IV - New Territory
James hit the road at six o’clock Friday morning, hoping to arrive at the hotel early. This would be his first meeting of a girlfriend’s parents, and he felt nervous. He wanted time to take a shower and make himself presentable for Maria’s mother and father.
He had returned to his dorm room on Wednesday evening rather than impose upon Derrick and Kate a second night. James called his stepmother at work before departing for Gainesville, fearful she had not escaped his father’s wrath. Fortunately, she had steered clear of Ben. James apologized for the ugly scene and for running out without saying goodbye. It was an uncomfortable ending to his visit, and again he wondered just what he was going to do this summer.
Arriving at the hotel after four, James jumped into the sh
