As I listened to the phone ring and ring and ring, I was so nervous that it just to breathe; physically hurt. God, what was wrong with me? Just as I was about to hang up (And take the whole "nobody's ever going to answer the phone" thing as a sign), the ringing stopped and I heard a voice; a woman's voice.
"Camp Firewood."
I sat there completely frozen both aware and oblivious to the fact that someone was speaking to me.""
"Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Look, if this is a prank call…. Damn kids…"
Panicked, I forced myself to speak. "Um, H-hi… Is um, Beth there?"
"Yeah, I'm Beth; the Camp Firewood Director." The voice said. "Who's this?"
"I'm um…" Oh God, who was I? Think, Melissa, think! "I'm Melissa… um… Sherwood."
"Oh, well how about that? My daughter's name is Melissa." The previously almost-annoyed voice was now brighter. And even though there was no way that I'd ever tell
Beth the secret that Henry and I shared (Well one of them anyway… I loved that we shared secrets)-that he'd named his daughter after me-it made me smile.
"She's lucky to have such a great name." I said, taking the risk of sounding like a total moron. But to my surprise, Beth actually laughed.
"It is a great name, isn't it? I never would have thought to name my daughter Melissa, but my husband insisted."
Husband….
The word made my heart sink in ridiculous fashion and even worse, I felt like crying. God, I was supposed to be a mature college student, not a lovesick teenager over a guy… a man who had made it abundantly clear that I wasn't the girl he wanted. He had a daughter and a wife for God's sake!
Suddenly I wondered if I'd ever get over my "Summer of Henry"; the one that seemed so long ago and yet seemed like yesterday.
"Y-your husband is Henry, right?" I asked stupidly. "Henry Newman?"
"Yep, that's the one. Husband, father, camp counselor, Astrophysicist. Do you know him?"
How I managed not to burst out laughing is a complete mystery that only science could solve. To say that I knew Henry was a total understatement. I'd kissed the guy for God's sake! It was yet another secret that we'd shared.
"Um yeah, actually I do. I was a camper at Camp Firewood last summer. Henry was my counselor."
There was a brief pause and then….
"What did you say your name was?"
"Melissa. Melissa Sherwood."
"Sherwood… Sherwood… God, why does that name seem so familiar?"
I froze, wondering if perhaps Henry had told her our secret (after all, he had every right to tell her; she was his wife) and that she was angry about it. If that was the case, I was the last person she would want to talk to. Oh God…
"Wait a minute, you said 'Sherwood', right?"
"Um, yes, that's right…"
Suddenly I felt like I was being interrogated, like the criminals on "Law and Order". Oh why hadn't I paid attention to that boring show, instead of watching "Growing Pains"?
"Oh man, I cannot believe it!" the now extremely cheerful voice said. And suddenly I was completely confused… and more than a little worried. What was going on?
"I-is something wrong?"
"I just… I cannot believe that I didn't make the connection! Henry talks about you all the time!"