The Summer Place

CHAPTER TWENTY



RICK STEPPED ONTO SUMMER’S front porch. Catching a glimpse of her through the window, he paused. She was sitting on her couch. Not doing anything. Just sitting. He’d never seen her so still except when she was sleeping.

The memory of her body pressed against him, her leg slung over his in the abandon of sleep, motivated him forward in a last-ditch effort to make things right between them again.

He knocked and she opened the door, looking at him dully. “What do you want, Rick?”

“Can I come in? I need to talk to you. It won’t take long.”

They didn’t have long. Dinner would be served in about twenty minutes.

She didn’t answer, just turned and moved back to sit on the couch, leaving the door open. He noticed then that she held her cell phone.

“Have you heard from your parents?” He took a couple of steps into the cabin. She didn’t offer him a seat, didn’t look in his direction.

“Just now. The guy you put on to them seems very interested. He told them he’d get back to them soon. Probably early next week.”

“Summer, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you wanted to buy the camp yourself.”

That got her attention. Her eyes shot to him and narrowed. “You read my plan.”

“Your reaction to the news was the opposite of what I expected it to be. I thought you’d be happy, but you weren’t. I was trying to figure out why.”

“It was my plan, and it was none of your business.”

“It was in the trash.”

“Where it belonged. You should’ve left it there.”

“Maybe you’re right, but—”

“But you can’t leave things alone, can you? You always have to get involved because you know how to fix it, and you know better than anyone else.”

“That’s not fair.”

Anger brought her to her feet. “I’m not fair? That’s the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think? Does it ever occur to you that someone else might know more about something than you do? I went to camp here for six years. My parents have owned it for five. That’s eleven years my family has invested here. You’ve been around for eight weeks, but in that time you’ve managed to come in and take over and jerk away something precious in my life. What’s fair about that?”

“You’re right. I should’ve talked to you, but I thought—”

“No, you didn’t. You didn’t think. You just reacted. You rushed in to save the day, playing the part of the hero like you always do.”

“If I was playing the part of the hero, it was only for you. I was trying to be your hero.”

“Don’t feed me that line. You’re still trying to be Dunk’s hero. You set out every day, trying to save Dunk, but every night, he’s still dead, so the nightmares torment you. The next day, you get up and start it all over again.”

Rick’s gut twisted. “This has nothing to do with Dunk. Leave him out of it.”

“You’re the one who needs to leave him out of it, but you can’t. You save your friends from the cave, save Kenny in the storm, save me from the snake, save the camp.... No matter how hard you try, how many people or things you save, you’re never going to save him. Dunk’s gone, Rick. Let him go.”

Her words drove into his brain like a fist, grasping something from its secret depths and jerking it unbidden to the surface.

“Dunk’s gone, Rick. Let him go.”

The sunlight around him fractured and the camera in his head zoomed Summer out. Her mouth moved, but her words were lost.

Dunk was in his arms.

Heat. Fire. Bullets zinging all around, the repetitive whine of ricochets off the stones. No plan, no strategy. Just run like hell. Get Dunk to someone who can get the bullet out of his neck.

Damn! He’s losing so much blood! Slick...hard to hold on to.

His muscles protested the double exertion, shook violently. Sweat poured into his eyes.

Can’t see...can’t see. Keep running.

Hands trying to pry Dunk free.

“Dunk’s gone, Rick. Let him go.” Asa’s voice.

No! Won’t let go! Letting go means... Oh, God! Not Dunk...please, not Dunk.

The film rolling in his head stopped and rewound. Back...further back.

The child was in Dunk’s arms.

“Give her to me. You can’t carry her.”

Dunk handed her over. They were running.

Zing! The bullet...one bullet...only one shot when they had the child. One shot...aimed at whoever wasn’t carrying the little girl.

And he’d taken her from Dunk’s grasp seconds before.

Rick’s eyes cleared to reveal Summer’s upraised chin, right in front of him. She advanced a couple of steps and stood close enough to touch him, but she didn’t. She couldn’t feel the icy tremors rolling down his spine, reverberating out to his fingers and toes.

He took a step backward toward the door. Retreating. “I’m sorry I called you selfish.” He barely recognized his own voice through the thin ringing in his ears. Oh, God! Was he going to pass out?

Summer reached around him and opened the screen door. “It doesn’t matter now.”

Rick backed through the door and off the porch, an eerie numbness settling deep in his chest. It seemed to originate from the granite star hanging on the chain and bored its way through the tattoo over his heart.

He stumbled to his cabin and into the bathroom where he heaved up the contents of his stomach. Filling the sink with cold water, he rinsed his face repeatedly until the nausea passed...but the truth remained.

Summer was right. He always had to be the hero.

And it had cost him the life of his best friend.

* * *

THE EXCITEMENT FROM THE afternoon of zip-lining had run its course, replaced by a mellowness that settled over the group like a cozy wrap...for everyone except Summer.

A chunk of ice hung in her chest, occupying the area that had once held her heart.

Everyone sat in a semicircle on the beach, where the gentle waves lapping behind them should’ve been mesmerizing and calming in their regularity. But Summer’s insides were a matted, twisted conglomeration of emotions.

