by Leanne Davis
“But you put your heart and soul into that.”
“And I think that kind of healed my heart so I’m ready to do this. I want to do this. But it’s important to me that the camp continues and flourishes, and expands, and grows more popular and gets funded and remains important… and what better candidate for trying to make something become bigger, better and more popular than Brianna Starr?”
She glared hard at her pixie-like friend. “You are dangerously good. I see how you’re buttering me up to appeal to the side of me that adores flattery.”
Cami let out a sharp, gleeful laugh. “You do. You so love flattery.”
She shrugged. “Well, sue me if I appreciate nice things being said or done. Maybe if people were nicer and kinder and complimented each other more often, the world wouldn’t be so damn awful and mean. It wouldn’t have created an evil place where things like your childhood could even happen. Maybe if instead of fighting, my parents had paused years ago and tried to be nice to each other, and flatter each other, they might not have lost track of what brought them together. So yes, I do like it.”
Cami’s smile faded. She leaned in and took Brianna’s hand. “And this, my friend, this marshmallow sweetness and softness in you is what most people don’t see. You are right. Being nice and decent is important and totally underrated.”
Brianna glared. “So continue with your spiel. What do you want of me?”
“To take my place coordinating the camp. I can train you during the next year, of course, from Germany. In fact, I look forward to the work, but after that…”
She jolted upright. “You want me to do this indefinitely?”
“I want you to do it always.”
Her heart squeezed. “You’re not… this isn’t just about next year while Charlie finishes his master’s degree?”
“No.” Cami pressed her lips flat. “No, it isn’t. It involves many years.”
She shut her eyes. Tears began to flow. “I really don’t want to be apart for years.”
“I know, Bri.”
She flipped her eyelids open. “You do. You know what only a few know about me.”
“And therefore, I knew the minute I decided to stay with Charlie, the only person I could delegate this duty to had to be perfect, kind, wonderful, giving, organized, outgoing, knowledgeable in how to make a splash, and how to throw a huge bash to head this camp. The only person who could grow it in ways I can’t. The one and only marketing genius that I know my Brianna Starr to be.”
She sighed dramatically. “Oh, you are so damn sweet and appear so fragile that no one sees the viper-like skills you employ to get what you want.” Brianna glared at Cami, narrowing her eyes.
Cami shrugged and a secret, little grin touched her lips. “Maybe I can be so underwhelming to people that they tend to underestimate me occasionally.”
Brianna smiled the same little smile back. “Oh, believe me, I’m not one of them.” She ran a hand through her hair. “You really think I can do this? Fill in for you?”
“Not fill in. Take over my role. It can be yours for however long you want it to be. You know it’s not a paid position though, right?”
Brianna made a face at Cami. “Duh. I know it’s charity. Good work for kids. I’m not that shallow or selfish.”
Cami nodded. “That’s why I’m asking you and no one else.”
“Do I have to live here?”
“No. I didn’t. But being on the same continent is a must, however.”
Brianna let out a noise of near distress. “I hate how that sounds.” She shoulder-bumped Cami. “I’m going to miss you like crazy.”
“I know, but I think you’ll do great at this.”
Brianna lowered her face to hide her blush. “I don’t have the same perspective as you. What if they think I’m nothing but a spoiled brat? I mean, I am, so what can I offer an at-risk youth or kids who have been abused or abandoned or…”
Cami touched her hand. “You treat them as you always treated me. You were integral to the reason I eventually grew to love it here. You were my only girlfriend and my best friend. Act like you did with me.”
Brianna sucked in a sharp breath. She doubted she could provide the same kind of leadership on this as Cami did.
Cami Reed accepted a job last year at a place called Shield Shelter. She soon coordinated and hooked up with the Rydell River Ranch to start a youth program with the goal of bringing the at-risk youth to the ranch for several weeks each summer. Cami, however, dated the owner of the ranch’s son, who eventually proposed marriage. Now she was moving to Hamburg, Germany where he was working on his master’s degree and had landed a job with a big, impressive company. Exotic and new… so of course, Cami was going.
