Page 68 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“They’ll be back.” Dad gave me a reassuring smile, doing his best to move on from the awkward moments.

“I hope so.”

My camp was structured differently from a lot of others around the state. Other summer programs had limited staff on hand, typically just a director and maintenance manager. The kids were chaperoned by volunteer parents at whichever organization was sponsoring the camp.

But at mine, we employed a full-time counseling staff. They were all college kids who wanted to spend their summers in Lark Cove. They were content to live in a bunkhouse with their sleeping bags and limited space for personal belongings, right alongside the kids. It wasn’t glamorous, but they did it for the experience.

I paid them as well as possible because of how much they were giving up. They didn’t get many days off to hang out with friends. They didn’t get a lot of free time to spend on the lake. Other than the staff lounge in the main lodge, they didn’t even have their own private space.

But their energy never waned.

Somehow, every year I managed to find a group of counselors who could match my enthusiasm beat for beat. It wasn’t uncommon for counselors to return for a second year, some even three. And when they knew they weren’t going to come back because they were graduating or had other job offers, they helped me recruit a replacement.

More often than not, the outgoing counselor put the incoming recruit through a more rigorous examination than I ever could.

I’d miss the counselors who’d be moving on after this season.

“Did you hear back from the coffee hut?” Mom asked.

“Yeah.” I frowned. “They don’t have any positions open, but they said they’d keep me in mind if something changes this winter.”

And since I didn’t know of any other place looking for part-time help, I was facing another boring winter.

It wasn’t all that surprising. There wasn’t much employee turnover in any Lark Cove business. People wanted to work close to home, so they held on to their jobs with a death grip.

“All ready for school to start, Dad?”

He nodded. “Ready as ever. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks rearranging my classroom. Now that you’re not so busy at camp, you’ll have to come by and check it out.”

“I’ll be there.”

I loved going back to the school, not just because it brought back memories from my own time as a student, but also because it brought back memories of when I’d gone in as Dad’s special assistant.

Every summer, he rearranged his classroom. He’d test out the new experiments he wanted to try with his classes. He’d redecorate his bulletin boards. And I’d be his helper.

I missed those days.

As Mom, Dad and I chatted more about Dad’s plans for the first day of school, my appetite returned and I finished my pl

ate. “Thanks, Mom. That was delicious.”

“Yes, it was.” Dad stood from the table. “Thanks for dinner, dear.” He kissed her on the forehead, collected both their plates and took them into the kitchen.

Mom smiled as she watched him walk away. “Your dad and I were going to rent a movie tonight. Will you stay and watch it with us?”

I checked the clock on the wall. I’d promised Jackson I’d come down to the bar to keep him company and it was about time to leave.

“Please?” Mom placed her hand over mine. “Your dad feels like he’s losing his baby girl. It would mean a lot if you stayed.”

“Okay.” The bar would be there tomorrow. “Just let me text Jackson.”

She smiled and cleared my plate as I took out my phone to tell Jackson I’d be down after the movie.

His reply was fast. Sounds good, babe. Don’t walk if it’s dark.

I smiled at the screen. He was always so concerned with my safety. Nothing bad ever happened in Lark Cove so it was sort of unnecessary, but I didn’t argue.

Jackson’s past explained a lot about him. He didn’t trust easily. Other than Hazel and Thea, his instinct was to keep people at arm’s length. Even me, to some degree. He was slowly letting me in, but it would take time.