thumped a double beat that had nothing to do with the extra weight of the child, which he hardly noticed, and everything to do with the fact that Summer was going to speak to him again.
“You know, M&M,” she said, “I think listening to your pretty heart has earned you a wand.”
The child let out another excited squeal, beating her hands on top of Rick’s head.
They reached the summit, and M&M held her arms out to Summer, who lifted her down with Rick’s help. They both were engulfed by the other members of the female group, chattering noisily about the turn of events in the past few minutes.
Rick watched them, thinking about the same thing, but with none of the enthusiasm. Oh, he was happy for M&M. But after the incident this morning at the Byassee place, Summer had returned to her cool distance, while the concern and fear in her eyes had put a choke hold on him he couldn’t break loose from.
Plus, he’d had to admit to himself that his own recent frustration had been fueled in part by self-serving motives. He’d wanted Sid to know what a good job he was doing...wanted his approval...wanted his nod for the pending job.
Were he and Summer really so different?
He touched the star beneath his shirt.
M&M had earned her wand, and at the same time the magic in his was sifting away.
While that should lighten his load, the heaviness in his heart told him he was losing something precious.
And he sure as hell didn’t want that to happen again.
* * *
“LOVE SHOULDN’T BE this difficult.” Summer dug her feet into the soft sand and patted it to cover her ankles. “I was watching the kids’ tug-of-war this afternoon and thinking how much that game is like love. You pull and tug, first one way, then the next. It goes back and forth, and then somebody weakens and ends up losing.”
“Tell me about it.” Tara’s voice lacked its usual spark.
It was such a relief to have her friend back to talk with again, even if the subject made Summer’s heart feel like it was being grilled on a spit over an open fire. Neither of them was in the mood for lemonade and chocolate in the cabin tonight. Instead, they’d chosen to hang out on the beach, despite the drop in the temperature—which Tara insisted on blaming Summer and Rick for.
“Selfish. He actually called me that to my face.” Summer bit her lip to stop it from trembling.
“He doesn’t really believe that, and you know it. We all see how much you love this place.” Tara tossed a pebble absently into the water, and they watched the ripples fan out.
Summer pointed to them. “The ripple effect. Another term he used. Every action leads to another one, and before you know it, it’s gotten out of hand and can’t be controlled. The hell of it is he’s right.” She formed a circle with her hands and let it grow larger as she spoke. “I get this great marketing idea for the camp, but Rick gets pissed because the kids miss part of the space lesson he’s sure might direct one of them to astronaut training. The article gives us some amazing coverage, but maybe too much because somebody finds the Byassee place, and a kit gets killed. I try to do something that I think will benefit my parents, but Rick sees my motives as selfish. I fall for him in a big way, and he thinks I’m a spoiled brat.” She folded her arms across her chest, warming her fingers under her arms. “My dad’s right. I’m a total screwup.”
Tara’s eyebrows drew together in concern. “Does your dad say that?”
“He doesn’t have to say it. I see it in his eyes. Hear it in his voice. But he trusts Rick. Trusts him implicitly.” A hard lump formed in her throat, and she took a deep breath. “I wish there was some way to get them out from under this debt. I’m terrified this worry will be the end of my dad.” A tear crept from the corner of her eye. “I mean, Charlie’s going to retire soon. Rick’s not going to be around next summer. The whole point was to prove I could run this place, thinking that might take the pressure off.”
Tara held out a tissue. “Have some faith in yourself, Summer.”
“Why? Nobody else does.”
“You’ve got good intentions.”
“Yeah...right. You know what they say about the road to hell...” Summer wiped her