23. A Moment of Truth #2
I smiled and was about to say something when one of the girls tried to get my attention by standing and was smacked by the boom, which sent her flying overboard.
The other three girls tried to help her and ended up capsizing their Sunfish.
Trying to quickly maneuver myself out of the kayak, I ended up tumbling into the lake and swimming the short distance to where they were bobbing in the water.
Thank goodness for life vests. Brittany was rubbing the back of her head where the aluminum had hit her.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She looked at me, and I could tell she couldn’t decide whether to cry or not. Her dunked shipmates were giggling so she opted to join them. That was a relief, but I would still have to call her parents that evening to let them know what happened.
Carrie, one of the Cub counselors, and a sail lifeguard swam over to instruct the girls on how to right the craft and get back in. After several attempts they were safely back in the boat.
As we treaded water, Carrie asked, “Do you think I’m not capable of doing my job?”
“What? Yes, I mean no, wait. I think you’re doing a great job. Why?”
“I saw what happened, and I was all over it. You didn’t have to jump in, especially when the head of sail was watching.” She looked over her shoulder in the direction of Di on the sail dock.
I waved to Di and shouted, “Carrie’s doing a great job!
” I egg-beated my legs as firmly as possible to push my torso up and gave her two thumbs up.
To Carrie, I said, “My jumping in was in no way a negative assessment of your abilities—it was my maternal reflexes. You’re doing a great job in the bunk and here. ”
I always looked over my shoulder, worrying about what the Bergers thought about everything I did. I should’ve realized that their abysmal management style trickled down to the waterfront.
Carrie looked askance when she said, “A bunch of the Cub counselors and I were talking about how you think we’re all useless.”
I gasped. “I think you all have the hardest jobs, working around the clock with no rest and having to sleep with the campers. Counselors are underappreciated and underpaid. I am truly sorry if I made you feel disrespected in any way. I am figuratively,” I panted, “and literally treading water to keep myself afloat. Please accept my apology if I haven’t let you know how much I appreciate all that you do for campers and for me. ”
I reached out to hug her, and she hesitated for a second but then she let me.
“We good?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
As I swam toward Mindy, I was thinking that I’d need to make sure to meet with each counselor one-on-one to tell them how much I appreciated how hard they worked—even Jasmine.
Mindy held the Funyak for me, and after two failed attempts, I managed to clumsily squirm into its well.
Mindy looked horrified. “Oh crap, you jumped in with your radio.”
I looked down and sure enough the radio was clipped onto the vest, where I’d been instructed to attach it at the beginning of the summer, so that I could be reached on the lake.
“Why do you look so distraught—because I fried it?” Jack would probably misconstrue my waterlogging his radio as yet another screw up. “They must have backups.”
“It’s one of Jack’s pet peeves. He goes bonkers when someone breaks one of them.”
“Even when the person went diving into the lake to fish out one of his paying customers?”
That night I sat on my bed thinking about Teddy. I heard three low whistles. Outside I followed the smell of tobacco and the faint glow from his cigarette. As I rounded the corner, I saw Teddy leaning against the laundry shack.
“Let me get that for you.” He lit my Winston with precision.
After a couple of drags, I said, “I enjoyed watching you coach the boys this afternoon.”
“I was surprised to see you, especially out of uniform. You looked like a mirage in the middle of a hot, sweaty afternoon.”
“You were so good with them. I admired how quickly you got those boys up off the ground and playing. I could use some tips on how to motivate my campers. Sometimes I think they pretend to be injured just so they can sit in the shade.”
“I find it hard to believe that you have trouble doing anything you set your mind to. From my vantage point, you’re smart, competent, and resourceful.”
Over the weeks I’d come to appreciate Teddy’s perspective. He always managed to turn my negatives into positives. Ronnie enjoyed throwing my shortcomings in my face.
“Thanks, that means a lot coming from a veteran.” I took a drag. “You know soccer wasn’t invented when I was growing up.”
“That’s ridiculous, people have been playing for centuries. Where I grew up, you could kick a soccer ball before you walked,” he said.
“I was fairly adept at stoop ball and hand-clapping games,” I said. “In my neighborhood it was all about Spaldings.”
“Those pink rubber balls?”
“Just so you know, you use your hands, not your feet. You’d be surprised how much coordination you need to toss the ball, clap in front and in back, and then catch it.”
“You’ll have to teach me.”
We were both quiet, enjoying the cool night air. I looked up at the heavens; the glittering stars were mesmerizing. When I looked down, Teddy was smiling at me, his eyes sparkling as brightly as the stars.
“What’s that grin all about?”
“I can’t stop thinking about seeing you in that revealing bathing suit . . . and,” he took a deep breath, “fantasizing about what’s underneath.”
I felt my cheeks blush as he stepped closer, taking the cigarette from my hand and tossing it into the bucket.
He looked into my eyes as he pulled me into him, firmly placing one hand on the small of my back and the other across my shoulders.
He kissed me, slowly, passionately, deliciously.
My tongue played with his. Our rhythm was instantly and perfectly in sync, our bodies seamlessly folded into each other. I didn’t want him to let go, ever.
My mind reeled. I knew how stupid this was. I pulled away, both of us flushed. I was shocked, scared, and elated. I tried to pry myself from his arms, but he held me securely, possessively.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since the first time I met you.” Our faces were close as he confessed his feelings.
“If I remember correctly, your first impression of me was of an overwrought mum.”
“Did I forget to add the word hot in front of that? My bad.” His eyes crinkled when he smiled.
I sighed in the pleasure of his words and the scent of his body.
He smelled like summer—suntan lotion and sweat.
The opposite of the expensive colognes Ronnie had started to wear once he made partner—the smell of his success.
“Well, you’ve proven me right, you’re indeed the most charming rogue I’ve ever met. ”
His smile was beautiful, but tonight his face was radiant, practically glowing.
I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to, and at that moment I didn’t want to.
He was taller, broader than Ronnie, and I was on tippy toes, wrapping my arms around his sunburnt neck.
I had forgotten how enjoyable kissing was, just kissing when done passionately.
Teddy nipped my ear and whispered, “Now what?”
Half of me was ecstatic and the other part was terrified. I wrapped my arms around his waist, putting my head against his chest. The pounding of his heart mimicked mine. I wanted to scream yes. I wanted to cry no.
He looked deeply into my eyes. “I wasn’t looking for this, and I know you weren’t either. We can go back to the way things were, but now that I’ve kissed you, I don’t want to stop.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to think. All I wanted was his mouth on mine.
Lying in bed, I couldn’t help but wonder about Teddy’s timing, confessing his feelings for me the night before Visiting Day.
I was going to see Ronnie tomorrow. Was it intentional?
It didn’t matter. I had allowed it to happen.
Was it payback for his late nights and weekends at work and for standing me up?
Or was it the thrill that Teddy was attracted to me?
He made me feel like I was the smartest, sexiest woman he’d ever met.