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ChapterForty-Six
TESS
It’s been six weeks since the accident, and today was the last day of camp. Parents have arrived to take their kids home, and everyone gathers at Shady Hill one last time.
Tiki torches line the pathways. The sky is clear and full of stars. Daniel’s on the hill, strumming the guitar and singing camp songs. Maddie’s by his side.
After a summer of public barbecues and movie nights, I wanted tonight to be simple. No grand gestures. No big spotlight. Just Sunny Camp, back to basics.
I’m with Spencer, standing at the base of the hill, waiting for Daniel to finish his song. Then I’m going to lead the kids as their conductor one final time before sending them home. I won’t lie. I’ve been a little teary-eyed since this morning when Clive came to the office to thank me.
“What for?” I asked him.
“For bungling the setup with Kayla and Spencer,” he said.
After all, that’s why Kayla came to that first movie night. It’s how she met Clive. And they’re a whole thing now. I won’t pretend to know what their future has in store. But after this rollercoaster of a summer, I finally get to start mine with Spencer.
We’ve been together as often as we could. But between his jobs and our camp responsibilities, we’ve been stretched a little thin. A lot has happened since the hospital. More than I can wrap my brain around. But one thing’s for sure: Love is at the bottom of it all.
As the final notes of Daniel’s song trail off, I’m about to address the camp, but Mrs. Lockhart beats me to it, jumping in front of me with her bullhorn.
“Citizens of Apple Valley and beyond!” she bellows.
“And beyond?” Spencer whispers. “Is she talking to the aliens?”
I shush him, but I can’t help giggling.
“That’s my favorite sound,” he says.
“As your mayor,” Mrs. Lockhart continues, “I could not be more thrilled to be here, celebrating the end of this year’s Sunny Camp! After eight glorious weeks, I leave here tonight confident of one thing: Your children had even more fun than I did.”
“Hmmm.” Spencer leans in. “Is she forgetting about Mr. Dudley behind the dining hall?”
“Shh!” I bump his elbow. “We still don’t speak about that.”
“Now, I have two announcements,” Mrs. Lockhart tells us, “and I believe you’ll want to hear them both.” She pauses dramatically, and I half expect her to blurt the wordfortuitous.“Earlier this week,” she says, “I—along with the entire town council—offered Tess McCoy a permanent position. Not only as the director of our Sunny Camp, but as the year-round coordinator of Apple Valley’s recreational programming.”
There’s applause, but I barely hear it over the clatter of my heart. I feel dizzy and begin to sway. Spencer wraps an arm around me. “I had no idea she’d do this tonight,” I say under my breath. “I haven’t even given her an answer yet.”
Spencer nods. “She just wants to be sure you’ll say yes. Like proposing on the Jumbotron.”
“Most of you are aware,” the mayor goes on, “that Tess’s father built the Edward R. McCoy library. Over the years, that space has brought countless visitors to this town. Now the council and I are challenging Ted’s daughter to reinvent our entire recreational system.”
I suck in air, and my pulse races. Hearing it put this way steals my breath.
“For instance,” she continues, “Tess could arrange new classes at our recreation center. Or pickle ball tournaments in Northfield Park. Perhaps she’ll create weekly tours for this very ranch, or coordinate concerts in the library’s community room.”
Spencer stifles a smirk. “Is this the mayor’s not-so-subtle way of offering her ideas?”
“Fortuitous,” I whisper.
“Rest assured,” Mrs. Lockhart forges on, “we have faith in Tess McCoy.” She nods, still all seriousness. “As you good people know, I had great expectations for our little Sunny Camp. I hired the best people. Spread the word far and wide. I wanted every detail to be extraordinary. For your children. For you.” She pauses for a sigh, which she manages to aim straight into the bullhorn. “What youdon’tknow is that we faced a near calamity that almost derailed things before they started. I was prepared to give up for fear of being seen as a failure. But Tess made me realize that anything Miranda Lockhart puts her mind to could only be a success.”
Spencer chuckles openly now. “Nice spin, mayor.”
She lifts her free hand in the air. “With Tess at the helm, the skytrulyis the limit. And I’m proud to say—although quite humbly—I am the one who discovered her full potential.”
Mrs. Lockhart drops her arm and beams at me. “Tess, my dear, the council has drawn up contracts for you to sign. Just say the word. But I hope you don’t feel pressured. I’d never dream of putting you on the spot.”
