Chapter 10
10
I ’m so sorry. I’m on my way.
Taryn’s apology text had come in overnight. Sarah hadn’t replied. What was there to say? She’d known there was no possible way her sister would make it for the certification. And she hadn’t.
Frustration and anger were likewise pointless. They wouldn’t change anything, and would only serve as a distraction Sarah couldn’t afford. She had enough of that already in the form of more texts from Dr. Osborne reiterating how badly she was needed back in the lab, with a heavy implication that her acquiescence would impact her standing in the program. Or maybe Sarah was just reading that into the messages because of her own anxiety. But that was for the day after tomorrow, when she was back in the city.
Her only priority right now was to pass these tests to the best of her ability.
And she had.
Over the course of the morning, they’d knocked out the written test and passed everyone through final First Aid and CPR certification. As soon as lunch was through, staff would be breaking off into smaller groups for individual activity certification with the outside instructors who’d been brought in for that purpose.
Though her stomach was twisted into knots, Sarah nibbled at her sandwich, knowing she needed fuel for this last leg of certification day. Objectively, she knew she was ready. Beckett had made sure of it, and she trusted him. But she couldn’t shake the sick sense in her stomach that something would go horribly wrong.
Up on the dais, Heather clapped her hands. “Okay, people! Let’s get this show on the road.”
No way around it. Even if Taryn miraculously appeared, there was no easy way to swap out with her, so Sarah was doing this.
Tossing the remains of her lunch, she joined Beckett, the certification instructor, and the rest of the climbing staff for the walk out to the equipment shed. When Heather and Michael fell into step with the group, that clench in her gut got worse. She wished desperately for a private few minutes with Beckett, so he could hug her and reiterate that she had this. But they were keeping things strictly professional today.
It’s fine. Everything’s going to be fine.
The certifying instructor, Richard, brought them inside one at a time, where they were asked to demonstrate knowledge of equipment. When her turn came, Sarah rolled through it as if she’d been doing it for years, reciting everything Beckett had taught her, with only the barest of hesitations when her brain decided to remind her of all the up-close-and-personal study sessions they’d had in here. Afterward, they trooped en masse to Boulder Mountain for the practical demonstration. As he was already certified for far more challenging climbs than this, Beckett would be positioned up top to observe and intervene as necessary.
Before he made the climb, he paused just long enough to brush the back of her hand with his. Grounding her.
I can do this.
When her turn rolled around, Sarah started on lead, working seamlessly with Diego as he took the intermediate path up for his own top rope test. Once Diego was back on the ground, they swapped. The whole process went smoothly, and Sarah shot Beckett a grin as she reached the top.
“Nearly done,” he murmured. “You’re doing great.”
“I’m just ready for this to be over.”
They took the descent together.
“Now, for our last test of the day, each of you will be expected to demonstrate the ability to properly and immediately catch at least three simulated falls,” Richard announced. “Beckett has volunteered to be our test dummy. Now who’s first?”
“Me.” Sarah stepped up immediately. This was the last piece that stood between her and being finished.
They went through the safety check and clipped in.
“Belay on?” he asked.
“On belay.”
“Climbing.”
“Climb on.”
Beckett took the ascent fast, mimicking some of the rookie mistakes they were bound to encounter with campers over the summer. She knew he could handle it, knew he was doing this on purpose, both for the test and so she’d be done. But it didn’t stop her heart from leaping into her throat each time he slipped. She took the first two falls like a champ, stopping his descent exactly as she should. Then Beckett headed on up to the top for the long drop. At the apex, he glanced down toward the crowd, then beyond them.
Gaze focused on him, Sarah saw the shock an instant before his muttered, “Oh sh?—”
Then he was falling. A real fall, not one of the simulations this time. For one endless second, fear stopped Sarah’s heart. Then she threw herself into action, braking his descent as she’d been taught. “Gotcha!”
His momentum and greater weight hauled her several feet up the rock face. But she’d caught him.
“You okay?” she called.
“Yep.” But there was something in his face that said he wasn’t.
“Holy shit!” Diego exclaimed. “There are two of them!”
Dangling against the rock, Sarah just closed her eyes. Because she knew, even without looking.
“Ready to lower.” Beckett’s soft voice kicked her back into action.
After a brief hesitation, she managed, “Lowering.”
For the couple of minutes it took to get both of them on the ground again, Sarah kept her blinders on. She didn’t look. Didn’t break character or protocol.
At the base of Boulder Mountain, she and Beckett unclipped from the ropes. And there was no more avoiding the elephant she knew was standing behind her. Sucking in a breath, she turned to face her sister.
