Page 42 of I Should Hate You-but I Don't

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The motorhome slowed and honked. River waved at the Piedmont family leaving after their one-week vacation at Gem Haven Campground.

"We have six spots on the pull-in side and four tent sites open." Phil slid into the UTV. "It'll be on a first-to-arrive basis until the spots are filled."

"Do I need to put a sign up?"

"No, they'll come. They always do." Phil pulled away from the front of the cabin.

She walked back inside. It was early. The campers leaving had one more hour before they were scheduled to clear the campsites. Phil would go behind them, raking the site clean and ensuring all fires were extinguished.

Moving behind the counter, she swept her foot out, reassuring herself that her backpack was near and hidden under the shelf. She straightened the pamphlets on the wall, brought three more cases of water up to the front and put them in the fridge, and swept the pine needles that came in on everyone's shoes.

Two phone calls came back-to-back, and she answered their questions without any hesitation or thought. Her steps lightened, knowing the job came more naturally to her. She no longer had to run to Phil for all the answers.

A group of children ran into the store, thrusting their clenched hands toward her and dropping coins on the counter.She counted heads. There were five of them. They all appeared the same age.

The tallest one bounced. "We can buy candy."

"Okay, let's see how much money you have." She made piles of coins in front of each child. "You each have a dollar to spend." She stepped back at the display rack. "All the candy on the bottom two rows are a dollar or less."

They all pointed and yelled at the same time. She laughed, waving her hands to quiet them.

"One at a time. You go first." She pointed at a girl with blonde curls.

Ten minutes later, all the kids ran out of the cabin, satisfied with their purchases. She leaned against the counter. Children exhausted her. Never in her life had she had that much energy coursing through her body.

She smiled, watching them leave and talking over each other. Maybe at one time, when her mom and dad were alive, she bounced around giggling and looking for adventure. She remembered her and Kenna screaming over each other, competing to see who Dad would carry first on their shoulders when he returned from work.

Her dad had been a big man and would make a production out of swooping in and scooping her up. She'd tumble in the air, and he'd set her on his shoulders. It seemed so long ago, but the exhilaration of having her dad be the strongest man she knew lived on in her memories.

She wondered if Kenna ever remembered some of the things they'd done and if her sister ever wanted to see her again.

That was her biggest fear. What if Kenna stayed away because she wanted to forget her past? Forget about her?

A woman rushed into the cabin. "Can you help? Our fire got out of control."

"What's your campsite number?" She picked up the phone, ready to call Phil.

The lady grabbed hold of the counter. "Fourteen. Yes, fourteen."

She called Phil and received his voicemail. She disconnected the call, not sure if he couldn't answer or if bad cell service was the problem.

"The sparks are shooting up into the trees." The woman frantically ran to the door. "Look."

She grabbed her backpack and the fire extinguisher off the wall and led the woman outside. Locking the cabin behind her, she ran with the woman. Water spigots were at the end of each row and by the bathroom, with hoses nearby.

The fire rose above the camper, growing closer to the tree branches. Afraid she'd drop the extinguisher, she hugged it to her chest.

At the campsite, a man kicked dry dirt onto the fire, only sending up more sparks. She set the canister at her feet. Phil had taught her how to use one on the first day of work at the campground.

Panic made her doubt herself. What word was she supposed to remember?PASS

Pull.

Aim.

Squeeze.

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