July 1992

  The families arrive in Portnd, Maine. Much to the delight of the kids. The chartered flight only took about an hour and a half. Almost immediately, Elle started taking pictures using her disposable camera.

  “Yeah, just the picture to take. Back of an airport hanger.” Jerry says, backing away from her.

  She then snaps a shot of him. Chris can only ugh.

  “Come on guys, help with the luggage. You can take pictures when you get settled into the hotel.” Simon calls out.

  They help out and get a ride from a waiting limo. The kids all give each other an uneasy look. Remembering their st few times in a limo.

  The hotel is huge. On the ride over, Chris’ dad and Elle’s said they have a suite on the top floor. The Presidential Suite. Four bedrooms, two enormous bathrooms, with Jacuzzi bathtubs, a balcony with a hot tub, full kitchen. Simon even mentioned the bar but quickly shut his mouth. Of course, he got the snicker treatment. They were reprimanded for even considering the possibility of taking something from the bar. But when they heard they have a huge swimming pool downstairs, they forgot about the bar.

  Two men in fancy dark suits welcome the families to the hotel. They then load their luggage onto a trolley. The bell hops walk with them into the rge lobby. Chris looks up at the roof of the lobby is three stories above them. A rge hanging sculpture hangs in the open space. He wonders if it ever fallen.

  “Welcome. How may I help you?” The happy desk clerk dy greets them.

  Chris’ dad goes through the check-in process with Simon. It takes a few minutes, with the guest list and credit card stuff, just for reference, the clerk says. After all, the room was being paid for by the director of the conference, being the guests of honor and all.

  Chris looks at Elle and the guys. The boys were looking quite anxious. He could feel Elle’s through her hand. She was ready to explore the suite and the city.

  “Just a few minutes, guys. Then you’re free to explore.” Melissa ells them.

  “We’re here until next week, guys. Don’t blow all your energy today.” Ariel says, snickering.

  “Don’t worry, we got enough energy to st several weeks.” Jerry tells them.

  The desk clerk hands over four cards, resembling credit cards. Chris’ parents get one, as do Simon and Melissa. Chris and Elle, and Jackson and Jerry get one as well. They are told to use these responsibly. Do not lose them, they emphasize. Everyone understands.

  The bell hop has already gone up, so they load up in one elevator.

  “Chris, swipe your card there.” Simon points to a slot in the panel.

  Chris looks at his card. An arrow points out on one end. He slides it in, and they hear a ding. A green light appears next to it and the elevator moves. The kids all agree, this hotel already rocked!

  The bell hop greets them in the short hallway to the main doors to the room. Another swipe of the card lets them in to a rge living room. The bell hops welcome to the finest suite in the state and gives them a quick tour. He informs them of several presidents staying in this very suite. Ford, Reagan, Nixon. Chris loses him as he runs in with the others to check things out. Just as they heard, a full kitchen, a balcony with a hot tub, four bedrooms.

  “Kids! Come here a sec.” Larry calls after them.

  They gather in the living room; the bell hops busy unloading their luggage.

  “Now, listen. Here are the bedroom assignments. Your mother and I will take this room.” He points behind him. “And Simon and Melissa will take the one next door. Now…”

  Uh-oh! Chris thinks, here comes a ‘talk’ refresher.

  “We’re willing to let Jackson and Jerry have their own room together, and you and Elle have the other, but…” Motioning to him and Elle.

  Chris goes to say something but can’t get the words out. He just looks at Elle, who gives him the same look. Unsure but anxious.

  Larry pulls them aside, so the bell hop doesn’t overhear. Simon joins them. “You two remember our little talk?”

  “Yes, we do.” Chris says.

  “We understand what you’re saying. We’ll be good.” Elle tells them.

  “I know you will, but we just wanted to remind you two of what we said. If you can hold out, great. If not, we want you to make it special.” Simon says.

  “Use your heads. All right?”

  “We will, dad. We promise.” Chris says, confident.

  “That’s right. We promise.” Elle says too.

  Their dad’s let them go to take their luggage to their room. Jerry gets smacked on the way for any comment he was about to say. Just in case.

  Chris drops his bags by the door to the walk-in closet. “Damn, you could hold a party in here. And I‘m just talking in the closet.”

  Elle looks in. “Never heard of a closet party. We should have one!”

  Chris cracks up. “What? Everyone?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  He just shakes his head. “Come on party girl, let’s get our things unpacked.”

  He bends down and unzips his duffel bag. Then someone yanked him up and locked him in a kissing embrace. A moment after the initial shock, he melds into her. They enjoy the closeness of each other for a while, then break.

  “Sorry, had to break in the room first.”

  “Is it broken in yet?”

  “Hmm. Maybe a little longer.”

  They continue for a while more.