Chapter 35
Marilyn had a surprised look on her face as the three of us walked through the back door of the Bergers’ office, but the alarmed look on Jack’s face when he saw us was worth whatever bullshit he’d fling at me.
Chip spoke before Jack could compose himself. “Sorry, buddy, I needed to borrow these two for a bit. But don’t worry, I brought them back unscathed. If you’re going to be irate with anyone, it should be me.”
Jack hesitated a moment. Even he could see how unprofessional it’d be to berate us in front of Chip. “I need to know where my key people are at all times.”
Since when was I one of his key people? Probably since this morning when Chip pointed it out.
“If you don’t need me for anything else,” I said, “I’d like to check on—I almost said ‘my campers,’ but Jack has made it perfectly clear to me that all campers are his—the Cubs.
” I didn’t wait for an answer and walked out the door.
I could feel Jack’s eyes boring a hole through the back of my skull.
Teddy fell in stride with me as I walked toward the canteen, out of view of the office.
“You know that Jack won’t bother with you, but he’ll ream me out later,” I said.
“Don’t let him get under your skin. Focus on what we put into motion today and how soon he’ll only be a sad memory,” Teddy said.
“The gossip, the innuendos, the questions . . .”
“I have complete confidence that you’ll impeccably handle anything thrown your way.”
Ronnie had never said anything like that to me. I smiled. “Thank you.”
“You were brilliant today. You impressed Chip. I can’t wait for next summer when we’re running this place.” We were behind the theater when Teddy placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “I can’t wait to celebrate tonight.”
“When will I stop blushing when you look at me that way?”
His face lit up. “I’m hoping never.”
It was already choice period, so I went to my room, threw on a bathing suit, and caught Mindy starting her golf cart.
“Come on, I’ll drive us down,” she said.
I braced myself for the first round of questions.
“What the hell did Jack want that was so important?” Mindy asked.
“I think he knew I was with Chip, and it made him nervous.”
“What did Chip want?”
“To hear my version of what happened the day of the carnival,” I said.
“Why was Ted with you?”
“I wondered that myself. I got the impression they’re buddies, so maybe he was there to vouch for my integrity.” I wasn’t lying, but I wasn’t completely transparent either. Before she asked another question, I did. “Tell me what you know about Chip.”
“Not much. I know he’s the brains and the money behind the camp and that he intimidates Jack. I can imagine how anxious Jack was to find out you were with Chip. Jack was probably having a conniption, wondering what you’d tell him.”
If Jack only knew.
Later that afternoon, Jack was outside his office waiting for me to walk by.
“Lori, Marilyn and I would like to speak with you.”
Even though I expected it and knew he wouldn’t be around much longer, he was still my boss. I foolishly hoped that, with Chip still at the camp, Jack wouldn’t bother with me. Against my better judgment, I followed him into the office, bracing myself for a confrontation.
“Shall I radio Ted?” I asked.
He looked at me like I was a simpleton.
“I thought that since you’re angry that we were off radio, you’d want to reprimand us both. Or is it easier to yell at a woman without a six-foot-two man standing next to her?”
“What’s Ted to you? Has he become your protector?” Jack’s sneer was menacing.
“I hadn’t realized that I needed protecting.”
He gawked at me. “That’s not what I meant. You always mix my words and use them against me.”
He was off balance. Good. “Why did you want to see me?” I asked.
“What did you and Chip talk about?”
I crossed my arms. “Our conversation was private.”
His hands balled into fists, and he began to rant. I should never have stepped into the office where no one could witness his tirade. I took a step back and leaned against the file cabinet, next to the useless Marilyn. If he went to hit me, I could duck, and he’d punch the metal drawer instead.
“How dare you speak to me that way you, you, you bitch! Since you’ve been working here, you’ve been nothing but trouble.”
“Who the hell are you to . . .”
Talking over me, he came closer and leaned into my face.
I could smell rancid coffee on his breath and saw the sweat on his brow.
