I needed to talk tonight? Is that why you’re still awake, too?”
The horse whinnied and nudged her hand.
“I thought so,” Jayden said. “My sister is coming tomorrow and quite possibly may be staying. I don’t want to work with her, but Elijah needs the help and it would be selfish of me to say anything to discourage her. And who knows, she might need the money after that trip to Europe. Living with her fancy ways until she went away to college wasn’t easy. Of course, Mama said it was both of our faults that we couldn’t get along. Did she think that giving Skyler some responsibility would help us to bond together when Skyler sold the house? Maybe she was right, and us working together will be a good thing. What do you think, Dynamite?”
Jayden could have sworn the horse sighed.
“Yep, that’s where I am, too,” she said. “I’ve always wanted her to like me, so maybe this is my opportunity to learn not to give a damn. Thanks for the advice.” She gave him a couple more pats and headed back to Daydream Cabin. She got out her journal and started to write in it, but she was way too sleepy, so she put it aside, fell right to sleep, and dreamed about putting up a Christmas tree in the dining hall.
“Like that would ever happen,” she said when her alarm went off. She got out of bed, stretched the kinks out of her back, and pulled a pair of faded jeans from the closet.
She stared at them for a moment, then hung them back up and got dressed in one of her nicer shirts and newer jeans. “I’m not really doing this for Elijah,” she muttered, but in her heart she knew better.
The aroma of brewing coffee met her when she entered the dining hall. Elijah was sitting at the table with a cup in his hands.
“This is a nice surprise,” she said.
Elijah smiled. “I had trouble sleeping last night. Are you going to be all right with Skyler working here? I should have asked you before I called her.”
“We don’t have much of a relationship.” Jayden poured herself a cup of coffee and joined him. “But I’ll do what’s best for the camp and the girls.”
“You two might not have been close as kids or even as adults, but you are blood kin. Like that old song says, ‘Love Can Build a Bridge,’ and it doesn’t have to be talking about between a man and a woman. It can be between sisters,” he said.
“I hope so. I really do.”
“Mary always says that everything works out for the best, but once y’all talk, if you’ve got any misgivings, I won’t hire her. Nothing has been signed,” Elijah said.
“Thank you, but again, we have to think of the girls, not me.” Jayden picked up her cup and carried it to the kitchen. “It’s not like it’s forever. Six more weeks and this session will be over. If I can live with her for fifteen years, I can make it through that short time.”
“Thanks go to you for caring more about the kids than yourself.” He pushed back his chair and stood up at the same time the siren went off. “See you at breakfast.”
“Bring a healthy appetite,” she told him.
“Always do.” He smiled as he left the building.
Jayden wasn’t sure what time to expect Skyler, and every time the dining hall door opened, she jerked her head around, expecting to see her sister toting in suitcases. By midafternoon she’d almost given up on Skyler even showing up and was coming out of the pantry with a bag of sugar in her hands when she saw her sister standing on the other side of the buffet line. Her long blonde hair framed her delicate face, and her makeup was flawless. She wore white capris, a red T-shirt, and matching red sandals.
“Surprise!” Skyler said.
“I’ve been looking for you all day,” Jayden said. “Did you already put your suitcases in the cabin?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Skyler said. “I’m not staying.”
“Didn’t you get the message from Elijah offering you a job? Henry and Mary have retired. I’ve taken over the cooking, and Elijah needs some help.” Jayden set the sugar down and poured two glasses of sweet tea.
“I didn’t even check my messages, and FYI, I definitely do not want a job here for the rest of the summer,” Skyler said. “David and I are on our way to Brownsville to spend a