Page 125 of Tourist Trap

"Are you going to put me out of my misery yet?" I ask, my stomach still turning.

"I'm cutting back," she says finally, and my stomach drops. I thought I had at least another two weeks at this job, but it seems… "This is my last summer working full time as the Director of Recreation.”

My jaw drops. I knew that Helen was past retirement age, but from what I’d heard, she just loves this job so much, she’s stuck around.

Except now, she’s not.

“And I want you to take over.”

The world spins, and my head goes light. I make an attempt to speak, but my mouth simply opens and closes, nothing of real substance coming out.

Helen lets out a loud laugh at my shock. “What?” She reaches over, grabs my hand, and smiles at me warmly.

“Starting after the summer season, I want to promote you to Assistant Director of Recreation. I’ll work alongside you for the next year and retire for good next fall once you have a full year under your belt.”

So many things run through my mind, from screamingyesat the offer I haven’t even really been given yet, to crying, to looking around for the camera crew pranking me.

"Aren't there people who would rather have this job?" I say instead.

Helen looks at me, confused. "Do you not want it?"

I shake my head vehemently, confusing her more before speaking.

"No, no, no, I do. I so very much do. But…shouldn’t I work up to it? Should I…I don't know. Work for the department for a while? Learn the ropes?"

She nods. "You'd spend the next year working as the assistant director before you get to bethedirector, but that would just be semantics for the most part. You'd be the one in charge. I'm cutting my hours way back. You'd just be working by my side to learn the ropes."

The air leaves my lungs as she stares at me kindly and patiently.

"I feel…I'm completely unqualified for this, Helen."

She tips her head to the side. "You've been managing the lifeguards all summer, scheduling them, filling in when needed, dealing with their drama, even hiring another mid-season when Tanya quit."

I shake my head, not because I didn’t do all of that but because… "That was my job, though."

"You helped Jonah out, boosted that boy’s confidence more than I could ever tell you. You got two dozen volunteers for the block party." I shrug, still not feeling like any of that matters. "Did I tell you we funded everything through March?"

My head snaps back. “What?”

"All of the programs are funded. Fall and winter recreational sports will require no enrollment fees. We covered it, based only on your fundraising. " My heart skips a beat as a mix of joy and pride washes through me.

“It wasn’t?—”

"My goodness, do you always cut yourself so short?" I don't answer because I think she knows the answer. "You are good for this town. I had a dozen people come up to me at the block party, tell me how great it was. The mayor himself told me I should do whatever I could in my power to keep you on the payroll for as long as I can."

My spine straightens at that. "He probably meant it in general."

Helen rolls her eyes and heaves out an annoyed sigh.

"My god, girl, take a compliment! You are so hell-bent on everyone else having fun and enjoying life and getting what they want, but let yourself have it too." I sit there in stunned silence. "You are qualified, Claire. You might not have decades in this town or in recreation, but you did more for this town than most people. You'll be my assistant for a year, and I'll hold your hand. But you won’t need that because I know you've got this. Hell, half this job is arguing with people, which we both know you're more than great at."

I smile at that, and then she hands me a stack of papers, which is when I realize her decision wasn’t made on a whim. This is not something she just came up with, because there is a multi-page proposal in my hands with a cover letter and everything.

"I wrote this up the day after the block party. Brought it to the town council, pled my case, and they agreed. You should know, I told them you'd probably have some big fundraising plans for the Apple Fest, but from what I know of you, you do."

I bite my lips to hide a smile.

"Ihavebeen kicking around a few ideas I thought I might want to share with you?—"

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