never really noticed its presence before, yet today it felt heavy.
Maybe during the second camp session, they could share assistant director duties.
It wasn’t much, but it was the best he could come up with until his brain cleared from the Summer fog.
He broke out of the woods at full speed and detoured from his usual route to beat a path around her cabin, hoping he’d find her stirring, and they could talk.
He slowed. No sign of life yet, damn it. He veered toward the lake to finish up with some laps and his homage to morning and Dunk, hoping the plunge into the cool water would shock his system and clear his head.
* * *
PROPPED AGAINST the pillows, Summer watched Rick run by her window. She’d missed him last night.
But the loss of sleep had been worth the amazing idea she’d come up with—a way to become an active part of the administration of the group, even if she didn’t hold the assistant director’s title. Around two o’clock in the morning, she’d shot off an email to the Paducah Sun newspaper, relating the news of a mammoth molar being found by one of the campers. The story would surely be picked up, which would translate into free advertising. Not even her parents could poo-poo that.
Her clock read five-thirty...the time she usually left Rick’s cabin. She went ahead and got up, hoping that tomorrow her schedule would return to the normal she’d grown accustomed to the past week.
Thirty minutes later, she was about to leave her cabin when her computer pinged that she had a message.
Received your email about the molar tooth. Leaving tomorrow for two weeks off, but would like to run a story in tomorrow’s paper. Am available at 2:00 today. Can we make that work? Cal Perry.
That would be during quiet time. She’d be free. The kids would be free.
“Oo-rah!” She pumped the air with her fist before she typed her answer.
Two o’clock will be perfect. See you then! Summer Delaney.
She hit Send and gave herself a congratulatory hug.
* * *
“BUT SID’S COMING IN and opening the planetarium just for us. He was nice enough to work us into his busy schedule, and I’m not going to call him at this late hour and change it.”
Summer’s chin came up in that stubborn gesture Rick had learned to recognize. “And this is our only chance to get this story while the kids are still here. He’s going to be gone for two weeks, Rick. We’re talking about free advertising here.” She slapped the backs of her fingers against the other palm to emphasize her point.
Rick reminded himself to be supportive. “It’s a great idea.” Neil and Tara had the kids lined up by the dining hall for breakfast. He waved at them to go ahead. “It’s just coming at a bad time.”
“If I’d known you had the field trip planned, I would’ve tried to schedule it for this morning. But as it is...”
“As it is...” Rick wiped his hand down his face. “The kids won’t have any time after the star show to explore the exhibits, and that’s a shame because they’re very interesting.”
Summer snorted. “I’m sure the kids will be more than ready to leave by the time we have to go.”
Her sarcasm about his educational activities unleashed Rick’s irritation. “You should’ve checked with me or Charlie first,” he snapped. “You’re not in charge here. We are.”
Summer’s face blazed red. “And you won’t ever let me forget that, will you?” She stomped away toward the dining hall.
Rick headed back to his cabin to get his measuring tape. Charlie had told him he could measure the square footage of his and Ginny’s apartment today. Might as well do that now since his appetite was nowhere to be found.
* * *
AS HER PARENTS’ OFFICIAL representative of the camp—her dad wasn’t feeling well, which bothered her more than a little—Summer forced herself to smile throughout the interview and photo session with the young reporter from the newspaper. Cal Perry seemed as interested in flirting with her as he was in gathering facts about Howie’s story. In fact, after finishing up with the mammoth molar, he’d announced he’d like to stick around and do a story on the camp itself, spending the better part of the afternoon.
This was the opportunity Summer had dreamed of, literally, and she made the most of it. Ginny had spent the morning calling parents and getting permission for their children’s photos to appear in the newspaper. Mary