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“Of course you are—you’re filling the space. Giving everyone else the opportunity to be their best. To shine. And we love you for that.”
Right. Because she was the one who showed up.
Vivien looked at her watch and clapped her hands. “Okay, cast and crew,” she shouted, “let’s take lunch. Be back in your places in forty-five minutes.” She rubbed the tiny curve of her abdomen. “I’m ravenous. All the time.”
Footsteps scuffled behind the set pieces, and a remarkable number of backstage crew and actors swarmed from the set, vacating faster than the kids called for KP duty at the camp kitchen.
Beth took the towel Courtney offered and wiped the smudges of blood from her hair and face. She checked the clock on the theater wall. “I need to head out. I have a shift at the library.”
Vivien furrowed her brow. “You’re going to miss out on the chase scene this afternoon. It’s hysterical.”
“Isn’t this character dead?”
Vivien held up a finger. “Ah-ha! That’s what the audience thinks—which is why the scene is so funny.”
Beth frowned. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I promised Joyce I’d help with a new summer reading program thing. I’m not sure what it is, but she sounded desperate.”
Vivien let out a breath. “Fine.” She touched the back of her hand to her brow. “I don’t know how we’ll get on without you.”
“That might be a little thick, Vivie.” Courtney laughed and picked up her lunch bag. “It’s true, though. I think half this town runs because of Beth.”
“That’s preposterous.” So what if she had four Volunteer of the Year plaques on her wall and two honorable mentions. They’d never made her feel truly wanted. Once the leftovers were packed up at every awards banquet, everyone went home with their Tupperware, and she looked for the next thing to fill the void.
“What about tomorrow?” Vivien put her palms together like she was praying. “Ella will still be finishing up that big rush order at her soap shop. She can’t be back until Monday.”
Beth grimaced. “I have to be at Trinity.” She contemplated offering tomorrow night.
“Oh, that’s right.” Vivien lifted her arms toward Beth and turned to Courtney. “Did you hear? You’re looking at Noah’s new assistant camp director.”
“What?” Courtney gasped. “That’s fantastic news—why didn’t you tell me?”
Beth held up a hand. “Interim. I’m just the interim assistant.” Despite her best efforts to convince Noah otherwise. “Noah said he’s had a lot of interest in the position. Apparently, everyone in the Cities thinks a paid position on the North Shore is all the rage.” She fluttered jazz hands.
Courtney unzipped her lunch cooler. “We do have World’s Best Donuts, Java Cup, and the Footstep of Heaven Bookstore.”
“I hear the kayak instructors are amazing at Wild Harbor,” Vivien said. She placed a hand over her heart.
“We are fairly awesome,” Beth conceded with a smile and winked at Courtney, who’d recently joined their Wild Harbor team.
How many kids had Beth taught to kayak on the waters of Lake Superior and smaller lakes?
“So, when do you get the job for real? It seems like you’ve been volunteering there for ages.” Courtney pulled a sandwich and chips from her cooler. “Hey—does this mean you’ll be cutting back your lessons at Wild Harbor?”
“I am—I’m already off the schedule.”
“How does it feel to be stepping into your first full-time job?”
“Ask me in a few weeks. Noah’s having me run some of the camp start-ups for the season through June.” She grimaced. “I have to make sure everything at Trinity is ready to go. He focuses on Wilderness Challenge. Officially, I go full-time on Tuesday.” She stood. “Pray for smooth operations. I’m also helping him with the family camp.”
“At the end of June, the job will be yours?” Vivien asked. “You’ll be the official ACD, right?” She pulled a bag of apple slices, cheese, and cracker rounds from her lunch sack.
“Barring any disasters. Since my resume is lacking on management experience, Noah needs me to show I can do it.” Beth sighed. “I get it, though, why he needs me to prove myself. It’s a substantial job. Lots of responsibilities.” All she’d ever been was the summer kayak instructor at the camp, camp counselor, and camp gofer—most of which had been volunteer spots. “It’s kind of intimidating. I’m responsible for a bunch of funding that Trinity relies on. Grants and accounting and the scholarships.”
“You can do it,” Courtney said. “Just like when you got that lead role in Vivie’s show a couple years ago. You surprised everyone.”
Yeah, she had—because like everything else in her life, she’d always been on the periphery, backstage, or sidelines. Organizing, making things happen, but never truly belonging in her own place.
Until now. Now she hoped to secure the job—one where she’d finally find fulfillment without being scattered across the county with a portfolio of part-time positions, paid and volunteer.
