Food always brought people together. But somehow, even while drinking mimosas and snacking on Bobby’s heavenly pastries, they still found a way to bicker. They were a close-knit family whose motto seemed to be picking on each other and driving one another mad. Most people took a vacation to try to reconnect and relax together, but not the Millers. I’d already heard all about the reason for their squabble from the youngest sister. She’d filled me in that there were issues around a trust and that their recently deceased long-lost aunt thought family bonding at a camp for adults would do the trick. So far, it hadn’t.
I rubbed my temples and tried to meditate for a moment, but I remembered these were grown-ass adults, and they should theoretically be able to sort their own issues out.
Usually, I had more patience, and I’d suggest fun things to get them out of their funk, but to be fair, this week had been challenging, and there wasn’t enough tea in the world for this. Missing a couple of days of my medication and not having my phone back until last night meant that my carefully crafted morning rituals were gone. Everything felt unorganized and chaotic, as if a rug had been pulled out from under me. Most mornings, I was an early bird. I’d put on music and go about the inconvenient task of changing my bandages before doing my skincare routine, but today, I was dragging.
Part of that was getting back on my Adderall routine, but the other part was Jack.
I had some time off, so I went back to my cabin, planning to take a catnap before lunch, when a knock at the door startledme. It was still early, and no one knocked much at camp. Unless maybe a camper was lost? I walked to the door, still wrapped in my blanket. What I didn’t expect to find on the doorstep was a middle-school-aged boy standing there with his eyes somehow both lit up and bugged out.
“You’re Naturegirlnat.”
This was a first. Being spotted was rare here at camp, especially not by a kid while I was wearing my fuzzy bunny slippers. I was so grateful that Jack had let me into my cabin to get somenecessitiesearly this morning.
“That’s right. And you are?” I took in his brown crew cut and dimples.
The boy’s wits seemed to return when Jack sidled up beside me. He was newly showered with his hair in a half-up, half-down man bun. Why was that so hot?
“Uncle Jack, you really know Naturegirlnat?” The boy’s big eyes flew from me to Jack and back to me.
Jack smiled and ushered the kid inside. Jack clearly didn’t understand why the boy would be so enamored with me. That made two of us.
“I live here. Isn’t that right, Jack? Now, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?” I nudged Jack when he didn’t introduce us right away.
Jack pushed a hand through his messy hair and grinned at the kid, who set his backpack down. “Sorry. Nat, this is Jordan, my nephew. We’re hanging out today.”
He poured himself coffee before he began making something on the kitchen stovetop. I still wasn’t used to the fact that Jack had his own full kitchen, a fireplace, much more space, and now, apparently, a sweet nephew who was making himself right at home.
“You can call me Jordy,” he said before turning to his uncle. “Is she your girlfriend?” He seemed so excited, we both turned to shatter his dreams at the same time.
“No,” and, “No way,” were spoken in unison with enough fervor to light the room on fire.
Jack clarified quickly. “Nat is a friend of mine. She’s a counselor here.”
“Oh my gosh. So this is what you do on your off time?” Jordy asked as Jack handed him a mug of cocoa, and he took a sip before he continued talking excitedly. “What are you working on now?”
I adored his sweet energy. I was recognized for my social media presence from time to time, but it never ceased to amaze me. I started to answer when a steaming mug of cocoa was placed into my hands. I looked up and smiled at the considerate gesture, resisting the urge to pat him on his cheek. Jack smiled at me and turned back to the stovetop.
“Well, what are you doing today?” I asked.
Jack answered for him. “We’re just hanging around camp. Might go into Wildwood.”
“Well, if you and your uncle don’t have too many plans, why don’t you help me with my latest post?” I looked to Jack to make sure I wasn’t overstepping, but he smiled at me warmly. I turned back to Jordy. “If you’d like. I could use an assistant today. I’m free until this afternoon.”
“Really? You’d let me help you?” Jordy asked eagerly.
I couldn’t help but be warmed by that. Some kids would balk at the idea, but Jordy was filled with such enthusiasm over helping me with my work that I almost wanted him to lower his expectations. But I’d find a way to make it fun.
Jack shrugged with a smile, and Jordan looked like he was going to combust from excitement. I grabbed my phone, since I had no way of uploading from my camera. My phone hadmiraculously made it through the storm, but my laptop was not so lucky.
“I have a video channel, too.” As we laced up our boots, Jordan stopped me with a serious look on his adorable face. “I actually started it because of you.”
I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. That was the best compliment I’d ever received. I loved that I was inspiring him. “You did?”
Jack popped back into our field of vision with his own stunned look, before his eyes crinkled at the corners. “That’s so cool, bud. Sounds like you two have lots in common.”
So he thought what I did was cool. Well, at least when his nephew did.
“Why don’t you tell us about your channel?” I encouraged Jordy, who, as it turned out, didn’t need much encouragement as he became the cutest professional. He explained his channel’s goal, which was to explore the world like me.
