Sutton
W atching everyone begin the process of packing up their belongings for the very last time started an anxious knot in my stomach that wouldn't go away. Campers hauled their duffel bags towards the pickup area while counselors cleaned up activity areas and prepared for the final end-of-session party. The air buzzed with an energy of transition and anticipation.
My stomach twisted into anxious knots as I contemplated what came next for me after leaving Eagle Ridge. Going back home to my parents filled me with dread. I couldn't bear the thought of resuming my stifling business classes or sitting through more of my father's bigoted sermons, constantly having to hide my true self.
But I could tolerate all of that. What I couldn't tolerate was saying goodbye to Ben. My heart ached at the prospect of not seeing his warm smile and feeling his arms around me every day. I didn't know how I would cope without him. He had become my rock, my safe harbor, over these past months together.
Lost in my spiraling worries, I almost didn't notice Matt approaching me from across the field. He jogged over, a determined look on his face.
"Hey, , you got a minute?" he asked. "I need a favor."
"Um, sure, what's up?" I replied, trying to pull myself out of my brooding thoughts.
"I'm heading up to the main house to talk to my dad about some ideas for next summer. I was hoping you could come with me, provide a counselor's perspective. You're one of the most insightful, I think——you have a fresh view of things."
I blinked at him, unsure how to respond. Getting dragged into a family discussion was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now. But Matt looked at me so eagerly, I didn't have the energy to refuse.
"Yeah, okay, I guess I can do that," I heard myself say.
"Awesome, thanks, man! I really appreciate it. Let's head up there now."
He turned and started marching up the hill. I sighed and fell into step behind him, too emotionally exhausted to do anything else.
I followed Matt in a daze up the winding path to the main house, my mind still reeling. The stately home came into view through the trees—a beautiful two-story Craftsman with a sprawling porch, beautiful stained wood siding, and wild, natural gardens. It looked expensive but inviting, the opposite of my family's gaudy, cold McMansion. Warm light spilled from the windows.
As we stepped inside, savory, spicy aromas filled my nose. Garlic, onion, herbs—someone was cooking an elaborate dinner. Matt led me through the foyer into a spacious kitchen with granite countertops and gleaming stainless steel appliances.
A muscular, bearded man who had to be Matt's dad—and Ben's stepdad—stood at the stove, stirring a bubbling pot. He glanced over as we entered and grinned. "Hey, boys! You're just in time. Grab a seat. I'm making my famous chili, and I baked a loaf of sourdough to go with it."
"Thanks, Dad. This is , one of my senior counselors," Matt said, gesturing to me. "I hope it's okay that I brought him by."
"Of course! The more, the merrier. Good to meet you, ." Matt's dad extended a beefy hand. I shook it, marveling at the way his firm grip enveloped mine. Laugh lines crinkled around his warm brown eyes.
"You too, sir. Something smells amazing." I slid onto a stool at the granite-topped island, taking in the kitchen's homey décor—painted ceramic dishes and an assortment of mismatched framed family photos, including some of Ben as an adorable little nerd.
"Call me Walter, none of that 'sir' business," he chuckled. "And thanks, it's an old family recipe. Matt, is your brother joining us?"
"Yeah, he should be up in a minute," Matt replied. "He probably needed to finish a chapter in his book."
Walter barked out a laugh. "That boy is one chapter late to everything. So, what brings you two up here tonight?"
Matt swallowed and set down his spoon, his expression turning serious. "Actually, Dad, there was something I wanted to talk to you about for next summer…"
As he spoke, Ben strolled into the kitchen, and I lost my focus on what Matt was saying as I drank in how handsome Ben looked. His tight white T-shirt stretched across his chest, and his faded jeans hugged his lean thighs. Our eyes met and held, and his eyebrows shot up.
Matt cleared his throat. "Dad, I want to add accommodations at camp next summer specifically for trans and queer kids. We need to make Eagle Ridge more inclusive."
Ben slid onto the stool next to me and leaned down, whispering. "Oh god, Matt, roped you into this?"
I nodded, looking from Walter to Matt, worried about what would happen.
Walter's bushy eyebrows rose. He huffed out a breath. "Son, I don't understand how we could uproot the entire camp culture for a few kids. This place has run a certain way for decades."
