The Summer of Our Discontent (22 page)

She mopped her brow with the back of her arm. “It gave me nightmares. I’d see those long orange arms reaching for me out of the black smoke. It troubled me so much I finally went to Dad and told him that I’d sneaked out there and watched when they fought that fire. So he took me into the backyard and lit up an old crate. I put it out with a garden hose. I’d killed the monster.” Faith smiled when she regarded Rachel. “I wanted to kill more monsters after that. I made a few and got into a whole lot of trouble.”

“Does it still scare you?”

“Fires like the one at the feed store are pretty rare. I’ve only really fought a few that had engulfed a building or a house. We fight grass fires when it’s dry and the occasional kitchen fire, but the bulk of what I do is medical. I guess my fear has developed over time into more of a respect. I think your job is scarier. What made you want to follow in your father’s footsteps?”

“The uniform,” Rachel said with a laugh. “I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet. That’s why I always wore those plastic guns on my hips.”

Faith threw back her head and laughed. “I remember those.”

“I guess the thing that really appealed to me was that cops were always in cars, not stuck in an office somewhere. I can’t stand to be confined, and that’s why it was so unbearable being stuck in dispatch when Dad was chief. I’ve never had to fire my weapon in the line of duty, but I have drawn it a few times, and that was scary after the fact. I know you’ll relate when I say adrenaline takes over during those times.”

“Yeah, it does,” Faith said with a nod. “Lottie Bishop doesn’t scare you?”

“Now that’s scary. When she’s pissed off, it’s truly frightening. I’ve been to the Bishop house so often, I know it better than mine. Talk about a dysfunctional couple. Paul provokes and Lottie pounds. I think he may be a masochist.”

“Or just stupid.” Faith bent and stretched out her legs. “Wanna race to the other side of the lake?”

Rachel laughed as she took off.

*******

As the days wore on, the children began to get bored, so the activities were ramped up. Except for the jog in the mornings and time at the campfire each night, Faith and Rachel spent time apart helping the scouts with games, crafts, and races. The nighttime chats that they’d enjoyed before sleep were shortened because they were both exhausted.

This was usually the time that Rachel appreciated because she remained busy and time passed quickly. And now she resented it. She wasn’t ready to go home. She wanted more days with Faith where they spent their time talking. Rachel felt that once they were back in Michaud, the spell would be broken. Faith would go back to her life and Ms. Casual, and she would go back to her daily existence. Thanks to Faith, that didn’t seem all that appealing.

The day before they were to go home, the camp took on a carnival-like atmosphere. The children competed in games for prizes. Balls were thrown through tire swings, and there were egg tosses and sack races. One of the highlights was a water balloon fight. Faith was right in the middle, with Rachel on the fringes patrolling in case tempers flared. She walked the perimeter with her gaze on the children. Lisa did the same, and Rachel had not noticed her until they ran into each other. Instinctively, she reached to keep herself from falling and grabbed Lisa by the arm. As Lisa recovered from the impact, she snatched away from Rachel’s grasp.

“Don’t put your hands on me,” Lisa ground out.

“I wasn’t groping you, Lisa. I was trying to keep from falling. No one out here is gonna assume you’re a lesbian just because I touched you.”

“How do you know what they think? You and Faith are so wrapped up with each other to notice anything or anyone else. Do you really have to throw the fact that you’re a lesbian in everyone’s faces? You’re like a one-woman gay pride march, and I’m sick of it,” Lisa spat out as she stormed off.

Faith watched from a distance. She had no idea what had been said, but she knew well when Rachel was pissed off, and she obviously was. A water balloon exploded on the side of her head and reminded her she was at war, but she kept an eye on Rachel as she kept her distance from everyone.

*******

“You okay?” Faith asked later when the girls went for a swim.

Rachel glanced at her. “You saw?”

“Yeah.”

“Did anyone else?”

“I honestly don’t know. I was in a sea of balloons. I saw her pull away from you and say something.”

“I don’t really wanna talk about it right now. I’m still cooling down.”

“Want me to put roaches in her cabin? I think I can find enough to spell ‘bitch.’”

Rachel grinned and laughed. “Thanks for that. The laugh, I mean. Don’t do the roach thing.”

“Damn,” Faith said with mock disappointment. She glanced over at the pavilion where the others were sitting, and of course, Lisa was keeping a close eye on them. Faith reached over and tucked a lock of hair that had slipped out of Rachel’s hat behind her ear. “Grooming is a sign of affection, you know. To the children, this seems innocent, but Ms. Eyeball will interpret it differently. Now swoon and act like you’re enjoying it.”

“If you’re gonna run your fingers through my hair, do it right.” Rachel took off her hat and pulled out the ponytail. “At least smooth it and put it back in the hat for me.”

“Oh, we’re going all the way. She must’ve pissed you off royally.” Faith ran her hands through Rachel’s hair and took her time as she smoothed it.

Lisa wasn’t anywhere on Rachel’s radar. She’d flown from her mind the minute Faith touched her. The crush theory had already been crushed. Every brush of Faith’s fingertips made her realize how taken she was. Rachel was awash in emotions entwined with desire.

Faith put the ball cap back on her head and pulled her hair through the back. “What happens when we go home?”

Rachel closed her eyes. “I don’t want to miss you. Please, say that this…what we have will continue.”

