I walk her through making the frittata, including my secret (fresh thyme), and when we slide the skillet into the oven to bake, I lean against the counter and adopt a casual pose. “Hey, where can I find a screwdriver? I want to tighten the seat on my bike while the frittata cooks.”
“Oh, the toolshed behind the office has whatever you need, but I keep a basic toolbox in here. Check the mop closet, you’ll see it right on the shelf. I can clean up while you do that?’
“Thanks,” I say, walking toward the mop closet. I’d normally never make someone else clean up after me, but I need fifteen minutes to get the next phase of my plan underway.
I hurry back to the office with my screwdriver in hand, and after placing a quick Amazon order from the front desk computer, I spend the next several minutes loosening every single screw in the two office chairs until they’re almost but notquiteready to fall out.
I make it back to find Lisa staring at the frittata on the stove top like she’s not sure what she should do with it next.
I glance down at my watch. “Perfect, it’s almost eight o’clock. Let’s dig in.” I serve us each a piece and we eat in the kitchen.
She nods when she takes her first bite. “This is legit.”
“Right? It’s all about the thyme.” I’m almost done when I hear Juniper’s chatter out in the mess hall, which means Natalie and Ben will be here in a second.
“Whew, I’m full,” I say, scraping my remaining bites into the garbage. “I hear the Mendozas. Can you tell them I went for a quick canoe out on the lake?”
“Sure thing.”
I wave her a cheerful goodbye and head out the back kitchen door and detour to the shed first. I hadn’t noticed it attached to the back of the main office. It’s a new addition, but I’m betting the key Natalie gave me for the office is probably a master.
Sure enough, it opens the shed door too, and thanks to Ben’s meticulous nature, the tools hang neatly on pegboard with labels so people know where to return them. I take down the cordless drill and give it a whir, smiling when it proves the battery is fully charged, but expecting nothing less. Ben and Natalie are going to be great camp owners.
Now off to manage more mischief.
Chapter 10
Nine Years Ago
“TabbyCat?”Nataliepokedher head through our cabin door. I had it to myself, and I’d been lying in my bunk for an hour, enjoying the quiet. The campers had left this morning, and we were off until early Monday.
“Hey, Natty. What’s up?”
“Do you have plans today?”
“Probably. I’m sure Sawyer and I will do something.”
“But nothing definite yet?”
“Nope. What’s up?”
She came in and sat at the foot of my bed, gnawing her bottom lip. “Do you think we could talk?”
“Am I in trouble?” My pulse started hammering. Had I said something I shouldn’t have? Forgotten to do something I should have?
“What? No. Why do you always think you’re in trouble?”
I relaxed against my pillow. “Just have a fun brain, I guess.”
“I want advice,” she said. “That’s all. Except it’s a pretty big thing, and I want plenty of time to talk it all through. Could we go on a walk or something? I think better when I move.”
“Sure.” I was already climbing off the bed. “Have you eaten lunch yet? Let’s do that then hike the lake. Let me tell Sawyer so he doesn’t wonder where I disappeared to.”
We didn’t even have to go as far as the boys’ cabins on the other side of the camp to find him. He and Ben were down by the lake playing horseshoes.
“Join us, girls?” Ben called.
“He meansladies,” Sawyer said with an elbow to Ben’s ribs.
