It was vastly different from the cafe, and certainly worlds away from the many years she’d spent in suburban Adelaide. Even the Adelaide Hills had felt like a hive of activity in comparison to this tranquil setting in Victoria’s majestic Grampians Mountain Range.
One by one, the students returned from the shower blocks and dashed between cabins, checking out one another’s costumes for the talent show.
The second day of camp had been much smoother than the first day with the bus ride dramas, thankfully. Clem had helped cook the barbecue dinner and joined the class for a singalong in the amphitheatre.
The sound of their enthusiastic voices in the stillness of the bush was magical, and a great warm-up for the talent show ahead.
She felt a small hand slip into hers after the singing had finished and turned to see Harriet beaming up at her.
‘This is so cool, Mum. Did you hear me do the solo in ‘Home Among the Gum Trees’? Miss Lyndall asked me specially.’
Clem nodded, returning her daughter’s smile. ‘You bet I did, you sounded like an angel, honey. And you were such agreat team captain on the scavenger hunt, our group would have been lost without your map-reading skills.’
‘And Miss Lyndall said you were better than her and Mr Hawkins at archery, I didn’t know you had a good aim like that. Can you teach me when we do it again tomorrow?’
With a nod, Clem wrapped her arms around Harriet. ‘I’d love to, sweet pea. Thanks for asking me to come, it’s been pretty awesome hanging out with you here.’
A pair of Harriet’s friends raced over, completely oblivious to the tender moment.
‘Quick Harri, we’re playing sardines and we need to hide before they find us,’ Pansy giggled. Harriet looked up at Clem, a torn expression on her face.
‘Go on,’ Clem said, offering her an encouraging smile. It was the right thing to say, she thought as their hushed giggles faded into the distance, just like it had been the right move joining her girl on school camp.
And while the children were zipping back and forth, some with face paint, others with wigs and props ahead of the talent show, Clem couldn’t keep her thoughts from wandering ahead to tonight. While they’d agreed camp-based romping was off limits, her imagination had gone into overdrive.
It had been a long time since she’d lusted after someone, and the idea of sneaking another kiss or two after dark felt even more decadent than fresh blueberry and dark chocolate brownies, warm from the oven.
She searched the campground, finding Spencer by the kitchen. Lachie had been almost permanently attached to his side today, and he was there now, standing on one foot while Spencer did something with the boy’s shoe.
Apart from the heat that sizzled between them, the twenty-four hours they’d been at camp underscored the things Clemhad already observed about Spencer in their short time together.
He was kind, patient beyond measure with children, pulled his weight with the cleaning and had the grace to let Lyndall run this camp the way she wanted, even though he was at least fifteen years her senior.
And one thing had become crystal clear—Clem wanted Spencer in her life as more than just a casual acquaintance. She’d known that when they’d left the clearing last night, a knowing that was reinforced when she climbed into bed after a cool shower, imagining his touch, wishing for the weight of him on her, predicting the way the creaky bunk bed would have undoubtedly given them away.
Damned integrity is overrated,she thought begrudgingly.
Clem was yawning before the talent show had even started, and it made her laugh when she glanced past Lyndall and saw Spencer doing the same.
Lyndall laughed. ‘They’re contagious.’ The camp fire sent a glow flickering over her face as she looked between them. ‘I know exactly what’s going on here.’
Clem sat up a little straighter, her tiredness evaporating in a flash. Oh boy, they’d given themselves away, yawning in tandem, looking away the moment their eyes met. Had Harriet’s teacher noticed Spencer’s hand brush her butt when they’d left the camp kitchen?
‘Yep, I’ve seen it before. You’re originally from the city, right Clem? And your little cafe’s off the highway in Penwarra, so you probably hear the trucks and traffic through the night?’
Clem nodded slowly.
‘You’re probably not sleeping well because it’s so silent out here.’ Lyndall beamed. ‘No log trucks, no tourists or workers rattling past with dodgy mufflers. No cattle or barking dogs either.’
Clem sank back into her chair, relieved. ‘Yep, you got me.’
The teacher gave Spencer a smug grin, clearly pleased with her deductions. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll sleep heaps better tonight. That is, if the next two acts don’t make you nod off. I heard the boys doing a run-through earlier; it’s dry.’
Sure enough, Clem felt her eyelids getting heavier as a trio of Year 6 boys delivered a long-winded monologue about why their football team was the best, complete with player names, ages, goal tallies, average possessions per game, flags won, grand final scores and the nickname of every player who had worn the Collingwood guernsey for the last three seasons.
‘Make it stop,’ Clem moaned, sending Lyndall into a round of giggles. Spencer quickly started clapping the moment they paused. The shorter of the trio held up the clipboard he’d been reading from. ‘But we’re not finished yet. We were going to do a blow-by-blow of the 2022 grand final.’
‘You’ve excelled yourself already boys, that was pure passion. Go the Pies!’ Lyndall called, gesturing the next performers onto the stage. Clem stuffed a fist into her mouth to stifle her laughter. The entertainment stepped up a notch after that, with Lachie stealing the limelight lip-synching to an Elton John classic in a gold wig and wacky glasses. This was followed by an ear-piercing recorder solo that should have come with an OH&S warning, and then finally it was time for Harriet’s performance.