My heart froze. The firm, dismissive tone was so painfully familiar. How many times had I heard the same shutdown from my own father, that ironclad refusal to even consider another viewpoint? I darted a glance at Matt, expecting him to clam up, to defer to his dad's dictate like I had been taught to—at risk of a harsh punishment. But to my shock, Matt's jaw clenched, and he sat up straighter, meeting Walter's gaze head-on.
"That's bullshit." Matt's voice was calm but steely. "This isn't about 'a few kids.' This is about treating everyone with dignity and making camp a haven for all."
Holy shit. Arguing? Actually debating his father? I couldn't remember the last time I'd dared to do that. My balls would've shriveled on the spot. But here Matt was, politely but firmly standing his ground. It was confusing and foreign, and I needed to get out of that kitchen immediately.
Walter leaned back, arms crossed over his broad chest. "Matthew, I know your heart's in the right place, but—"
"No buts." Ben cut him off, startling me. Not only was he arguing, but he'd interrupted his dad. My dad would have had his belt out by now. "Matt has thought this through. This is a real issue, and connected with some campers this summer who were truly struggling. I'm sure there are more who didn't even come to camp because of it."
"I have a plan, and I need you to hear me out," Matt added. "I've already checked the feasibility, the market, the potential for profit. It's doable."
"Not to mention it's the right thing to do," Ben added. "This camp…it's everything to some of these kids. A lifeline. We have a responsibility to make it as inclusive as possible."
Walter sighed, but I could see his resolve weakening—and the respect in his eyes. "You boys… always ganging up on your old man."
"Because we learned from the best." Ben grinned, bumping his shoulder against Matt's. "Remember what you always taught us? 'Do good and leave the world a little better than you found it.' This is our chance to do that."
"I hear you, I do. But these kinds of renovations, they cost money—"
"Actually…" Matt reached behind him and pulled out a roll of papers. "I've been working with an architect from Seattle. She specializes in gender-neutral spaces and has an intern who is trans and has been providing some amazing insight." He laid a landscape map of the camp out on the table, as well as some more detailed sketches. "These are the mockups for the new dorm-style cabins. And before you say anything, we haven't spent a penny. Mom helped me find a grant to pay the architecture fees."
"Your mother's in on this? Of course she is," Walter said, chuckling.
I found myself leaning in for a better look at the papers, my shoulder brushing against Ben's. The sketches showed the cluster of cabins I recognized, but they now had multiple doors, creating small one- and two-person dormitories instead of large cabins full of many boys, and there were some new cabins between them, with a different style of restroom—individual stalls accessible from the outside.
"See, Dad? With this layout, we can provide private accommodations while still fostering a sense of community. The cabins are big enough that instead of being one open space, they can be divided into single and double dorms. Campers will still be close enough to socialize on the green and around camp, but they can request what they need to feel comfortable." Matt jabbed a finger at the plans. "And the best part? It won't require a ton of work. We can repurpose a lot of the existing structures and add a few modular cabins to make it work. The shower building is more like the kind they have at campgrounds, with the stalls accessed from the outside."
Ben was nodding along, his eyes alight with excitement. "This is brilliant, Matt. Seriously impressive." He turned to me, angling his body so our hips almost touched, letting me look at the drawings.
"Same capacity?" Walter asked, counting out beds.
"Same capacity," Matt said. "Or maybe slightly more. We'd consolidate some of the buildings between the boys' and girls' camps. We only need one main lodge, for example. The master plan shows how each building would be used. And we'd divide the two housing sections between ages, with kids 10-12 over where the girls used to be, and 13 and up here at the boys' camp."
Ben leaned in. "I was surprised by how doable this is when Matt showed it to me."
Walter stared down at the sketches, his brow furrowed in thought. The room fell silent, tension thick in the air. Beside me, Ben shifted restlessly from foot to foot. Matt held his breath. My heart pounded as I watched Walter's face, searching for any hint of his decision. This moment felt momentous somehow, like we were on the brink of something big.
Please let him see how important this is. Let him understand.
The seconds ticked by, each one an eternity. And then, finally, Walter looked up. His piercing eyes landed on me, and I felt pinned in place. "? What's your take on all this?"
