Page 16 of The Lake of Lost Girls

He leaned forward eagerly. “And Tammy?” He got out his phone and pulled up a picture of a cross looking young woman with tight curls all over her head. She was pretty, but with a pinched, unpleasant expression. “This is Tammy Estep. Do you remember her at all? She would have been there.”

I scrambled to gather my thoughts. I didn’t recognize the image of the attractive, missing coed. I couldn’t recall ever seeing her before. But I realized that Idid havememories of going to the Southern State campus. Not many, but they were there, just below the surface. If I prodded hard enough, perhaps I could set them free.

Sometimes memories come to us that have a major impact.

Ryan tapped at his phone and pulled up another picture. This one took my breath away. It was Jess. Only a picture I had never seen before, though, in truth, I hadn’t seen many. She was standing in the doorway of what looked like a cramped dorm room. She was wearing patchwork jean shorts and a striped t-shirt. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I could see a messy bed behind her with a plaid blanket draped across it. There was a glimpse of a poster of Monet’sBridge Over Water Lily Lakeon the wall. I knew the space smelled like jasmine perfume and chocolate.

Where had that come from?

“This photo was taken in Westwood Hall, the freshman dorm where she lived.” Ryan’s voice seemed to come from far away. I should have asked him how he got the picture, but all I could do was brace myself as a tidal wave of images crashed through my brain.

“I don’t remember Tammy,” I began weakly, closing my eyes, “but I think I remember something …”

I felt the earth drop out beneath my feet and a black awning of long-forgotten memory laid out in front of me. The day she moved into her dorm slipped into my mind and Iremembered.

“No running in the hall, Lindsey,” Dad called out as I ran as fast as I could down the hall. I skidded into Jess’s room, a knitted throw in my arms.

“Easy there, Lindsey-Bug,” Mom laughed, taking the blanket from me.

I had interrupted them arguing about where to hang a poster of some pretty flowers and a bridge. Jess wanted it above her desk, Mom thought it looked better near her bed.

Mom and Jess looked a lot alike. Both of them had long dark hair and blue eyes, and every time I saw them together, I wished I looked like them, too. I felt like the odd one out with my short brown hair and brown eyes. And I didn’t think I was nearly as pretty as my mom and sister.

“Sorry,” I shouted, jumping onto the second bed.

“Not that one, Linds,” Jess said playfully, picking me up and swinging me around before dropping me onto the other bed. “This one’s mine. You can jump on it all you want.”

Mom shooed me off and began straightening out the green-and-blue plaid wool blanket I had brought in from the car. She draped it over the end like she did on Jess’s bed at home before moving the poster above the bed. Jess sighed but didn’t say anything.

“No she cannot,” she scolded Jess “I didn’t just spend a good hour setting all this up for Lindsey-Bug to make a mess.” Her words were stern, but Mom gave me a smile letting me know she wasn’t really angry with me.

“Well, whose bed is that, then?” I asked, pointing to the one I wasn’t allowed to jump on. “Is that for when I sleep over?” I laughed as Jess tickled me.

“Sorry, kiddo. That’s my roommate’s.” Jess fluffed my hair and I smacked her hand away like I always did.

“Oh, can I have one of those?” I started to reach for a chocolate on the desk by her roommate’s bed.

Jess gently moved me away from the tempting treat. “Those aren’t yours to eat, Linds.”

I pouted when Jess took her bottle of perfume from my hands after I sprayed the front of my shirt with her jasmine scent.

“You’re going to have the best time, Jessica,” Mom said, putting her arms around my sister. “But remember we’re not paying for you to just have fun. This school is expensive, so, do the work and get a good education. That’s what you’re here for.” She pulled away, holding my sister by the upper arms, her expression serious. “I remember my college days, I know how easy it is to lose sight of your goals.”

“I know, Mom, don’t worry,” Jess muttered. She looked at me and rolled her eyes, sticking out her tongue. I giggled but covered it with my hand.

Mom kissed her cheek. “I will always worry about you, Jessica. You have so much potential, you don’t even know how much yet. You’ve worked hard to get this far, don’t blow it now.”

“Mom,” Jess groaned. “I won’t. I know our plan and I intend to stick to it. I’m going to be fine.”

“Hmm.” Mom sounded like she didn’t really believe her. She looked to the open doorway. “Where did your dad get to?”

I hurried out to the hallway before either of them could stop me. “I’ll go find him.”

I ran down to the car, dodging people carrying boxes and suitcases. I didn’t see Dad, so I sprinted all the way back up to the dorm room, finding Jess alone. She seemed sad and angry, even though she tried to hide it when she saw me.

“Are you going to cry, Jessie?” I asked, thinking how I would cry if I had to leave home.

Jess shook her head, but still looked like she might, so I threw my arms around her. I hugged her as hard as I could and she hugged me back, laughing about how I was growing so strong.

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