Bethany joined us, holding an apple.
“Where did you find a piece of fruit?” Sam asked.
“It’s not what you know but who you know.” Bethany took a crunchy bite. “I saw what happened between your daughters and went to check on Hazel. She was in good spirits and excited about today’s activities. Forget about what you saw earlier. Both of your girls have moved on, and so should you.”
On Sunday night I sat with Bethany and Mindy drinking wine.
Bethany held up her cup. “Makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it?”
A knock interrupted our conversation.
Mindy yelled, “Come in, no bugs!”
A moth followed Ted and Bob inside.
Mindy jumped out of her chair. “You let Mothra in!” She threw a flip-flop-shaped fly swatter at Bob. “Squish it before I squash you.”
“Alright, alright, calm down.” Bob stepped onto Mindy’s pristine white bed and expertly smashed it.
Mindy got up and smoothed out her duvet. “Now you can have a drink.”
“We come bearing gifts.” Ted pulled a bottle of Tanqueray, tonic, and a couple of limes from his knapsack. “We needed something a bit stronger than the spiked grape juice you serve.”
“It’s been a lifetime since I had a gin & tonic,” I said.
“Allow me to make one for you,” Ted said.
“Yes, please.”
As he mixed me a drink he said, “In the summertime, my parents would sit out back with their friends smoking and drinking, and one night I nipped one when I thought no one was looking. Turns out my dad saw and boxed my ears.” He had an impish grin as he handed it to me. “I promise no corporal punishment.”
I found his wry British wit charming. “My dad moonlighted as a bartender. I would nip, as you say, from the apricot sours hemade for my mother.” After the first sip, I “ahh-ed,” out loud. I’d forgotten how refreshing they were, especially after a long hot day in the sun. I held up my plastic cup and said, “This has officially become my drink of the summer.”
He had a lovely smile. “Cheers!”
The next day, Abby and I spent the entirety of our morning walk complaining about Bethany.
“She’s been hard on me,” I said.
“If I’m telling one of my counselors what to do and Bethany overhears me, she’ll say I’m wrong, and this is how I’m supposed to do it. She embarrasses me in front of the campers,” Abby said.
“They can try to tell you what to expect, but when the campers showed up it was sink or swim. It’d be better if every scenario was approached with positivity. Instead, we’re invariably made to feel like a fool,” I said. “The only time I feel like I’m not being scrutinized by her is when we’re all hanging out in Mindy’s room.”
“Why do you think she’s nicer when she drinks?” Abby asked.
“I’d say it’s because she’s done for the day. The campers are sleeping, and she can relax a little,” I said. “Or maybe it’s because she’s no longer the alpha girl. As you know, Mindy’s the reigningqueen bee. She has an edgy sense of humor, and she’s hilarious—when you’re not the target. Anyway, I think that’s when Bethany becomes the intimidateeinstead of the intimidator.”
“We’re hanging with a rough crowd,” Abby said.
“Yeah, but I’d rather be in the room than have them poking fun at me behind my back.”
“I’m wondering if it comes from the top down. Jack and Marilyn probably treat Bethany badly, so she passes it on to us,” Abby said.
“All I know for sure is that I’m working my ass off, we both are,” I said. “And I try to stay out of the way of the bosses.”
I was still upset with myself for smoking again, but when I sniffed the sulfur, l felt like a hound tracking prey. I followed the scent toward the embers, careful not to trip on a tree root as I made my way to Ted and his lighter.
By the time I reached him, he’d already taken out a cigarette and lit it for me. “Lori, how nice of you to join me.”
