Her Kind of Hero

by Janice Carter

  “Neither. Just wound up over the day I suppose.”

  “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

  “Is everything okay? I mean, about those boys?”

  “I spent quite a long time on the phone with the parents, that lawyer you recommended—and thank you for giving him my phone number—and the police again...”

  “And?”

  “Still up in the air, I’m afraid. The boys are denying it and the police haven’t yet revealed what the witness actually saw. The other thing is, I’m worried about what this might mean for our plans to ask for a lease renewal. Especially after what happened with the Happy-Go-Lucky owners last year.”

  She nodded and murmured, “You’ve had a long day.”

  He appreciated that simple comment. As a lawyer, she knew better than to utter gratuitous reassurances, and as a woman, she knew him well enough to say exactly the right thing. Her gentle breathing picked up when he pulled her close. Wrapping his arms around her, he lowered his cheek to the top of her head and closed his eyes. Just having her there in his embrace was the perfect antidote to an awful day. He drew back, and when she raised her head in unspoken question, he bent and kissed her.

  * * *

  SOMEONE WAS SHAKING HER. “Hmm?” Dana lifted her head groggily from the pillow to eyeball Kristen, who was looming over her.

  “We both slept in!”

  Dana shot up. “The girls?”

  “Chatting away. No one thought to wake us. C’mon, we’re due for breakfast in fifteen minutes.”

  Dana threw on jeans and a T-shirt in a daze. Being roused from a deep sleep with dreams of strong arms holding her close wasn’t the best start to a day that would demand her full attention. Kristen was ready first and shepherded the first ten girls to the washroom. By the time they returned, Dana had managed to get the rest of the girls to take the sheets off their beds and stow them in the large canvas laundry bag each cabin had on hand. They were moving almost as slowly as she was, perhaps due to last night’s events.

  The boys arrived in the dining hall a few minutes later than the girls and looked as though they could have used another hour’s sleep, too. Dana peered around at the other staff, all of whom were bleary-eyed. Yesterday had made its mark on everyone. Matt especially seemed to have aged overnight, but his smile more than made up for her restless sleep. When he stood to speak, he didn’t need to silence the room.

  “This is going-home day, so there will be some chores to finish before we get into the morning’s activities. Your counselors will help you pack up, which should take about half an hour. Then, because it’s a nice warm day out there, half the girls and half the boys will go with one counselor each plus Rob down to the lake for a swim. The other half will have a scavenger hunt up here and then the groups will flip. The buses are expected shortly after lunch and all of you must be ready to leave when they arrive. Kitchen helpers, you can start your jobs while the counselors take the others to the cabins. We meet out front in half an hour.”

  There was more excitement on the way back from breakfast as some of the girls tried to persuade Kristen and Dana to let them participate in the scavenger hunt first. But Dana and Kristen had already made that decision and simply grinned at one another as the lobbying picked up. Even quiet Lucy was getting into the act, Dana noticed. The girl had made a friend this time around and had been a bit more involved in group discussions.

  That observation reinforced Matt’s claims about how important the camp was for a lot of children. Not merely for the experience of being in nature, but also for social opportunities. Camp Hope was a unique environment for inner-city kids, and Dana bet that some would carry these camp memories well into adulthood. She could understand why Matt was so stressed about getting the lease renewed.

  Her group was scheduled to swim first and Dana smiled at the few groans. She’d thought swimming would be more appealing on a warm day, but the lure of a treasure hunt trumped even the lake. She changed into her bathing suit, put on her shorts and T-shirt on top, grabbed her towel and led her girls to the meeting area.

  Sandro was in charge of the scavenger hunt and Matt would accompany the swimmers, which Dana was pleased to learn. Last night’s kiss had caused her worry that last week’s lakeside kiss had been a onetime occurrence to vanish. There was no doubt now that Matt was attracted to her and, as her response last night showed, she to him. The week ahead was no longer a time to dread—the return to work and all that it entailed. Dana was certain she’d see Matt again. Kiss him again.