Brianna had finally graduated this past June with a master’s degree in human resources and a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She was pretty good at selling anything she could make into a “brand” and she figured marketing with human resources might be a good direction to take her career. Helping out the rescue would be a slightly nobler use of her ability to draw people’s attention and money towards a good cause versus just buying the things she sold.
Having been approached by a friend about four years ago to conduct online direct sales of jewelry, Brianna started with two other major retailers selling skin care items and makeup, all through direct sales. She’d been more than wildly successful over the last year. Posting pictures of herself all over her social media and simply stating what she preferred to wear or use, were often enough to do the trick. That was all she had to invest and voila. She made sales and a good living.
She also gained a substantial amount of followers from all of her social media platforms. Not that she told her family or friends about it. They’d have been shocked. She started it as a marketing project during her sophomore year in college and it had done nothing but grow. It managed to catch on as if she were offering her own damn lifestyle to emulate… so she posted things people could buy and she sold them.
Brianna’s demeanor, although she wasn’t sure what to call it, made it so people often thought she was shallow or bratty or eager to hook up with a rich guy for money.
She had long, thick, straight blondish-brown hair and her face was prettier than average. Thin and willowy, her large round, perky boobs only complemented her slender body. She was undeniably attractive. She didn’t deny it. But for some reason, many people assumed her looks were representative of her personality and morals. She didn’t think she deserved the disdain she received but she blamed it on them. Most didn’t have a clue as to why they were judging her. Instead of rejecting it, denying it or turning away from whatever seemed to draw people to her, Brianna took advantage of it.
“Do you really think I am the best choice?”
Cami’s smile faded. She nodded. “You’re actually my only choice. There is no one else. So unless you want me to leave here feeling miserable, sad, guilty…”
Brianna couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay… okay, I refuse to be responsible for ruining your around-the-world adventure so don’t put that on me. Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Do you mind doing it?”
“Now you require a good attitude to go with it?”
“No, I just hoped you’d want to. But I’ll take your consent in the meantime.”
“Actually, I’d love to do it. As you know, since graduating, I feel kind of like a kite set free in the wind. I miss being attached to school or some other anchor. Know what I mean?”
“Charlie was like that the summer he graduated. He slipped into depression, which, as you know, Charlie never does. You’ll figure it out. You’re smart, resourceful, and so full of life… I know it won’t be long.”
“Well, direct sales don’t exactly get me out with people. But this? Yeah, actually thanks, Cams. It’s… well, hell, when am I ever part of anything special?”
“You mean, since your parents’ divorce?”
Brianna made a sour face. “Cams, I hate discussing that w
ith you.”
Cami gently shoved her shoulder. “Just because you had a family doesn’t mean you have to be happy when you lost what you had. What you wanted. I know how it hurt you and still affects you. Don’t pretend I can’t be your friend about that because of my childhood.”
“I know that. It just seems so petty and trite when compared to your childhood. So my parents divorced and my dad cheated and both married way younger people… so, right? Blended family and all like every other kid my age. In fact, every other kid I know hates their family, right? Why should I be any different?”
“Because you don’t hate them. Your brother does. You don’t. You just haven’t totally gotten over it. And most people don’t know about you because you pretend to be so fine otherwise.”
“It’s so easy for most people to believe about me.”
“Jealousy. They can’t stand how pretty you are. Girls are jealous and intimidated by it and guys just think…”
“I’m hot. Poor me, right?”
Cami tilted her head. “Actually, kind of. I think it keeps a lot of people from giving you a chance.”
“You always did. You always gave me a chance.”
“Yes. And you always gave me one. You are my best friend, Bri. Always and forever.”
She finally leaned her head against Cami’s shoulder. “You’re mine too, always and forever. I’ll miss you so much.”
“There’s so many things I’ll miss. You are at the top of those.”
“Is what you miss really worth what you think you’ll gain?”