“I know all of you have seen a crow.” Rick’s mellow voice captured her attention. “But did you know that the crow wasn’t always black? Back in the earliest times, when the world was first created, the crow was the most beautiful bird of all. He had feathers the colors of the rainbow, and his song was the sweetest sound ever heard.”

Tara’s idea for each of the counselors to tell a story while dressed in costume had been a stroke of genius. The kids had remained entranced throughout Summer’s story of the ill-equipped fairy princess who tamed a dragon using only a bubble wand. Neil’s ninja tale, purposely chosen so he could be dressed in black for the next part he was to play in tonight’s drama, was a huge hit also.

Tara’s true story, told in full Irish brogue, of her great-grandmother’s coming to America during the potato famine had moved some of the girls to tears, giving Summer the perfect opportunity to wipe away the occasional tear of her own.

Now Rick, dressed in a Native American garb of buckskin, had the kids captivated by his tale. “Rainbow Crow couldn’t stand to see the animals freezing beneath the heavy snow and ice, so he told them, ‘I’ll go to the Creator and ask him to stop the cold.’ The journey was a long one. Rainbow Crow flew for three days and nights.”

So Rainbow Crow chose to be the hero. No wonder he chose that particular story. Summer forced her mouth into a smirk.

In contrast, her stomach churned of its own accord as she remembered the way she’d lashed out at him, saying what she had about Dunk. It needed to be said. He needed to hear it. But that kind of thing shouldn’t have been spewed in retaliation.

The look on his face was like nothing she’d ever seen. Anguish personified. She’d been angry...lashed out to hurt him...wanted him to feel some of the pain she carried.

Well, she’d been successful there.

But instead of vindication, her guts were twisted by shame.

She brushed away another tear.

“I was trying to be your hero.”

No one had ever tried to be her hero—except her dad.

“The Creator jabbed the end of the stick into the sun, allowing it to catch fire, then he handed it to Rainbow Crow. ‘Take this back to Earth,’ he said. ‘It is fire and it holds the warmth you seek to save your world.’”

Rick’s eyes met Summer’s for only a split second, but long enough for her to be reminded of the fire she’d seen in them when they made love. The chunk of ice in her chest melted a little. She could feel the trickle worming its way through her, leaving a warm trail where it meandered.

“Rainbow Crow flew and flew as fast as he could, afraid the fire would go out before he reached Earth.”

Summer filled her eyes with the striking image Rick posed. An exterior chiseled out of granite, yet a touch tender enough to calm a scared child...or melt a woman’s heart. Hers.

“Too close to the sun and his beautiful rainbow tail feathers were scorched black...”

Even now, she wanted to undo the leather laces holding his shirt closed and press against the taut ripples of his stomach. Wanted to pull a feather from his headdress and stroke it along his length, drawing grunts of pleasure.

“Too close to the moon, which scorched the lovely feathers on his wings and body to a dull black, also...”

She wanted to look him straight in the eye and tell him she was crazy for being so crazy about him...but looking at him turned her brain matter to goo.

“The smoke burned his throat until his beautiful voice was choked out...”

Pulling her eyes away from Rick, she picked up a stick and scratched in the dirt at her feet. Next week, when there wouldn’t be any kids, and she’d had time to get over the shock of losing the camp and her life’s dream, they’d be able to talk...without all the drama.

“Because of his unselfish acts, the Creator coated the crow’s charred, black feathers with a beautiful gloss that would still show the rainbow colors when the sun hit them. And the Creator made the crow’s meat taste bad like smoke so that man wouldn’t be tempted to hunt him.”

Summer’s upper teeth gnawed a piece of skin from her bottom lip. She hadn’t told Rick her dream of owning the camp. He’d acted based on what he thought she wanted.

Another drip trickled inside.

“Each time you see a crow, remember the sacrifice he made, and how he put the other animals’ needs before his own.”

Just like you, Rick...like you always do. Forever faithful...Semper fi.

She sighed, not wanting to wait until tomorrow when the kids were gone to talk. She couldn’t. She wanted to talk to him...make things right between them...tonight.

A long breath expanded her lungs, filling the space in her chest and warming it, making it feel not nearly so cold or hollow.

“We stand and unite our hearts by the joining of our hands,” Rick said, motioning everyone to their feet, and she was relieved for some action to shake her out of her lethargy.

They stood, each one clasping the hands of the person next to him or her.

A vibration of excitement thrummed through the group as Rick turned to face the trees, raising his arms and his voice. “The sign of fire from the unselfish act of Rainbow Crow to forever remind us of the unity of our hearts even as we walk the separate pathways of our lives.”

The echo of his voice sent an uncomfortable shiver up Summer’s spine. She didn’t want a separate pathway from Rick. Every part of her wanted unity—especially her pretty heart.

And then, even though she’d been in on all the planning, astonishment filled her, and she gasped right along with the kids as a flaming fireball shot out of the sky. The fire pit at the edge of the beach burst forth in flames.

Carlos’s and M&M’s grips tightened on each side of her, their eyes wide with wonder. After the initial shock, they regained their wits, and their hands, still clasped, shot into the air along with cheers. The campers’ awe soon gave way to a deluge of questions centered around “How’d he do that?” while Summer and Tara shrugged in response.