Taryn’s thumbs were tucked in the pockets of her khaki shorts. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a braid. Her skin was more tan than Sarah’s, and she’d lost weight since they’d last seen each other. In that moment, Sarah realized the utter idiocy of their plan. Yes, they were identical twins, but right now they wouldn’t fool anyone who knew them. And Sarah had been around the rest of the Camp Firefly Falls staff long enough that, of the two of them, they knew her.
The Tullys and everyone else were staring, gazes bouncing back and forth, as if not trusting their own eyes.
“So you’re a twin?” Diego asked. “Seems like that’s something you might’ve mentioned.”
But Sarah was focused on the camp owners, trying to gauge their reaction. Shock. Confusion. They hadn’t yet clued in to what this likely meant.
Heather was the first to find her voice. “What…?”
For once, Sarah stayed quiet. This had been her sister’s plan. It was on her to make explanations.
“Right,” Taryn said. “This conversation would probably best be had in an office somewhere.”
“Oh, I think I saw this movie,” Laura muttered. “One of them is either hiding from a prince fiancé or is secretly an international spy.”
If only.
Michael’s usually affable face shifted from shock into something that was a mix of dread and the start of what was probably anger. Without a word, he gestured toward the trail back to the main lodge.
Time for all of them to face the music.
This is where it all falls apart .
Sarah didn’t know what she’d thought would happen. Maybe for Taryn to just impersonate her until such a time as they could make the switch properly. But she’d walked right up and asked to speak privately before the Tullys could make the request themselves. And maybe that was good. She was clearly intent on taking responsibility for herself, which was progress. But how were they going to explain Sarah’s presence here? And what was going to be the fallout for her for participating in this charade?
Taryn interrupted her train of thought. “That was a nice catch back there.”
In the seconds it had taken to do her job, she’d lost five years off her life seeing Beckett plummet like that.
“Didn’t know you knew how to do that,” Taryn added.
“I’ve had a good teacher. And anyway, it shouldn’t have been me. Where the hell have you been?” Sarah hissed. “And how are you even here? Danny said you weren’t getting back from the trail until yesterday.”
Taryn shot her an assessing look, clearly wondering who that teacher had been, but she answered the question. “My client wanted to extend the trip for a sum I couldn’t refuse. But when he found out the pickle I was in with this job, he flew me out on his private jet last night. I really thought I’d make it this morning, but there was an issue with my reservation at the car rental place, and construction on the route from the airport, and… Well. I’m sorry. I got here as soon as I could.”
Private jet?
Sarah couldn’t even respond to that. “Yeah, well, I’m thinking it’s too little, too late, now.”
In the moment, she couldn’t even care that more money from this mystery client meant more of the debt paid off. All she could focus on was the deep sense of failure and dread at what was coming. Her time here was well and truly over now. No more borrowed moments or reprieves.
“It’ll be okay,” Taryn soothed.
Sarah doubted it.
Michael shut the door to the office. “Okay, I think I’m well within my rights to ask what the hell is going on?”
“There’s a very simple explanation for this,” Taryn began.
Heather crossed her arms. “I’d love to hear it since this is clearly not simply a case of one sister coming to visit the other.”
“I’m Taryn Meadows. The actual Taryn Meadows you hired. This is my sister, Sarah, who’s been impersonating me the last two weeks.”
The Tullys stared, giving them both the hairy eyeball even as they shared a fresh round of dumbfounded shock at the resemblance. Sarah shifted, wishing she could just sink through the floor. This sounded even worse than when she’d told Beckett. She braced herself for a curt, “Get out.”
Eventually, Michael asked, “Why?”
“Because I was stuck out in Wyoming on my previous job past when I thought I’d be finished, and I was going to miss orientation. So I asked her to fill in for me.”
Heather narrowed her eyes. “And you were, what? Going to just swap out after the fact without telling anybody?”
“That was the original plan, yes. I was supposed to be back to take all the certification tests myself, but I ran into travel difficulties.”
Michael frowned. “And you’re coming clean now, why?”
Taryn hesitated only a moment before lifting her chin.“Because it’s the right thing to do. I should never have asked Sarah to step in for me. I should’ve come to you directly when the problem arose, even if it meant losing the job. And I realize I’m probably losing it anyway, but at least my conscience will be clear.”
A part of Sarah wanted to cheer that her sister was taking responsibility. It was the adult thing to do. But did she have to do it like this? Because the likelihood that Sarah would be welcome here ever again was virtually nil. When Michael and Heather turned matching expressions of betrayal on her, Sarah’s last shred of hope that she might be able to ask them for a job for herself died a swift death.
She hunched her shoulders. “I’m sorry for the deception. I was just trying to do her a favor.”
Heather pinched the bridge of her nose. “I should have had more coffee this morning.”
