The Summer Place

CHAPTER SIXTEEN



RICK WOKE AT HIS USUAL FIVE o’clock, and because he had no reason not to, he went for a run and hoped the morning air would clear the fog in his head. The Summer Delaney–induced fog.

Last night during the staff meeting, he’d forgotten all about telling the group about today’s special event. That had never happened before.

He’d always considered himself levelheaded and rational. Hell, in Afghanistan he was the one who volunteered for dangerous missions because not many things fazed him enough to muddle his thoughts. When Dunk got hit, and while enemy bullets whizzed over his head, that head stayed clear and focused.

Then along came a slip of a woman dressed like a fairy princess, who, in three weeks’ time, had him forgetting important things, questioning things he knew and regretting actions he’d taken. Even when his head told him he was right, his heart wasn’t so sure.

The Delaneys hired him as assistant director. They had put their faith and trust in him that he would make the best decisions. Next year, maybe Summer would get her chance. He hoped she would, and he would recommend her without hesitation. But this year, they were counting on him. It was his reputation on the line, and he wouldn’t disappoint.

Honor. Courage. Commitment...Semper fi.

Surely, Summer understood that. They’d gotten to know each other well enough for her to understand he would give this place his all.

He ran faster, trying to rid his body of the restlessness he’d put up with all night. Restlessness because Summer hadn’t been beside him. The small granite star thumped against his chest as he ran. He’d never really noticed its presence before, yet today it felt heavy.

Maybe during the second camp session, they could share assistant director duties.

It wasn’t much, but it was the best he could come up with until his brain cleared from the Summer fog.

He broke out of the woods at full speed and detoured from his usual route to beat a path around her cabin, hoping he’d find her stirring, and they could talk.

He slowed. No sign of life yet, damn it. He veered toward the lake to finish up with some laps and his homage to morning and Dunk, hoping the plunge into the cool water would shock his system and clear his head.

* * *

PROPPED AGAINST the pillows, Summer watched Rick run by her window. She’d missed him last night.

But the loss of sleep had been worth the amazing idea she’d come up with—a way to become an active part of the administration of the group, even if she didn’t hold the assistant director’s title. Around two o’clock in the morning, she’d shot off an email to the Paducah Sun newspaper, relating the news of a mammoth molar being found by one of the campers. The story would surely be picked up, which would translate into free advertising. Not even her parents could poo-poo that.

Her clock read five-thirty...the time she usually left Rick’s cabin. She went ahead and got up, hoping that tomorrow her schedule would return to the normal she’d grown accustomed to the past week.

Thirty minutes later, she was about to leave her cabin when her computer pinged that she had a message.





Received your email about the molar tooth. Leaving tomorrow for two weeks off, but would like to run a story in tomorrow’s paper. Am available at 2:00 today. Can we make that work? Cal Perry.





That would be during quiet time. She’d be free. The kids would be free.

“Oo-rah!” She pumped the air with her fist before she typed her answer.





Two o’clock will be perfect. See you then! Summer Delaney.





She hit Send and gave herself a congratulatory hug.

* * *

“BUT SID’S COMING IN and opening the planetarium just for us. He was nice enough to work us into his busy schedule, and I’m not going to call him at this late hour and change it.”

Summer’s chin came up in that stubborn gesture Rick had learned to recognize. “And this is our only chance to get this story while the kids are still here. He’s going to be gone for two weeks, Rick. We’re talking about free advertising here.” She slapped the backs of her fingers against the other palm to emphasize her point.

Rick reminded himself to be supportive. “It’s a great idea.” Neil and Tara had the kids lined up by the dining hall for breakfast. He waved at them to go ahead. “It’s just coming at a bad time.”

“If I’d known you had the field trip planned, I would’ve tried to schedule it for this morning. But as it is...”

“As it is...” Rick wiped his hand down his face. “The kids won’t have any time after the star show to explore the exhibits, and that’s a shame because they’re very interesting.”

Summer snorted. “I’m sure the kids will be more than ready to leave by the time we have to go.”

Her sarcasm about his educational activities unleashed Rick’s irritation. “You should’ve checked with me or Charlie first,” he snapped. “You’re not in charge here. We are.”

Summer’s face blazed red. “And you won’t ever let me forget that, will you?” She stomped away toward the dining hall.

Rick headed back to his cabin to get his measuring tape. Charlie had told him he could measure the square footage of his and Ginny’s apartment today. Might as well do that now since his appetite was nowhere to be found.

* * *

AS HER PARENTS’ OFFICIAL representative of the camp—her dad wasn’t feeling well, which bothered her more than a little—Summer forced herself to smile throughout the interview and photo session with the young reporter from the newspaper. Cal Perry seemed as interested in flirting with her as he was in gathering facts about Howie’s story. In fact, after finishing up with the mammoth molar, he’d announced he’d like to stick around and do a story on the camp itself, spending the better part of the afternoon.