The kids didn’t need to know that the fireball was actually a roll of toilet tissue Neil had soaked in kerosene and lighted before sliding it down the monofilament line to the fire pit.

Let them believe in the magic.

Neil appeared out of the woods along with Ginny and Charlie, carrying a tray of Hershey bars, marshmallows and graham crackers for s’mores.

The kids toasted marshmallows on sticks that Charlie had whittled into points as Summer and Rick guarded the fire pit area to make sure no one got stabbed, stuck, burned or pushed. The others helped with assembly of the treats.

Summer was sweltering, standing so near the fire in the fairy princess costume. But the sight of Rick dressed in buckskin, rugged and sexy with his tanned skin burnished by the glow of the firelight, drew her unwittingly like a moth.

He seemed distracted...didn’t look her way—not once. Damn him and the way he made her feel. Totally confused, she didn’t know what her future held. And yet, more sure than she’d ever been, she wanted Rick to be in it.

“Great story, Rick,” she called over the fire, hating being ignored by him.

“Thanks. Yours, too.”

Silence.

She tried again. “Where’d you get the costume?”

“Mom drove to Oklahoma.”

A bead of sweat trickled between her breasts and onto her stomach as the last child marched away from the fire.

Her breath caught as Rick moved her way, but the smile froze on her lips when he brushed past her as if she wasn’t there and went to join the rest of the group.

Sheesh! He was driving her insane!

“Can we play hide-and-seek, Mr. Rick?” Howie’s tongue snaked out to lick a smear of chocolate from the corner of his mouth. “P-please? One last t-time?”

The emotion in the boy’s voice and eyes made a bite of Hershey bar stick in Summer’s throat. This had been a special time for him—a time to bask in some glory. Be the star. Earn his star. A time of learning, acceptance...safety. Tomorrow he would go back home...to what? Had his mom decided to give Howie, Sr., another chance? So often, abused women did.

Summer shuddered, wishing the camp could go on forever for Howie.

“Tell you what.” Rick tousled the boy’s hair with such a fatherly gesture, Summer’s eyes stung. “How ’bout the counselors be ‘it’ this time, and all the kids can hide.”

“Yeah!”

“When we find you, go sit in the pavilion until everybody’s in,” Neil instructed as the kids scurried away.

Ginny and Charlie gathered what was left of the snacks onto the trays and headed to the kitchen.

Rick drew his comrades into a small circle as he began counting, and Summer felt childish, wishing she could stand by him.

Tara laughed. “We look like a prayer group.”

“Oh, Lord, we want to thank you for these children,” Neil intoned below Rick’s counting. “And thank you that our time with them is drawing to an end. Mmm-hmm. It’s been a fine time we’ve had here, Lord, with these fine children, who’ve blessed us with their antics. Blessed us so that the stars in our crowns have been given a greater chance to multiply with each and every passing day.”

Summer and Tara ruptured with laughter at Neil’s last statement as Rick called out, “Thirty!”

“Let’s make this quick, y’all,” he said, and Summer noticed that his eyes slid over her, but landed briefly on Neil and Tara. She hurried away in response. The sooner they found everybody, the sooner they could get them in bed and the sooner she could talk to Rick alone.

Would he talk to her? Her mouth went dry. Maybe not. But he’d have to listen. He couldn’t ignore her forever.

Without even having to discuss it, the counselors fanned out in different directions as they headed away from the beach into the trees surrounding the camp.

Most of the kids hid behind the large trees and, although they tried sneaking around the sides, were easily spotted by one of the adults. A few braved the relative darkness to hide in the shadows of the buildings. They seemed the most relieved when they got found.

It didn’t take long until everybody was in except for Lucy and, as usual, Howie.

Tara and Neil stayed at the pavilion with the large group as Rick went around the dining hall toward the storm shelter. Summer searched the opposite direction.

At the edge of the woods, a hand caught her arm. “Aaiiee!” Summer let out a startled yelp. “Lucy, you scared me.”

“Ms. Summer, I know we’re not supposed to tattle...” The child bit her bottom lip.

“What is it, Lucy?” She didn’t have time for one of Lucy’s whiny accusations of being left out. The sooner they found Howie...

“Howie went in the woods.” Lucy’s chin buckled in aggravation.

Summer didn’t relish the idea of traipsing through the woods in her fairy princess dress. “Are you sure?” She squinted and tilted her head to let the child know this was no time for games.

“I promise, Ms. Summer.” Lucy traced a quick cross over her heart. “He went in there.”

Summer’s eyes followed the child’s pointing finger—to the path that went by the Byassee place. A cold dread filled her as she remembered her frightening premonition. Something bad could be out there again tonight. Howie had a good head start...might already be walking into danger. She pulled a small flashlight from the pocket of her dress and kept her voice calm, trying not to scare the child. “I’m going toward the Byassee place, Lucy. You tell Mr. Rick, okay?”

Whether or not Rick followed, she knew this path well enough to walk it blindfolded if she had to.

Not waiting for Lucy’s answer, she hiked up her costume and ran.