove on, he said, “You know the way?”
“I got here, didn’t I?”
“True,” he said awkwardly.