"It's not even eight o'clock!" Jesse cried. "What time did you leave Long Beach?"
She waved a hand. "Have you packed?"
"Well, yes."
"Do you eat breakfast?" she asked next.
"Well, yes," he said again. "I do." Pause. "Did you have any before you left home?"
She shook her head. "It was too early."
"Well, let me at least fix you a bowl of cereal- there's no time for a proper meal. Or toast?" he offered as his mind assimilated the news she'd come to share with him.
Why hadn't anyone just told him this yesterday?
"Cereal will be fine," she said to him.
Jesse stood up and went to the kitchen. He turned on the kettle and started to get the bowls and spoons for a quick breakfast.
"If I'd known you were going to be here so early I would have welcomed you with a grand English breakfast, but alas, you have caught me off guard."
"I'm sorry for showing up like this" she said again. "And it's okay- there's no pressure."
"No pressure," he scoffed. "Don't let my mom know that I fed you Wheaties then."
Pearl laughed and accepted the bowl.
After a moment in silence, he said, "You know, as a doctor I am obliged to warn you that someone with your condition shouldn't shock your system too much. Waking up and not eating breakfast and it must have been freezing when you left home- is that what you were wearing?" he asked pointing at her t-shirt.
Her face flushed. "No. I left my jacket in the car. You make me sound like a cancer patient when you use words like 'system' and 'condition'."
He grinned at her. "Hey, I'm just looking out for the family jewel."
She smiled and glanced at her watch again. "We have to go soon."
"Ok, let me get my bag and we can head out."
While he was putting on his sweater, he could hear Pearl washing up.
"Some host you are, Jesse," he muttered.
He thanked her for doing the dishes and then opened the door for her and then he exited carrying his luggage and locked the door behind them.
The drive to the airport was brief but Pearl managed to ask her passenger one question.
"You're not a morning person are you?"
Jesse made a face. "I have to psych myself up for it and I don't like morning surprises." Pause. "I would have been ready for eight thirty if I had caught your call last night. Was I a monster?"
Pearl chuckled. "I was intimidated for only a second."
"Sorry."
"It's alright."
She parked her car and they went to register for a long-stay parking tag. After that she handed him his ticket and asked, "So, I probably should have asked you this a long time ago, but I guess it doesn't really matter for local travel- are you an American citizen or you still use your British ID?"
"I'm still using the British documents but I have dual citizenship. I have all the forms to be filled out but I'm in no rush to get them processed," he said. "I want to get to know you Americans a little better."
"Didn't you go to an American school when you were in Europe?"
"I did until the tenth grade. I wrote my SATs early and then when we moved to the UK from the Netherlands I did my A' Levels with the Cambridge Examination Board through Eton."
'Wrote his SATs early?'
He was good looking and smart!
Pearl kept her observation to herself and asked another question instead. "Isn't that a really fancy school?"
He shrugged. "Old, traditional school."
Pearl pointed to the people they'd be travelling with. Beth waved and everyone else turned to greet them.
"Hi Pearl," Getty said with a hug for her. "Glad you made it in time. And you, mister," she said to Murray, "answer your phone next time."
He winced. "I'm really sorry about this. I had no idea. Someone could've let me know yesterday."
"That's alright, it was my mistake but we're glad you're here, too." Pearl put her hand on Jesse's arm. "Jesse, this is Linda, Ethel, Brittany and Corey. They are our camp instructors this time around." She dropped her hand. "Ladies, this is Dr Jesse Murray. He'll be our medic."
"Nice to meet you." he shook hands with all of them and grinned. "At least I have someone to talk to up here."
"Ha- ha," Pearl said.
He looked down at Pearl whom he hadn't seen without heels on since the day at the doctor's. She wasn't that short but he wasn't exaggerating by saying they weren't near the same height. The four ladies were all above average height and were closer to eye level with Jesse.
Right now a few of them were looking at him with open curiosity and interest. He wondered if that was because he had showed up with Pearl or if it was purely his own brand of sex appeal as Dana had once called it. The same effortless energy that caused life guards to show up on his doorstep and make patients think he's hitting on them, he thought to himself, amused.
Pearl must have noticed because she clapped her hands once and said they should all get a move on. They went through check in and within twenty minutes, the group had all boarded and taken their seats. Jesse was sitting across the aisle from Beth and Pearl.
It was a short flight but Pearl fell asleep. Jesse was surprised until Beth whispered, "She was up late last night."
"And she drove to pick me up?" he said. "Now I feel even worse.
"Don't worry," Getty said on the other side of him. "She's a soldier."
All he could think of was her medical history. He didn't like the idea of putting her under any unnecessary strain.
They let her sleep until the last moment when most of the other passengers were filing out of the plane. Brittany actually took a camera out and captured the sun shining in on the sleeping woman and then nudged her as Beth collected her belongings. "Reverend Guthrie, we're in Missouri," Brittany announced.
"You make it sound like misery," Pearl said before she opened her eyes. She sat up and blinked. Then she coughed.
"Are you coming down with a cold?" the basketball player made a cross with her fingers.
"No, it's not a cold," she said, missing the look on Jesse's face. "I'm fine."
While Getty drove with the ball players Beth drove with her boss and Dr Murray and she insisted on driving to let Pearl rest.
"I know the way," Beth said. "Go ahead and take the back seat, Miss Guthrie."
"Okay."
Pearl was feeling tired anyway so she wasn't about to argue. "Don't take it personally, Jesse, I'm not usually this antisocial."
"I know," he laughed. "I think I agree with Beth on this one, though. Rest up."
"Okay," she said again.
Almost as soon as her head hit the back seat she was out again.
They travelled for quite a while but the jolt of the car stopping woke her up again.
"Are we there?'
"We almost are. Just signing in and then we go into the wilderness," Beth informed her.
Pearl couldn't see his face but she heard Jesse exclaim, "This isn't yet the wilderness?"
Beth chuckled. "Well, it is, but we're not quite there."
"I see."
Pearl smiled and sat up. "Ok, troopers, get ready to hit the ground running.
Jesse saw the spark in Pearl's eyes through the rear view mirror. He could tell she genuinely loved her job.
The car descended a slope and rounded a bend, and that was when Jesse saw the most beautiful rustic view he'd seen in a long time. They were driving toward a lake that stretched for ages in all directions and sparkled like it had diamonds floating on the surface. Coniferous trees towered above them like sentinels awaiting their arrival in this hidden haven.
Nearing the accommodation, the trees thinned out and Jesse saw more of where he would be staying for the next few days. The wooden buildings set in a row were basic but he also spotted the modern light fixtures and the paint looked recent enough. It was simple but not out-dated or dilapidated.