  His discreet appraisal of her as she took off her T-shirt was proof of that. “You look beautiful. Temptingly so,” he whispered. His fingertips brushed against hers as he gave her a lanyard with a whistle attached. Her task was to stay in the shallow end of the roped-off swimming section, while Rob and Matt would be with the swimmers in the deeper area. She forced herself to focus on the handful of girls splashing in the shallows and not on Matt’s well-toned body.

  Rob’s signal for all to head for shore came sooner than Dana had expected, but she realized that the swimming group needed to change out of their bathing suits before switching with the treasure hunters. She noticed Matt’s grin whenever they caught sight of one another as she gathered her group and climbed the hill back to camp.

  The scavenger hunt was limited to the front of the lodge and the area around the sleeping cabins. All of the clues were outside, making Dana’s task as overseer an easy one. She had to stay in a central place near the front door and check each list of items as her girls reported to her. There was time for her mind to wander again to last night. The moon. The gentle breeze. Matt’s arms.

  A car’s engine brought her back to reality. A large black SUV rolled into the parking area and for a second, Dana feared the driver might be another reporter. But the man climbing out of the vehicle and coming her way was clearly a different type—shaved head, earrings and tattoos covering almost all visible skin. His confident stride and the way his eyes darted from the kids on the lawn to the lodge door and to Dana, standing near Andy, suggested a man used to being the center of attention.

  He looked Dana and Andy up and down before saying, “Looking for Mateo Rodriguez. He around?”

  It took Dana a moment to process that Mateo was Matt, but before she could reply, Andy said, “He’s busy at the moment. Can I help you?”

  The man’s upper lip curled in amusement. “Not unless you’re him, you can’t. Where’s the office?”

  Andy backed off. “Go through the front door and make a left. At the end of the hall.”

  There was a curt nod before he disappeared inside.

  Andy shrugged at Dana. “Hope that was okay,” he said.

  Dana hoped so, too. She considered making an excuse to look for Matt, but two girls ran up to her. As she checked their lists, she noticed Sandro heading into the lodge.

  Please, she thought, no more problems!

  * * *

  MATT HUNG UP the landline just as his office door swung open. Every nerve in his body came to a standstill. He couldn’t speak for a long moment, but his silence didn’t deter the man standing in the open doorway.

  “Surprise!” He moved to the desk, extending a hand that Matt ignored. “C’mon, Mateo. Old buddies and all that?”

  Lenny Brock, the onetime leader of the South Side Boyz, the gang Matt and Sandro had almost been recruited into, pulled out the chair in front of Matt’s desk and plunked down.

  “Not anymore, Lenny. Not for a long time.”

  “Have it your way.” The man smiled, but his tone was icy.

  “Why are you here?” Matt asked.

  The other man held up his hands. “Whoa! Some greeting after all these years.”

  “Matt?” Both men looked to the door and saw Sandro standing hesitantly on the threshold. “Everything okay?”

  Lenny shook his head. “Come in, Sandro. What is it wi
th you two? Relax.”

  Matt motioned his friend in. “As I’ve just said, Lenny, why are you here?”

  “Okay. It’s been a long time, as you say, and what’s past is past. No spilled milk and all that. I’m not here for what happened twenty years ago.”

  Matt felt Sandro’s eyes bore into him. He’d never actually given his friend the details about the day he decided to break things off with Lenny for good and take his best friend with him—the phone call he’d made to Lenny, saying he and Sandro weren’t going through with the initiation. He’d been prepared for punishment then, but it had never come.

  “I had no idea,” Lenny went on, “that you were the mastermind behind that drop-in, KidsFirst.” He shook his head. “No idea at all. I was there a few weeks ago to pick up my kid and imagine my complete surprise when I’m reading the wall plaques and information board and see my old buddy Mateo Rodriguez smiling down at me.”

  “You have a child?”

