Even if I ran, it’d take at least twenty minutes. It was a good two miles to the office, the last quarter mile a steep hill.
“Ted offered to pick you up in a golf cart.” Marilyn sounded annoyed.
“Okay, I’ll start heading back to meet up with him.”
I racked my brain trying to remember if someone hadmentioned the meeting to me. Bethany asked me to take over Flagpole last evening. She’d driven home late last night with her husband and Nate, but she hadn’t said anything about a meeting. Maybe it was implied, and I’d somehow missed it.
I’d walked out on the Bergers yesterday, now this morning I’d have to sit in the same room with them to get instructions about new responsibilities. I should’ve been proud to be trusted with some of Bethany’s duties on top of my own, but that placed me in the Bergers’ direct line of fire. I took a deep, cleansing breath and braced myself.
Teddy honked the horn when I was between sail and ropes. He had a playful look on his face.
“Hop in, Kramer.”
I slipped in next to him and smiled when he placed his hand on my thigh. But before starting the cart, he pointed at the willow trees across the lake.
“Over there, through that curtain of branches, is where we got to know each other better.” He was irresistible when he blushed.
Squinting, I could barely make out the porch.
“Let’s get out for a second. I’ve been wanting to do this and now’s the perfect opportunity.” Teddy took my hand and led me onto the dock where he wrapped me in his arms, kissing me in broad daylight. “That’s how we should start every day.”
I could tell he was pleased with himself. “I’m not so sure. Do it again, and I’ll let you know.”
“Cheeky.”
My morning had just gotten a lot better.
“We should go before they wonder what took us so long,” Teddy said.
“I’ll tell them that Ted and I were snogging down by the lake.”
Mike was at his usual morning post outside his Airstream, sipping a cup of coffee. I waved as we drove by, laughing at the confusion we saw on his face.
“Is he still making passes at you?” Teddy asked.
“Yes, but I look at it as a game, my daily sparring with Mike. I’ve come to enjoy our banter. I like to think he’s exercising his mind, keeping up with my retorts.”
“Having spent the past weeks trying to keep up with you myself, I’m not sure that lunkhead is up to the task.”
“You’d be surprised. He’s landed a wisecrack or two that were pretty impressive.”
Teddy looked at me. “I see you’re wearing the whistle he gave you.”
“You mean this?” I held it up. “Our engagement whistle?” We laughed.
As we continued up the hill, I asked, “Tell me what I need to know before we enter the conference room.”
“We review the counselors’ paperwork from the night before. Talk about what worked and what didn’t. Then we go over today’s schedule.”
“That means we’ll be talking about the carnival,” I said.
“I’d think it would be the main topic.”
“I have to brace myself for the obnoxious remarks Jack will hurl at me,” I said.
“I wouldn’t worry—you’ve proven you can handle whatever foolishness comes out of that man’s mouth.”
Girls Camp was peaceful with everyone still asleep. I placed my hand on his knee. “Thanks for having faith in me.”