I blushed furiously, heat rushing to my cheeks. Being put on the spot like this was my worst nightmare. "Oh, um, well, sir…" I stammered, trying to gather my whirling thoughts. "My friend Parker told me Eagle Ridge was a safe place for him as a kid. He's gay, um… like me, and he told me that coming to Eagle Ridge was what enabled him to be confident about his identity. I think we could do the same for other kids."
I took a deep breath, emboldened by the encouraging nods from Matt and Ben. "And to be honest, it didn't sit right with me, seeing that trans camper feel so uncomfortable and out of place in their cabin this summer. Every child deserves a space where they can relax and be themselves."
The words tumbled out in a nervous rush, and I braced myself, shoulders tensing as I awaited the biting reprimand I knew was coming. My father would have already been red-faced and shouting by now, telling me I had no idea what I was talking about and to keep my worthless opinions to myself.
But Walter frowned, then let out a slow breath and gave a decisive nod. "Well said, son. You make an excellent point."
I blinked rapidly, not quite processing what I was hearing. He'd agreed with me? Just like that?
Beside me, Ben reached over to give my thigh a quick, reassuring squeeze under the table.
Walter's brow furrowed in concern. "You alright there, ? You look like no one has ever agreed with you before."
"Sorry, I just…" I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of confusion. "It's so different from how my own father would have reacted. If I dared argue with him like that…" I trailed off with a shudder, remembering the sharp sting of his cutting words. "Let's say it wouldn't have ended well for me."
Matt cleared his throat. "'s father is Lawrence Holm. You know, the televangelist guy."
Walter's eyes went wide. "Lawrence Holm? Fuck," he growled. Before I could react, he was up and moving around the kitchen island. I tensed, bracing myself for anger or disgust.
But then Walter's brawny arms were wrapping around me in a warm, fatherly hug. "Oh kid, I'm so damn sorry that you were ever treated in a way that made you this nervous to speak your mind," he murmured gruffly. "In our household, you can stir shit up with any of us if we're dead wrong about something, got it?"
Something inside me cracked wide open. I couldn't hold back the sudden swell of emotion, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I clung to Walter. This easy affection, this immediate acceptance, was foreign and wonderful and overwhelming all at once.
When Walter released me, his gaze shifted to Ben. "You picked yourself a good one, Ben. Passionate about helping kids who need it. That's commendable."
Ben's eyes darted between me and his stepdad. "W-what? How did you know? , I didn't tell anyone about us!"
Walter let out a booming laugh. "Relax, Ben. Didn't need you to tell me anything. It's written all over both your faces." He winked at me. "The way this one looked at you when you walked in the room, Ben… Like you hung the damn moon. And Ben, your eyes went straight to him before you even said hello to the rest of us."
I ducked my head as heat flooded my cheeks. Were we really that obvious? I snuck a glance at Ben and found him grinning at me, eyes shining with happiness and relief.
Under the table, he reached for my hand and twined our fingers together. "Guess there's no point in trying to hide it anymore," he said, giving my hand a squeeze. "He's my boyfriend."
"So how are we going to build this gender-inclusive camp?" Walter muttered.
"You're agreeing to it?" I asked.
Walter shook his head, laughing. "I'm a cheapskate, but I'm not stupid. When these two and my wife are teamed up, there's something that needs to be done. And you all are right. My father built this place in the seventies to be safe and welcoming for all kids. Matt, I expect a detailed proposal and budget on my desk by the end of the week if you want the green light. Maybe you can convince to stick around and lend you a hand with things."
"Really?"
"Sure, kid!"
Matt grinned. "It's a lot of work. If you want to stay and help, I'd love to have you. Do you have to be back at school?"
"Not until mid-September," I said.
"That seems settled then. Now, can we please eat our dinner before it gets cold?"
"Yes, please," Ben and I said in unison, matching grins on our faces as we reluctantly let go of each other's hands.
As we all dug into the delicious homemade chili Walter had prepared, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by jokes and laughter. The conversation revolved around the ideas for how to make camp better, and they seemed to assume that the whole internship plan would work out. I soaked it all in—the warmth, the camaraderie, the genuine affection this family had for one another. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced growing up in my own home, where appearances and ambition always took precedence over love. And when Ben's mom bustled in, she greeted me as warmly as she greeted her son and stepson.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged. Like I was finally home.