Chapter 34
It took me half the summer to figure out that if I bribed the girls with candy, the cleanliness of the bunks improved. I had just finished my daily walk-through and was on my way to the office when I saw a red convertible driving toward me.
A silver-haired man was wedged behind the wheel of the Porsche that stopped in front of the office. He was having difficulty extricating himself from his expensive car. The steering wheel sat low on his legs, making it difficult to maneuver.
It was uncomfortable watching his large frame slowly, excruciatingly emerge from the matchbox-sized car. I took out my clipboard, looking away, making it less embarrassing for both of us.
“Hello. I’m Chip Howe, here to see Jack.”
“Lori Kramer, one of the division leaders.”
“Lori. You’re just the person I wanted to meet.”
He was as tall as he was round. If I remembered correctly this must be the man Mindy and Bob said was part owner and the CFO of several camps.
Before I could find out why he wanted to meet me, Jack came flying out of the office.
“Chip, great to see you. I see you’ve already met, uh . . .”
Jack stood with his mouth gaping open. He’d patronized me last Sunday and chastised me yesterday, but at that exact moment he couldn’t remember my name.
“Yes, Jack, I’ve already met Lori.” It was amusing, watching this giant of a man roll his eyes like one of the campers. “I’d think you’d be able to remember the name of the person who saved this camp and your ass.”
Beads of sweat formed on Jack’s brow. Although I enjoyed watching him squirm, staying with them didn’t seem prudent.
“Nice meeting you. I’m off to join the Cubs.”
“I hope you’ll have time to talk later,” Chip said.
I patted the radio on my hip. “You know how to find me.”
I made my way to the tennis courts where a round robin tournament was taking place among the Cubs. I cheered the girls on, hoping to see if the instruction during the first half of the summer had paid off.
The call from Chip came during rest hour, asking me to meet him at the back door of the office. He was sitting behind the wheel of Marilyn’s golf cart and waved me over.
“Slide in. Join me for a drive around the camp. It’s been a while since I toured it, and since I pay for everything, it’s good to take a gander now and again. Plus, I want to get to know you better.”
He drove us toward the lake.
“I’ve been hearing good things about you from Bob, Bethany, and Mindy—your quick actions saving Nate. How you stepped into Bethany’s role as head counselor. I’ve even gotten positive feedback from Ted, and he’s a hard man to please.”
Not if you know how, I thought. I hoped my blush would be construed as modesty.
“Bob was practically gushing over you.”
“Why?” Because I poured him a gin each night?
“Lots of reasons, but he thinks you’re a badass, standing up to Jack.”
“I’m impressing you by being disrespectful to my boss?”
He laughed. “You’ve got a good bullshit meter, and you’re obviously not afraid to speak your mind—two important attributes in business.”
At the lakefront, we pulled up next to Mike, who wore an orange Speedo. The contrast between these two men was so extreme they could’ve posed for before and after photos.
“Chip! How’s it going, big guy?” Mike slapped him on the back. “Haven’t seen you in my territory in years.” Only Mike could get away with calling the man who signed his paycheck big guy. “I see you’ve met our heroic division leader.”
“Yes, I asked if she’d accompany me on a drive around camp so I could see for myself,” Chip said.
“Lori can tell you how I’ve been her personal hero this summer, saving her twice, so far, but there’s still another couple of weeks to go.” Mike winked at me like we were a thing.
Chip ignored Mike’s boorish behavior. “Everything good for you? Equipment? Counselors?”
Mike stood at attention and saluted. “Everything’s in tip-top form.”
“At ease, my good man. Carry on.” Chip pulled away, driving toward the ski dock. “He’s a bit of a pompous ass, don’t you think?”
I laughed in response. I didn’t want to come across as judgmental and undermine my real concern: Jack.
We stopped at the ropes course, where Chip had a similar conversation with Harry, the head of ropes. Next was Di at sail, and lastly, we stopped and watched some water-skiers.
We turned around by the ski dock, and Chip said, “Everything about this lake is beautiful.”
“I agree. I walk down here every morning—it’s so calming and serene.”
Chip pulled over and pointed to a house across the lake. “Through those trees you can make out a porch. That’s where the previous camp directors, Herman and Estelle, live.”
A quiver shot through my body thinking about sitting naked on Adirondack chairs, sipping coffee, and holding Teddy’s hand. “Does that mean once you work here, you never leave?” I asked.
He laughed. “You’ve got a quick wit. I’ve heard that about you.”
“I’ve heard great things about you too,” I said. “Tell me how you got started working with camps.” I could tell he was flattered; he sat up straighter.
“I’ve been in the camp business for about twenty years.
This camp is one of my favorites. It’s beautiful.
I mean, look at that lake, the mountains in the distance, and the foliage.
Who wouldn’t want to spend their summers here?
” He took a deep breath, then continued, “I want to personally thank you for saving that child. Would you consider being an assistant director next summer?”
“I’m not planning on coming back,” I said. “I won’t work with Jack again.”