“If I could, I would kick your sorry ass out of my camp. You may have fooled Chip and everyone else here, but I will not allow you to make a sucker out of me.” He sprayed me with spittle.
I looked to Marilyn for help, but she was staring at her keypad.
Jack continued ranting. “You walk around here like you own the place. You do not, I do. Me! I’ve told you all this before, but no, you think you’re above everyone else.
All I hear every morning is Lori is so smart, so quick, so witty, the campers love her, she’s a team player.
Well, you are not on my team. I’ve got your number—you lie, you cheat, you drown my expensive equipment, and because of your negligence a camper broke her arm.
And don’t get me started on your trouble-making kids.
You do everything to make me look bad while all along it’s you who’s incompetent . . .”
Mindy and Bethany almost knocked me over when they burst through the front door. Bob and Teddy came through the back at the same instant. Marilyn remained passively at her desk.
Bob put himself between Jack and me while Teddy placed his hands on Jack’s shoulders. Jack tried shrugging him off, but Teddy held on firmly.
In a stern but calm voice Teddy said, “Jack, you need to take a step back.”
Jack blinked and looked around, grasping that his leadership team were in the office. He stepped back from me, unclenching his fists. He was breathing heavily, his face still red, and he glowered at me with pure loathing.
No one moved for what seemed like an eternity.
Jack shrugged and said, “Take your hands off me.”
Bob still blocked Jack, so Teddy let go. No longer feeling threatened, I threw my shoulders back and positioned myself between Mindy and Bethany.
Jack snarled. “What the hell are you all doing here?” He looked at me as if I’d invited them.
It turned out I did need protection. No one had stood up for me weeks ago when Jack had verbally attacked me, but they all showed up now.
Nicole was at the door. “Your argu . . . discussion was broadcast out to the entire camp.”
The color drained from Jack’s face as he snapped at Nicole, “How’d that happen?”
Nicole walked to where the camp PA system sat between Marilyn and Jack’s desk.
Nicole shrugged. “The switch was on.”
Jack was seething. He slammed his palm on his desk and said in a low growl, “All of you, get the fuck out of my office.”
We filed out the front door. Bethany waved us to follow her across the road to her room.
Teddy put his arm around me. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”
“I know.” His nearness was reassuring. Hopefully his gesture would be construed as friendly.
When we all were inside, Bethany closed the door, pulled the blinds, and asked, “What the hell just happened?”
“I think I’ve become some kind of scapegoat for all the bad shit that’s happened this summer,” I said.
“I think you may be right,” Mindy said.
“But why me?” I asked.
“Maybe because you’re new, so you’re an easy target,” Bob said.
“I think it’s because whatever good you’ve done this summer made Jack look bad,” Teddy said.
Bob placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you alright?”
“I guess I’m as good as I could be under the circumstances. Thank you all for showing up when you did. When he gets like that, I’m afraid he’s going to punch me,” I said.
“Yeah, it’s scary when he loses his shit,” Bob said.
“All the traits you want in a camp director—bad temper, no connection with the campers, and no respect for or from the people who work for him,” I said.
“It took Lori a little over a month to figure out what it took me years to live through,” Bob said. “No wonder he’s afraid of you.”
“Me? He’s the one who’s scary.”
“I’ve got a totally different question. Who do you think switched on the loudspeaker?” Mindy asked. “Can Nicole do it from her desk?”
“She could, but I can’t see my wife doing something vindictive like that,” Bob said.
“Do you think Marilyn would have the chutzpah to do it?” Mindy asked.
We all snickered at that.
Bob shrugged. “I think she’d be too afraid of the consequences, but wouldn’t it be ironic if she did?”
The door swung open, and Gilda flew in, sweating and out of breath. She pressed her back against the door. “If I tell you something, you need to promise it doesn’t leave this room.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
She took a deep breath. “I turned the PA on. I wasn’t going to let Jack bully anyone else.
Last summer it was me, now it’s Lori. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do something.
” She gasped for air. “I taped the entire tirade and gave it to Chip. And then he folded Jack into his tiny car and drove him out of here.”