  “Three. Yeah,” he chuckled. “Believe it or not, I’m almost a regular family man now.”

  Matt’s ears pricked up at that. He hoped, for the sake of those three kids, that Lenny meant nothing by that qualifying word almost. He’d heard years ago that he’d served time for drug dealing as well as robbery.

  “Congratulations,” Matt said dryly.

  “You’re not the only one who can change, Mateo. Anyway, I’m not here to argue about the past. My daughter Amy has been spending time at your drop-in for a year now.”

  “And?” Matt struggled to keep his voice level. A year? How many times had he just missed encountering Lenny there?

  “She’s heard about the summer sleepover camp and wants to come. She’s just turned ten.”

  It wasn’t the answer Matt was expecting. Lenny no longer held any power over him, but his relief was huge. He caught Sandro’s eyes, which were expressing the same surprise. “You can pick up a registration form at the drop-in.”

  “Yeah, yeah, we already got one and sent it in. But there’s a small problem I’m hoping you can help me with.”

  Here it comes, Matt thought. “What?”

  Lenny shifted in his chair, leaning forward to say in a low voice, “She...uh...she wets the bed sometimes. We don’t know why. Her doctor has a bunch of reasons but apparently none of them are medical. So...my wife and I aren’t sure if she, you know, will be accepted.”

  Matt didn’t dare glance at Sandro. Not because the situation was funny, but because he was having that particular conversation with the person he’d once been both in awe of and feared.

  “This camp is for all kids, Lenny. We’ll make accommodations for her as we would any other child.” He stood up. “Sandro and I have to get back to the group. We’ll walk you out to your car.”

  Lenny nodded. “Terrific.”

  The three headed silently down the hall to the front door and stepping out, Matt realized that some groups had finished the morning’s activities and were milling around the front lawn. He noticed Dana looking their way as he and Sandro followed Lenny to his car.

  “Okay,” Lenny said as he opened the car door. “Thanks and maybe I’ll see you when she comes to camp.”

  “Not likely. The kids are bused from the drop-in. There won’t be a reason to see each other again.”

  “Sure. Whatever you say, Mateo.” Lenny nodded thoughtfully.

  A car drove into the parking area, pulling up a few feet away. When Sandro saw the man climbing out of it, he groaned. “Oh no. Great timing.”

  Matt frowned. “What? You know that guy?”

  “’Fraid so. He’s a town councilor from Willow Springs.”

  Matt watched as the councilor walked their way, his eyes fixed on Lenny. Could the weekend get any worse?

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THE MAN DIDN’T take his eyes off Lenny’s car as it drove off. He was frowning as he turned to Matt and said, “I’m Dave Hamilton, a town councilor from Willow Springs.”

  Matt shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Dave.”

  “That fellow.” He gestured to Lenny’s car. “Does he work here?”

  Matt stiffened. The insinuation in the man’s voice was offensive. He knew nothing about Lenny—nor did Matt want him to—but had already formed an opinion of him based only on his appearance. Matt had personally struggled with that kind of stereotyping most of his life—his name, where he lived, his once-shaved head, his tattoos.

  “No,” Sandro put in. “Just here checking it out for his daughter.”

  “Oh?” The frown deepened. “Interesting.” Then, changing his tone, he said, “I’ve come to talk to you about the incident at Happy-Go-Lucky campground Friday night.”

  Matt sighed, “Sure. Let’s go inside.” To Sandro, he added, “Will you wait out front for the other groups? Then maybe have them get ready for lunch?”

  “No problem, Matt.”

  The brief walk along the hallway to his office gave Matt enough time to collect his thoughts. His instant dislike of the man had to be put aside. He needed to be calm and focused.

  Closing the door behind them, he said, “Have a seat.”

  “I got a phone call late yesterday afternoon from Jerry Swainson, the owner of the campground. He was extremely upset about what happened.”

  Matt sat down, silently framing what he needed to say. “I understand. We all feel the same. Fires are something all of us in this area fear.”

