Alice stammered, “No.  It was me, I should have knocked.  But I heard the water, so I thought I’d just drop these off.”  She nodded towards the clothes she still clutched. 

            They regarded each other silently for a moment.  Alice finally stirred.  “Right.  So, here you are.”  She held the clothes out for Lara, who quickly tucked the towel securely and reached out to take them.

            “Thank you.”  Lara held the sweats awkwardly and smiled uncertainly at Alice.

            “Right,” Alice repeated.  “So, I’ll just leave you to get toweled off and dressed.  Right.” She turned toward the door, only to spin back around.  “You don’t need anything else, do you?”

            Lara smiled.  “No.  I think this should do it.  Thanks, though.”

            “Right, then.  Okay.  See you.”  Alice rambled as she went out the door.

            Once alone, Lara smiled broadly.  God, it was good to see Alice.

*-*-*-*-*

            A few minutes later, Lara entered the cabin’s living area to find Sandy chatting animatedly with everyone.  From the sounds of it, most everyone was eager to try their hand at mountain biking.  The exception was Alice, who appeared slightly bored and was flipping through a magazine.  At Lara’s entrance, she closed the magazine and smiled.  “Feel better?”

            Lara nodded.  “It’s amazing the difference a hot shower and dry clothes make!  Bette, I’ll get these washed and back to you tomorrow.”  Looking around the group she added, “I still can’t believe you guys are here.”

            Shane replied, “We still can’t believe you’re here.  Aren’t you supposed to be in Paris?”

            “My course ended at the end of last year.  I wasn’t quite sure what my next step would be, but Alex, the camp director, is a dear friend.  She offered me the job and it seemed like a good transition at the time.”  Without meaning to, Lara directed the last bit of her answer to Alice.

            Sandy suddenly yawned, hugely.  Looking at her watch, she groaned.  “Lara, I’m sorry, but I’m going to need to turn in.  Tomorrow will be a busy day getting everyone started on bikes.”  She stood and stretched.  “It was great meeting you guys.  I’ll look forward to working with you this week!”  Winking at Jenny, she added, “ Don’t worry you’ll do fine.”  Looking at Lara, she added, “Do you want to walk back with me?”

            Lara froze for a moment.  On the one hand, she wanted nothing more than to stay and talk to Alice, but on the other she felt guilty for not thinking about Sandy.  As she stood there uncertainly, she noticed Papi whisper something to Alice, who laughed softly.  Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks she quickly mumbled, “Yes, I’ll go back with you.”

            The image of Jenny careening over a mountain cliff that Papi had just suggested quickly turned sour when Alice heard Lara’s answer.  Stiffly she nodded towards the couple.  “It was good to see you again, Lara.  Maybe we can talk sometime this week?”

            Lara nodded.  In a voice barely audible, she replied, “I’d like that.”