Summer hurried through the dorm, careful not to awaken the napping girls. The conversation with Tara had her giddy. She was so glad the young woman had taken the job as assistant counselor. Of all the friends she’d made at this camp over the years, Tara was turning out to be the one she most wanted to keep in her life.
On the way to her cabin, a quick phone call to Kate assured her that Fairy Princess Parties wasn’t going broke without her—in fact, five more parties were booked into August and the first of September. That was a good thing, but time allowed for so many more. The small ad running in the local paper was garnering some attention, though most of the business seemed to be coming purely by word of mouth. Someday, she would be able to pay for an expensive, eye-catching color ad, but until then, she’d have to be contented to do what she could afford and keep customers happy.
Happy. The word seemed to sum up most of what she was feeling today despite the unusual morning.
She closed her eyes and again imagined the kiss with Rick, wondering if it was really that good, or if her imagination had embellished it. She replayed it in her mind several times and concluded she’d have to experience another to know with any certainty. Last night’s surprise element had added to the excitement. She’d be ready for the next one when it came...tonight, she hoped.
She continued tidying her cabin and thinking about the kiss until car doors slamming brought her back to the present. Through the window, she saw that her mom and dad had arrived. There was a time when they’d made these visits to the camp weekly, but with the decline in her dad’s health, the visits had become sporadic.
The happy glow she’d been enjoying dissipated as her stomach twisted into a knot. Even though she’d received praise from Charlie for her handling of the kids yesterday, she still didn’t know how he would respond to her parents when they asked how the week had gone. Her dad didn’t need any anxiety, and she especially didn’t want to be the cause.
Rather than rushing out to greet them, she stayed in her cabin for the rest of quiet time. Charlie would have fifteen minutes alone with them to report what he wanted...good or bad.
She lay across her bed and tried to concentrate on the book she was reading, but her mind kept wandering to Charlie and her parents. What was he telling them? Was her dad getting upset?
When quiet time was over, she hurried to the girls’ dorm, expecting to be met by Charlie and her parents, but the trio was nowhere to be seen.
The day’s nature hike had been shifted to the late-afternoon activity slot, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only did it give the campers a different perspective on the animals’ activities, but it also shoved her mom and dad’s presence into second place. The knowledge they were at the camp still niggled at her, but she didn’t have time to brood...much.
On the return hike, the closer she got to camp the more her pace slowed as though her feet were practicing avoidance behavior and overriding her brain’s commands. Before long, she found herself at the back of the group.
Rick dropped back to fall into step beside her. “You okay? You seem a little preoccupied.”
She nodded. “I’m okay. Just worried about what Charlie’s telling Mom and Dad about me.”
“I’ll bet he’s filling their ears with how you saved the day yesterday by keeping the kids occupied during the storm.” He trailed a finger down her arm.
It was barely even a touch, but her brain understood the message. He wanted to touch her, and suddenly the discussion going on at the camp didn’t seem nearly so threatening.
“I watched how you kept them calm,” Rick went on. “You would have been a good soldier if you’d been a little bigger,” he added, regarding her size. “You’re good under pressure.”
It was a strange compliment, but she could tell he was sincere. “Thanks,” she answered. She smiled, and the way he smiled back unleashed a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. Her temperature rose and she wasn’t sure if it was from his smile, his words, his touch...or the sight of her parents standing with Charlie at the point where the path broke out of the trees.