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“I don’t know where Mrs. Lockhart is now.” Clive bobs his head. “But I did meet your brother earlier. Frank’s quite the quiet chap, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.” I smirk. “Wait ’til you get to know him.”
Clive chuckles, then flips a row of patties. At this point, there’s no one else in line, so this is probably the last grilling he’ll have to do until next Sunday. “Did you hear about the hubbub over at the hotdog truck?” he asks, and Kayla finally tears her focus away from him.
“It was so crazy.” Her eyes light up as she tells the story. “Brooke’s water broke while they were in line. Mac started freaking out—like absolutely losing his mind—and Tess was the only one who could talk him off the cliff.”
“Really.” I run a hand along the back of my neck.
“Uh huh.” Kayla nods. “I’ve never seen Tess like that before. Totally in charge. She got her friend to take Daisy home so Mac wouldn’t have to worry about her. Then she called her mom and sisters so they’d know what was going on. The whole time, she stayed so calm, saying everything would be fine. I heard her promise Mac she’d be right by their side as long as they needed.” Kayla pauses for a breath. “Then Mrs. Lockhart volunteered to stay at camp in Tess’s place. She made sure everyone heard how generous she was being. What a giver.” Kayla rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Brooke looked pretty miserable by the time they left. Tess and Mac were practically carrying her out of here.”
Tess. Calm and in charge.
Somehow picturing this is easy.
“Well, I’d better go find Mrs. Lockhart in case there’s anything I can do to help.” I say this to Kayla and Clive, but they’re back to making googly-eyes at each other and don’t even notice me leaving.
So I wander the entire area between the grill and the food truck, where people stop me to chat every few feet. The story of Brooke going into labor is the major topic of conversation. Like any good story, the details of her water breaking and Tess’s heroics get even more dramatic as the evening goes on.
When people finally begin to leave, I check for Mrs. Lockhart inside the dining hall and the kitchen. Then I head back over to Shady Hill. No mayor to be found. She’s not in the camp office, either. Or in the boys’ or girls’ cabins.
Maybe she went home after all. Let’s be honest, Mrs. Lockhart is only interested in public displays of service, and there aren’t a lot of townspeople left for her to impress at this point. By now, pretty much everyone else has left the ranch except the counselors and campers.
Does this make me the lone person in charge overnight? I don’t mind. I just feel a little lost without Tess.
The truth is, I want to read her note.
It’s late enough now, isn’t it? The kids aren’t asleep yet, but Clive and Kayla are with Daniel and Maddie getting a bonfire ready for s’mores. The camp is in good hands. They can spare me for a few minutes. All I need is a quiet spot where no one will interrupt me.
And I know just the place.
I’m going to head back to the dining hall and kitchen, behind the building where Tess and I talked this morning. That’s where we were when I knew for sure how deeply I cared for her.
I’d planned to tell her how much tonight, but Brooke’s baby had other plans. I have no regrets, though. Tess is where she needs to be, and I’m happy for the McCoys. Happy for the new member of their family coming into the world right now.
That’s the future I want, in fact. A future Tess doesn’t see for herself. Which is something else we’ll have to talk about. Something big.
But first? Her note.
As I make my way over to the dining hall, I pull up my phone. It’s fully dark now, and the moonlight won’t be bright enough for me to read by. I’ll need my flashlight. For that matter, simply unfolding the note could take me the rest of the night.
My mouth quirks, imagining Tess scribbling down a message before leaving for the hospital. But then she still took the time to fold the note before handing it off to Lucy to give to me. Tess is a study in contradictions. And I’m prepared to study her like it’s my job.
Rounding the corner of the building, I slip the note from my pocket. Then I hold up my flashlight too so there’s enough light.
And wow, do I get an eyeful…
of Mrs. Lockhart in a liplock with Mr. Dudley.
Whoa. WHOA WHOAWHOA!I mutter something about the bonfire being ready, and stumble backward around the building. Then I take off at a fast clip, completely dazed by what I just saw. For the record, I might be more embarrassed than they are. I mean, hey. They’re both single and available, so good for them, right?
But oh, man. The blending of his breath and her perfume? That’s a subject I donotwant to discuss with them in any amount of detail. Nope. Don’t worry. Didn’t see a thing, folks.
Still. The town’s mayor and the library’s supervisor hooking up is nothing short of BREAKING NEWS. And yeah, I’m not into gossip. At all. But I do want to share this story with someone. Someone who’d understand just how nauseatingly hilarious this is.
I want to tell Tess.
That’s the real headline.