Cami’s eyes shone. “I really think it is, Brianna. Or I wouldn’t be doing this.”
A jolt of jealousy towards Cami when she saw that look in her eyes about Charlie, gripped Brianna for it was always about Charlie with Cami, even when she didn’t say it was. They had been together five years and were stronger than ever. Brianna couldn’t imagine sharing a love like theirs, one that endured long distance, hard times, good times too, of course, but true exclusivity and no break-ups was just so wonderful. She couldn’t ever imagine having that for herself. No matter how many dates or boyfriends she had, and they numbered in the multiples, nothing came close to how Cami felt about Charlie and vice versa.
“All right then. Why don’t we get started? Get your massive camp notebook out and start instructing me. No time like the present to get it under control; and as we know, you only have a few weeks left, so…?”
****
“Brianna, that’s wonderful. I’m so proud of you. Honestly. You’re doing this both for Cami and just in general too. It is such a great cause. You missed it the first time but it was incredible to watch and be part of. I think you’ll grow to love it.” Her mom prattled on, listing all the perks and advantages to her after she told her mother about Cami’s request that she take over the camp. Brianna smiled when Hailey hugged her. She was taller than her mom and hugged her too tightly. Still, after all these years, she craved and almost basked in unconditional parental approval. She really liked it. More than most teens and young adults, she believed.
“I’m scared. I mean, in looks and demeanor, I’m practically the antithesis of Cami. Why would troubled teens and at-risk youth respond to me? I get why they would listen to Cami, but me? Privileged me? I just… I don’t know, it makes me so nervous.”
“You have a ton of things to offer. You sell yourself way too short.”
Brianna rolled her eyes as she turned away from her mom and flopped down on the couch. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to see. Have you heard from Jacob? Is he coming this summer or not? He won’t answer my texts. Doesn’t he need to say goodbye to Cami?”
“I can’t get two words out of him either. Your dad says he’s been mostly missing in action ever since Cami left. It’s seems like she was all that kept him coming around.” Her mom sighed and glanced up just as Joey walked in. Joey, still seriously hot despite being in his mid-thirties, gave her a warm smile as he leaned over to kiss her mom hello.
“I guess I might as well tell you both what’s gone one with him now.”
Joey straightened up, his eyebrows scrunching together. Brianna struggled with her nerves. If Joey didn’t know already, it couldn’t be good.
“Your dad found a stash of drugs in Jacob’s room—”
“It’s not the first time,” Brianna interrupted.
“No, but this time it wasn’t just pot. It was something far worse. Heroin. He laid it out to your brother: go to re-hab or get out.”
“Heroin?” Brianna’s eyes bugged out and her throat felt as if someone just slammed it with a hammer. Heroin? Her brother? No. That was something other people did. Not her brother. And?”
“Jacob chose to walk out.”
“So where is he now?” Brianna asked, her voice rising in anxiety.
“We don’t know exactly.”
Brianna slapped a hand to her mouth. No. She shut her eyes in utter disillusionment. Her baby brother… and how she adored him. He’d been rebelling, but that was the polite word for it, for about five years now. Each year he grew progressively worse. His attitude and rebellion were so OLD. She was tired of it and couldn’t stand him sometimes. Brianna wasn’t the source of all the ire, anger, resentment and attitude Jacob harbored. Their dad received the brunt of it, and next came Mom, yet oddly enough, he was rarely insolent toward either parent’s significant other, which seemed strange to Brianna.
Was he still angry about their divorce? What? Was Jacob even mature enough to discern which parent he was angrier at? Brianna really didn’t get his struggle with their parents. Not even a little bit. Despite the divorce, both her parents remained there in all ways for her and Jacob. They got along and co-parented far better than all of Brianna’s divorced friends’ parents. Crap. Most exes tried to poison their kids’ minds or use their kids as bargaining chips with the other parent. Not hers.
For crap sakes, Jacob was well loved. And financially taken care of at all times. He was emotionally supported too. What the hell was his problem?