“You and me both,” Sarah muttered. No one said anything for several moments, and abruptly she wanted out. Away from this situation. From her sister. Anywhere she could actually breathe through the panic that was trying to claw its way out of her chest. “Unless there’s anything else?” She started toward the door. “I understand you’re upset and would like me gone. My bag is already packed. I’ll get off the premises immediately.”
If she was lucky, maybe she’d get a chance to say goodbye to Beckett.
Before she could cross the room, a brisk knock sounded, and the door swung open without invitation. Beckett barged in. “Don’t make any rash decisions.”
Presumably he was speaking to the Tullys, but his eyes zeroed straight in on her. She read so much in that gaze. Temper. Concern. Reassurance that she wasn’t in this alone.
“Yes, Beck, please join the discussion,” Michael said drily.
“Sorry. But I have something to say.”
The determined glint in his eyes had Sarah stepping toward him. “Beckett, don’t.”
The last thing she wanted was him going to bat for her and losing his job.
He just shot her an I’ve got this wave. “I know this is a weird situation, but I didn’t want y’all tossing anybody out without listening. This isn’t on Sarah.”
Heather went brows up. “Wait, you knew she wasn’t Taryn?”
“I figured it out pretty fast.”
“And you chose not to turn her in,” Michael confirmed.
“I did.” Beckett’s jaw firmed, his shoulders squaring. “You’re the one who kept spouting off about Pinecone Lodge.”
Huh?
Whatever that was about clearly meant something to the Tullys. Michael swore and Heather straightened, coming to very focused attention.
“Please don’t take anything out on Beckett,” Sarah insisted. “None of this was his idea.”
That chiseled jaw turned to granite. Stubborn through and through. “Training you was my idea. And I stand by it. You can do the job. You just proved that.”
“By rights we should fire the lot of you,” Michael said. “This whole thing could have been an insurance nightmare.”
“Nobody got hurt,” Beckett insisted. “And Sarah passed all the certifications.”
“Not the point. The job wasn’t hers.”
“Michael,” Heather chided. “We can’t afford to lose any senior staff. Not at this point. Beckett, you’re not going anywhere.”
Something in Sarah unclenched. At least he still had his job. That was so much more than she’d feared. But where did that leave the rest of them?
“As for Taryn—the real one—” Heather shifted her gaze and shook her head. “I wish you’d come to us before. We might have been able to come to an agreement, but under the circumstances, as you weren’t here for any of the training or the certification tests, we can’t hire you.”
Sarah had known that was coming and still the news felt like a blow. Maybe because of the sheer inevitability finally collapsing on her head.
Taryn’s throat worked, but she merely nodded. “Understood.”
“What about Sarah?” Beckett demanded.
“What about her? She’s not in any kind of trouble.” Heather waved a hand in her direction. “What would we charge her with? Conspiracy to do a good job? She aced everything.”
“Of course, she did.” Taryn softened the remark with a grin that Sarah couldn’t return.
Heather sat back against the desk. “Look, we don’t appreciate the lie, but you did an amazing job while you were here. So don’t feel like you have to slink off like some kind of criminal.”
That was something, at least. Swallowing hard against the knot in her throat, Sarah murmured, “Thank you.”
“What is it you actually do?” Michael asked.
“I’m in graduate school at Columbia. Neuropsychology.” Somehow, making that announcement didn’t bring her the sense of achievement it always had before.
“Huh.” Whatever he’d expected, that clearly wasn’t it. “Well, all right then.”
Beckett’s hand snaked out to tangle with hers, and it took everything she had not to turn into him and bury her face against his chest.
Michael shot a measured look at their joined hands. “I’m guessing you two have some things to talk about before you go.”
“Do you need me tonight?” Beckett asked.
Heather’s face softened. “We’ll manage. But you’ll be on deck in the morning.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“I guess you’re all dismissed,” Michael announced. “We need to get back to the others.”
“Yes, sir.” Taryn turned back. “I apologize again for… well, all of this.”
Sarah didn’t stick around to see what reaction either of the Tullys had to this assertion. All of it was too little, too late. She strode out of the office, Beckett tight on her heels.
“Sarah, wait up.”
Taryn’s voice followed her down the hall. The last thing Sarah wanted was to talk with her twin about any of this. Not when she was feeling so raw.
“Look, I know you’re mad?—”
Sarah spun, lifting the hand not clasped in Beckett’s. “No. You’re on my shit list right now. I’m not spending what little time I have left here arguing or listening to your excuses.”
Stunned pain flashed across Taryn’s face. “But Sarah?—”
“I’m done, T.” With so much more than her sister could know. “Let’s go, Beckett.”