“I promise,” Faith whispered as the lunch bell rang, and the moment ended.

*******

Lunch was served outside. Faith had jogged back to her cabin to get the blanket she’d packed but never used for them to sit on. Rachel collected the bag lunches for the four of them and stood in a shady spot with the girls. Her mind was still back at the lake where Faith had touched her so tenderly. She dared to think that she and Faith might be on the same page and wondered how to take the next step.

“Sophie,
your mom is on the phone,” Faith said as she walked up and handed it to her.

They spread out the blanket and sat down. Sophie was busy recounting her week to Patty as Rachel opened her bag and spread out the lunch for her. “Me and Kaycee won a bag of candy because we came in first in the bag race.”

“Sack race,” Kaycee corrected.

“We had a balloon fight,” Sophie went on. “I threw balls through a tire swing. Aunt Faith busted her butt in the mud. Kelly Peters got stunk by a wasp.” The retelling went on and on.

Faith smiled. “She’s got a future in sports broadcasting. What’s in the bags?” she asked as she tore into her own.

“Chicken salad on wheat, fruit, and baked chips.” Rachel smiled. “This is perfect.”

“Truly.” Faith ripped the bag apart and made herself a plate out of it. Rachel watched in disgust as she opened the sandwich and lined the bread with the chips, then closed it. “Don’t frown at me like that, it’s good. I usually don’t eat chips, but I’m making an exception today.” Faith took a big bite out of her sandwich and chewed contentedly. Then she held it out to Rachel. “Try it.”

Rachel made a face. “Uh-uh.”

“Momma, you say I have to take at least a bite of new food,” Kaycee said. “You gotta bite it.”

Rachel grimaced and bit the offered sandwich.

“Aunt Faith is making Aunt Rachel eat her sandwich,” Sophie said into the phone with a laugh. “Aunt Rachel’s face looks funny. No, they’re not fighting. Aunt Faith made her a friendship bracelet. It has a sunflower on it.”

Rachel swallowed. “I hate to say it, but that’s not bad. The chicken salad is kind of bland, and the spice on the chips gives it a kick.”

“I love you, too. No, I love you bigger,” Sophie said with a giggle. “Okay.” She held the phone out to Faith. “Momma wants to talk to you.”

Faith tried to balance it on her shoulder and eat at the same time. Rachel caught it as it slipped and held it to Faith’s ear. “Sorry to be rude and smack in your ear, I’m starving. Did you mow the grass?” Faith rolled her eyes. “It’s easy, set the choke, and pull the rope. When it starts to run, slide the choke back and give it some gas. That’s the lever with a rabbit on one end and the turtle on the other. Obviously, you want to move it toward the rabbit. Really, sis, really. Because it’s going to be up to my butt by the time I get home. Yes, I love you, too.” Faith looked at Rachel as she set the phone aside. “Thanks.”

“Momma says she doesn’t do grass,” Sophie said as she chomped on her apple.

“Nor does she do the trash. I bet the can
runneth
over. The driveway isn’t that long, and cans on the street should clue her in to when the trucks run. Little sisters, everyone should have one,” Faith said wryly.

Wheels began to turn in
Kaycee’s
mind. “I need one. Momma, how come I don’t have a baby sister?”

Rachel smiled. “You’re so perfect. There was no need to ask for another.”

Sophie cocked her head to the side like a puppy. “Ask who?”

“The stork,” Faith supplied.

Sophie looked thoroughly confused then. “I thought sex caused babies.”

Rachel patted Faith on the back when she began to cough.

Kaycee shook her head. “
Rhanda
at school told me that special music causes babies. Her sister told her that when her mom and dad play music in their bedroom, babies are being made. Momma, you play music in your room, but we don’t have a baby.”

“I don’t have that particular CD, sweetie.”

“My friend told me that it takes a penny and a Virginia to make a baby,” Sophie said and sent Faith into another coughing fit.

Rachel slapped her on the back again and tried to change the subject. “Wow, it sure is hot out here. I hope we can swim again after lunch.”

“We can’t swim after we eat,” Kaycee said with a frown. “I got a penny, Mom, but I don’t know what Virginia is.”

Rachel stroked her cheek. “It’s a state. We’ll talk about pennies and babies later.”

“Why would a stork give us a baby?” Sophie asked. “I thought they made pickles.”

Faith pointed at Sophie’s lunch. “Eat.”

Everyone fell silent as they ate. Rachel couldn’t look at Faith because she knew she’d totally lose it. Her eyes watered from trying to hold in her laughter as it was.

Sophie couldn’t let it drop. “If storks bring babies, then why do people’s tummies get big? My teacher had a big tummy, and she said she was having a baby.”

Faith released a little groan as she set her sandwich down. “It’s
kinda
complicated, buddy, and takes a while to explain, so when you get home, ask your mom, okay?”

Sophie shrugged. “Okay, but we’re just sitting here not doing anything.”

“Can me and Sophie go play on the swings?” Kaycee asked.

Faith rubbed her teary eyes. “Yes, you can.”

When the girls took off, Rachel pointed to their sandwiches. “They didn’t finish their lunch.”

“I don’t care,” Faith rasped, “they were killing me. Patty has a lot of explaining to do when we get back. She needs to clarify a few things before my niece figures out what Virginia is and tries to stick a penny in it.”