  Hamilton’s face reddened. “Of course, they are! That’s not the point. What do you plan to do about it?”

  “We go over fire safety precautions with our counselors and campers as routine and will continue to do so.”

  “That’s not what I meant. There was some trouble last year, too, wasn’t there? From the same two kids?”

  “Not the same kids, Mr. Hamilton, and furthermore, I don’t believe the police have finished their inquiries. Until then, I don’t see how I can answer those questions. But I can assure you that we don’t allow the children at Camp Hope to go anywhere near the campground.”

  “Maybe you don’t allow them to, but clearly two did.” The man scoffed. “Can you ensure that such a thing won’t happen again? Willow Springs owns this property and the town cannot afford to be involved in a potential lawsuit.”

  So that was what this was about, Matt thought. “All of us here will do our very best to make sure no children from Camp Hope go anywhere near the campground and I plan to meet with Jerry Swainson to discuss the matter. We also want a guarantee that no one from the campground comes onto the property here.”

  “Why would they?”

  “There’s been an allegation that a boy from the campground was involved in a minor altercation with our boys.”

  Hamilton edged forward in his chair. “What kind of altercation?”

  “Stone throwing, name-calling. That sort of thing.”

  “Well, boys will be boys,” he muttered. “Does that have anything to do with the arson?”

  Matt stiffened. “As I said, the arson is being investigated. There’s no point in speculation,” he said, his voice level but tight. “And we will most certainly consider very carefully your personal concerns.” He stood up.

  The other man got the message. “It’s not just my concern,” he stressed, standing, as well, “but a matter for the council. Let’s hope the matter is resolved before the meeting.”

  The parting shot—an implied threat?—set Matt’s heart rate soaring. As he ushered the councilor out, he mentally replayed their talk. He didn’t think that the man had been sent on behalf of the council, but it wouldn’t hurt to have Sandro reach out to his contact there to find out. Camp Hope could ill afford to alienate the town council.

  After the man left, Matt went looking for Sandro. The kids and counselors were in the dining hall. He noticed Dana watching him as he crossed the hall to whisper i
n Sandro’s ear. Her expression signaled interest but also concern, and the mere thought that someone was thinking about him—wondering how he was—uplifted him. The fact that that someone was Dana made it all the better.

  “Hey, Sandro, can I see you in my office as soon as lunch is finished, or if you can get away before? You can have Kristen dismiss the kids. The buses will be here in an hour.”

  “Sure. Is there a problem? Something to do with that guy?”

  “We need to talk.” As Matt walked toward the hallway, he passed Dana’s table. She reached out to touch his arm. “Is everything okay?”

  Matt nodded but couldn’t manage a smile. “I’m on it.”

  Sandro showed up five minutes later, closing their office door behind him. “I can see that guy got to you,” he commented as he sat opposite Matt.

  “Unfortunately,” Matt sighed. “I just hope Mr. Hamilton didn’t pick up on that.”

  “What’d he come for?”

  Matt nodded. “Basically, to tell me that the town council is worried about the arson at Happy-Go-Lucky, and that there better not be any further incidences of our campers here encroaching on the campground’s property.”

  “I guess you told him those boys haven’t been charged with anything yet. We don’t know if they were even on the property.” He added, “Do we?”

  “Not exactly. Last I heard, the boys were denying involvement, but there was a witness who supposedly saw them.”

  “But that still doesn’t mean they set the fire.”

  “True, and I’m hoping they didn’t because if it turns out they’re guilty...”

  “Camp Hope could be in trouble.”

  “As that councilor suggests.”

  “Oh boy,” Sandro said, shaking his head. “Want me to ask my contact on council what the buzz is?”

  “Could you? Any hint of their general mood will help prepare us for our presentation.”

  “When is that again? I know they changed the date.”

  “A week from tomorrow.”

  “Okay. I’ll call as soon as I get home tonight.”