This was the opportunity Summer had dreamed of, literally, and she made the most of it. Ginny had spent the morning calling parents and getting permission for their children’s photos to appear in the newspaper. Mary Margaret’s mother had been a hard sell, but had finally acquiesced.

Summer divided the kids into small groups and sent each group out with an adult. Cal had the opportunity to photograph them practicing archery, canoeing, swimming, geocaching, hiking and cooking. Then they all ended together with a hike to the Byassee place.

During the entire afternoon, Rick kept his distance, and Summer missed his presence by her side. Despite their differences in opinion, she wanted to straighten things out with him as soon as possible. She hated the anger hanging between them.

“The kids have been telling me about this fairy princess philosophy of yours.” Cal was standing beside her again with his pad open. “I think it would make a great angle for the story.”

His statement sent a surge of satisfaction through her. More free publicity was a good thing. Her mom and dad would be impressed!

* * *

WHILE THE YOUNG MAN FAWNED over Summer, Rick stayed out of the way, watching from a distance, taking his own photos for his Delaney file. The besotted reporter was sure to give Summer some great coverage in the article. Rick just hoped the camp got some mention, as well.

When the guy first arrived and attached himself to her, jealousy pricked at Rick. But he’d recalled Summer’s words that a person who made you fight for him—or in this case her—wasn’t worth having. The adage made sense. And though the twangs continued throughout the afternoon as he watched her smile and converse, he realized they weren’t so much twangs of jealousy as they were twangs of remorse.

He didn’t mind her smiling at the reporter—he just wanted her to smile at him, too. Her smile warmed his heart, and he missed that feeling.

Cal Perry put his gear into his backpack, finally. Rick waited until he was pulling away in his car before he approached Summer.

She heard him and turned his way, but the smile he was hoping for wasn’t present. She raised an eyebrow. “See? I told you it was a great idea.”

“I never said it wasn’t a good idea.”

His friend Sid at the planetarium had been none too pleased that he’d given up time in the middle of his day off when he found out they would have to rush through everything.

Once the kids had loaded back onto the bus, Sid had chewed Rick’s ass thoroughly for his poor planning, making Rick wonder if he’d hurt his chances for the park ranger job he was hoping for this fall. He’d counted on Sid’s support, but now he wasn’t sure that was a given. It ate at him, and he shrugged noncommittally, still feeling the sting. “It was just bad timing.”

“The timing was perfect, actually. Maybe Mom and Daddy will finally see that I’m capable of making good decisions for this place.” Her face broke into a smile of smug delight.

“Is that what all this was about?” Irritation flickered in his gut again.

“Proving myself?” She gave a curt nod. “Damn right.”

Proving herself to Mommy and Daddy? Grabbing some glory for herself with no thought of the consequences to others? The flicker flared higher. She was acting like a spoiled brat, and it was time somebody called her on it. “That’s pretty selfish, don’t you think?”

“Selfish?” Her smugness shifted to indignation.

“You heard me. You’re thinking about Summer Delaney, not Camp Sunny Daze...not the kids.”

“How can you say that?” she sputtered.

“How can I not say that? Don’t you realize there’s a ripple effect in life? Things are related? You’re willing to waste educational time...time that could spark a lifelong interest...maybe even determine a life’s calling—” he included the entire camp with a sweep of his arms “—in order to prove you could make one good decision?”

Her chin snapped higher at his use of the word one. “I would never preempt a true learning experience for the kids. I’m all for their learning early about life and finding their place in it.” She mimicked his arm sweep. “If you think anything different from that, you don’t know me very well.”

“I thought I did. But you’re right. I don’t know you very well, apparently.”

They stood in silence, eyes locked defiantly.

Summer was about to say something—wanting to get in the last word, no doubt—when her gaze shifted beyond him and her face pinched in worry. Footfalls came up fast behind him.

He swung around to meet Tara, breathless and pale. She gripped her cell phone so tightly her knuckles were white. “Summer, I need to go home.” Her voice quavered.

“What’s wrong?” Summer’s hands gripped her friend’s shoulders. “What’s happened?”

Tara held up the phone and shook her head. “I don’t know. My mom just called. She said not to worry...everybody’s okay and nobody’s hurt or anything, but I need to come home. They need to talk to me about something.”

“That’s odd, isn’t it?” Summer voiced Rick’s exact thoughts. “What could it be?”

“I don’t know.” Tara’s eyes filled with tears. “Unless they’re getting a divorce or something, but I can’t imagine that. I mean, with my dad being a preacher... They seem so happy and have never had any problem that I know of. ...” Her voice trailed off.

“Go,” Summer insisted. “I’ll find Ginny and Charlie and tell them right now.”

Rick stepped in. “I’ll find Ginny and Charlie. Y’all go take care of whatever you need to do.”

Summer gave him one last glaring look before they took off in opposite directions.