Brianna’s heart clenched. She secretly feared that drugs would be his downfall; the hard, addictive street drugs were her brother’s problem. And worse still, her fear seemed to be manifesting right in front of her. “Will he come here?”
Her mom glanced at Joey, whose jaw clenched. No doubt, Joey had lost his patience and no longer tolerated Jacob’s errant ways. “I don’t know. I know it’s time, and I need to support this ultimatum… but he’s still my son. My baby. I can’t… I can’t stand wondering where he might be right now, or what he might be doing…” She began to cry and clung to Joey when he held her against him. “I’m so sick inside with worry, but we can’t keep enabling him.”
“But Mom. He’s doing drugs. For real. What if…”
Her mom’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t you think I know? I can’t sleep most nights, dreading all the ‘what-if’s’? I could catalogue them. I obsess over them. I hate them. But if we don’t do something soon, he’ll end up that way at our house. He’s stolen from your dad and Trinity already and we can’t abide it any longer.”
Brianna sucked on her bottom lip as her tears flowed, just like her mom’s. Hailey came around the table and tucked Brianna against her chest. She swept her hand through Brianna’s hair like she used to do when Brianna was a kid. “I know, sweetie. I’m as upset and scared as you. We just don’t know what else to do.” She kissed her forehead.
Brianna nodded against her, squeezing her mom, sucking in the comforting smell of her familiar perfume. “I know,” she finally whispered.
“That’s why I’m so damn grateful for you. And glad you’re here. It feels so good that I can hug you. And that you’re staying here.”
“For now. I don’t intend to end up staying in River’s End.”
Her mom finally edged back and smiled through her tears at Brianna. “I know. You’ve made that quite clear. But your visits with me? Please tell me you always will continue them?”
“I always will
.” She blew out a breath of air. “I promised Cami I’d meet with her again… she has a lot of information to tell me… so later?”
“Later.”
Her mom wiped her eyes and Joey went into another room. Brianna stared after them. She lied. Cami and she weren’t meeting until tomorrow. But Brianna had to get away now. Tears filled her eyelids and were about to roll down her cheeks. She knew her mom was barely holding on by a thread with regard to Jacob so she didn’t dare lay anymore guilt on her. She quickly exited the house and left her mom to Joey. He could talk her through it. The last thing that her mom needed with her current guilt, fears, worry and general anxiety was to be confronted with all of Brianna’s.
Brianna normally would have run to Cami with this ball of anxiety and worry, either by phoning or texting her or seeing her in person. But Cami was so happy right then, and newly engaged, and she had only returned home to pack and say her goodbyes. She couldn’t wait to prepare for a crazy, wonderful, new life. Brianna couldn’t depress Cami with her empty life or dump her endless brother problems on her. Though Cami lived in the same house and witnessed Jacob’s behavior, she already knew what her brother was fast becoming.
An addict. A drug addict. Heroin? No, she failed to realize it could be heroin.
Kicked out. Brianna’s stomach churned. Her little brother was following a very bad path. And had been on it for a long time now. She believed her parents were all that held Jacob off going into a black abyss. Now? She shuddered. Without her parents meager influence, Jacob was only exposed to negative influence. That path led to nowhere. What if he went completely off the rails? She believed he might.
Lord knew Jacob would never accept help from Brianna. He considered her his annoying older sister. A trite joke. He never hesitated to tell her. It hurt her feelings more than she’d ever admit to him.
She crossed the deck outside and hurried down the trail that went through the woods behind their house towards the river. She wanted to avoid all the other Rydell houses and residents. She knew the trails and paths of the ranch as if it were her tiny backyard. Years of tromping around with Jacob, Cami and Charlie all summer long and countless holidays and weekends and breaks and vacations… Hell. It was all going to end right here and now. All at once, it seemed her best friends, the four of them together, and even her rude, wild, little brother, who called her annoying and usually tried to avoid her, were the ones whom her life revolved around besides her mom and dad.