Chapter 5
FIVE
INDY
All of the counselor supplies have been dropped off at cabins in pretty baskets, courtesy of Mama.
There’s only one cabin that doesn’t have two counselors, this year we had an odd number of applicants, so I situate the basket on the twin size bed with fresh sheets in the last cabin furthest from campers.
We were able to update all the mattresses and add better working air conditioning units, and it looks like we’ll need them. It's going to be one hot-ass summer.
The screen door of the cabin knocks my shoulder as I head out and I scowl at it, as if it has a mind of its own and decided to shoulder check me.
The buggy’s still running and I put it in gear, heading back to the house for dinner.
Mama and Papa both are waiting to plate their food when I walk in.
They’re dancing to the soft music playing from the record player in the living room.
Papa must have put it on when he got done at the stables.
Mama spins, and Papa wraps his arms around her, expertly avoiding her hair in his spaghetti.
“Go ahead and wash up,” Mama laughs, twirling out of his arms and placing her hand on her hip.
Heading to the small half bath under the stairs, I do as I’m told and return with clean hands and an empty bladder.
“Smells good, Mama.” I place a kiss on her cheek, and she offers me a plate and the three of us sit at the table.
“I offered it to the counselors already here, but I think they decided to head to The Raven,” she smiles and wiggles her brows, “maybe you should head that way after dinner, get to know them. They’ll be here all summer.”
Shoving a fork full of saucy noodles into my mouth, I avoid her suggestion and hope she just lets it go. I’d rather head to the little cabin Papa and I built just for me a few years ago, once I’d finally gotten the courage to ask about moving out.
The past couple years have been a financial struggle with us stretched thin between the ranch and the camp.
The stress it caused my parents… I’ll never forget the way they worried and damn near fell apart.
The only saving grace was the profit I brought in from honey, and then with the money raised from last year’s carnival, it was like a gift from God.
We may have made the hard choice, keeping the ranch alive no matter how difficult it got, but it was the right choice.
So, when we had a little more breathing room, we scraped together all the materials we needed, and built me a home away from home.
My own adult space, where I’m free to do whatever the hell I want, without the ever vigilant eyes of my parents always on me.
I love ‘em, but dang, a girl would like to know she can dance naked in her room without someone just waltzin’ on in.
“BeeBee,” Papa prods. “You can’t just hide in your cabin all summer, you know that right? You work too hard, you should go out.”
My eyes meet his warm brown irises, and I sigh. “I’m swamped with gettin’ everythin’ ready for the campers to arrive…”
Mama rolls her eyes, “Every excuse.”
Papa tries to hide his smile but I see it. “Traitor,” I grumble under my breath and they both laugh. “Hey!”
“Melinda,” Mama says, still snickering, “you need to find balance, you can’t continue to be alone all the time.”
“Mama,” I groan, I hate when she uses my full name, it makes me feel like a child again.
“All I’m sayin’ is you’re young, enjoy life. Experience life outside of the ranch.” Mama takes a bite of her spaghetti and Papa wipes her chin where some red sauce drips as I glare at the both of them.
“Don’t give me that look, your Mama’s right, BeeBee.”
“Maybe find someone to spend time with,” Mama adds, looking at Papa with smoochy eyes.
“Yes!” He exclaims, “Do that. You deserve to find someone special.”
“Alright, alright,” my fork clatters to my plate, and before Mama and Papa can get any further into their spiel about finding love I continue, “I’ll go out at some point with the rest of the counselors.”
No idea why my parents are taking such an interest in my love life, but it’s making me itchy, and I shudder.
After cleaning my plate, and rehashing some last minute details, Mama and I wash the dishes and put them away before I place a kiss on her cheek, and head out the back door toward my cabin.
Everything comes to life in summer. The flowers bloom, the trees and grass get full and thick, but the real stunner is the lake.
The setting sun peeks over the trees, casting the water in an orange glow that reflects like fire.
I love spending all day here, with nothing to do but enjoy the quiet, and a really good book.
Those days are few and far between though.
My cabin sits across from the shore where the campers initially arrive with their parents. When it’s not being used to greet campers, it’s where we roast marshmallows, hotdogs, and allow the older kids to tell some scary stories.
Those nights are preplanned, much like the whole camp schedule, which means the lake is my little slice of heaven when not in use.
I have my own shore, where I can slip my toes into the sandy silt and rest. The walk from the house isn’t terrible this time of year, but I occasionally use the buggy to get back and forth because it’s faster, and I’ve got too much to do to be wastin’ time.
While I walk around the lake, I contemplate taking a detour and sitting on the dock, but the day really did wipe me out, so I continue. When I arrive at my cabin, I smile when my cranky old goose fluffs her feathers out on the front porch.
Reaching down to run my hand over her cream colored wings, I enjoy the shake she gives me. Though just as I’m going in for the next swipe, she hops to her feet and raises her wings, hackles raised and webbed feet burrowing into the wood as she lets out a single honk.
I scoff at her, “What’s your problem now, Twatla?”
“I tend to prefer Summer.” Someone behind me says, and I turn to see there’s a woman standing a few steps away from my porch. She smirks, her tongue poking out and running across her lower lip.
Summer…
The name suits her because she is quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—and summer is my favourite season.
“I wasn’t, I didn’t mean…”
Honk.
She laughs as I stumble over my words, and Twatla adds to the conversation.
Fuck.
She’s so hot.
“Is this my cabin? The confirmation email told me I would be in a small single,” her voice is deep, but holds a femininity that makes my toes curl.
“I-uhm, no,” shaking my head, I close my eyes and wait for my brain to function properly before continuing. “You’re the late counselor.”
She nods, shoving her hands into the front pockets of her low slung jeans, and looking out at the lake, then back to me. “The couple back at the house said it was fine–”
“Yeah well, some notice would be appreciated in the future so I don’t have to worry about findin’ a replacement.” I don’t mean to snap, yet the words fall out in a short clip.
“You worried about me?”
“I–” I swallow my tongue before I say something stupid like, ‘any chance you’re into women?
’ or ‘can I please sit on your beautiful face?’ Instead, I go with something far more suitable, “I said, ‘worry about replacing you’ if you recall… The rest of the counselors are already paired, so you’ll be on your own. ”
What the fuck is wrong with me? The only two options were horny and depraved, or uptight bitch?
“That’s fine by me,” she says, rocking back on her heels and looking around. “Nice place, mind showing me around?”
I scoff and roll my eyes. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I turn to the side, and dial Mr. Harris holding the phone up to my ear.
Doing my best to ignore the beautiful woman standing so close, the breeze floats my way and I can smell crisp green apples and mint.
Suppressing a groan, I wait for him to answer.
“Yello.”
His greeting makes me smile, it’s never a question when he answers, it’s more like a warm hug, always has been.
“Hey. Mr. Harris, would you mind riddin’ the buggy out this way?
” As I listen to him ask which buggy, I sneak another look at Summer, then shake my head and answer.
“No, the other one, with the basket. Yes, perfect. Thank you.”
On the other line he tells me he’s on his way, and I exhale a breath.
Turning back toward Summer as I put my phone in my back pocket, I almost jump clear outta my skin.
She’s moved closer, so close we’re nearly nose to nose, even with me standing on my little front porch.
I can see the green flecks in her blue eyes behind her glasses, and the tiny freckles that dot the bridge of her nose.
“Jesus,” I breathe, holding a hand to my chest.
“Nah,” she leans closer, “but if you ask me nicely, I might show you God.”