Chip looked at me and nodded. “Well, there may be some changes here. The other partners and I have been talking. We’ve gotten complaints from parents, the staff doesn’t respect him, and the camp is running on, what’s the word I’m looking for . . .?”
“Toxicity?”
“Exactly. So, you know.”
“Firsthand, very well.”
Chip shook his head. “What you probably don’t know is, Herman had a heart attack a few years ago and decided to retire on short notice.
Who could blame him? Anyway, we needed to find a new owner.
” He faced me with a sad smile. “Here’s a funny sidenote.
We brought the Bergers on as partners because Jack had an MBA in human resources. ”
I tried holding back a nervous giggle but failed.
“I’ve been fielding offers from people interested in buying the camp.”
I blurted out, “I’d like to buy it. My business partner and I would like to buy the camp and run it.”
“Who’s your partner?”
“Ted Mooney.” As soon as I said it, it sounded ridiculous. How could a soccer coach and a first-time DL buy a camp?
Chip smiled. “That makes some sense. Mooney’s probably worth about twenty mil.”
“What?” If I hadn’t been sitting down, I would’ve fallen over. That couldn’t be right. Why wouldn’t he have told me?
“This isn’t a surprise to you, is it?” he asked. “He’s your business partner. You must know about his assets.”
Not his financial ones. “Sure, yes, of course, I do.”
He looked out at the lake. “If I’m not mistaken, this is your first summer working at Woodlands, right?”
“Not only that, it’s my first-ever experience at a sleepaway camp.”
“So, what you’re saying is that in less than two months, you learned all about running a camp and became good enough friends with Ted to go into business with him?”
I smiled. “When you put it that way, it does sound far-fetched, but yes.”
“I have only admiration for a person who knows what she wants and goes after it. And I want someone who knows and appreciates the camp, and Ted is certainly that person. Let’s meet, me, you, and Ted to discuss the offer.” He looked at his watch. “In about an hour.”
I knew I should call Ronnie to discuss buying the camp, and I should do it well before the money conversation.
I also knew that when Ronnie became a partner at his firm, it was suggested that our assets be put into my name in case he was personally sued by a disgruntled client.
That translated into collateral for a loan.
But the person I wanted to speak to was Teddy.
I’d never radioed him, but I didn’t know any other way, and I had less than an hour to find him.
I was about to press the talk button when I heard “Kramer” shouted in a British accent behind me.
He always seemed to appear when I needed him.
My impulse was to fling myself at him and scream, “We did it!” Instead, I said, “I just went on a ride with Chip. I hope it’s okay with you that I set our plan into motion, our fantasy, our dream, of owning the camp together.
” I had trouble reining in my excitement.
He grinned. “Brilliant! I wish I could spin you around right now, but our celebrating will have to wait until tonight.”
We talked strategy. “Remember, we give nothing away, and we listen,” Teddy concluded. “All we have to do today is toss our hat into the ring, so they know we’re serious.”
Chip pulled up. “I hoped I’d find you together. Hop in.”
He steered the golf cart onto the main road that led out of camp.
“Remember earlier I pointed out Herman’s house? I have a set of keys. We can talk privately there.”
Teddy and I looked at each other. How many spare keys were floating around? Mental note—bolt doors.
We sat across from Chip at the dining room table. The meeting was less about the cost of the camp and more about how to push the Bergers out while leaving them a semblance of dignity.
When the meeting was over, Chip said to me, “Remember, this is top secret, no gossiping over campfires or cocktails.”
“Why are you telling me and not Ted?” I’d insist on being treated equally.
“I’ve known Ted a long time, and I know he’s not one to talk. We’ve just met.”
“I trust Lori implicitly,” Teddy said.
Chip looked from me to Teddy and back again. “In that case, I trust you too.”
After we shook hands and walked out the door, I looked back and said, “There’s something about this house. I can’t quite put my finger on it—like it’s an auspicious place to start a new venture.”
Teddy smiled. “Yes, a good omen.”
“Personally, I think it’s an architectural piece of crap. Herman and Estelle couldn’t agree on a style, so they used them all. There’s no accounting for taste,” Chip said.
Back on the main road leading to camp, our radios crackled. Jack’s loud and annoyed voice screeched from the radio. “Has anyone seen either Ted or Lori? I repeat, I’m looking for Ted and Lori. If you see them, send them to me immediately.”
We’d been gone for over an hour, and I hadn’t let anyone know that I was off radio. I was pretty sure Teddy hadn’t either.
“I’m so not in the mood for him,” I said.
Chip chuckled. “I may have gotten the two of you in hot water. Let’s walk into the office together and really make Jack sweat.”
“Ted here, Lori and I are on our way.” He clicked off the radio. “That should keep everyone guessing.”
“Rumors are gonna fly,” I said.
“You both have the right attitudes,” Chip said. “I hope all the pieces fall into place because from what I’ve seen today, you’d make a good team to spearhead Woodlands into the future.”