Page 128 of Until Next Summer

Over the next ten minutes, my father lays out a step-by-step plan involving a judge, an emergency injunction, and a prayer. When he’s finished, I’m filled with hope—no, withconfidence—that we’re going to bring that greedy rat bastard down.

And I think my dad and I might be okay, too.

“Good luck,” he says before we end the call. “I may not understand the decisions you’re making, but I’m still proud of you, Hillary. You remind me a lot of your mom. And that’s a good thing.”

I smile at the screen, and he smiles back. “Thanks, Dad. Maybe when I’m back we can get dinner? I’d like to catch up. And maybe we can talk about Mom a little, too?”

He clears his throat. “I’d like that.”

We say goodbye and I sit back in the chair, trying to wrap my head around the roller coaster of emotions I’ve experienced in the last hour. We’re on one hell of a ride.

“Hey,” Jessie says. She’s standing in the doorway, wearing a worn terry cloth robe, her hair up in a towel.

“How much of that did you hear?” I ask.

“Enough,” she says, walking over and enveloping me in a hug. She smells like rose water with a little leftover DEET. The official scent of summer camp. The combination makes me smile, and it gives me the nudge I need to keep going.

“Get dressed,” I tell her. “We need to fill in the guys.”

—

Minutes later, we’re sitting at a table in the dining hall, eating a meal Cooper whipped up from the last of his dwindling supplies. The main course is a breakfast pasta with eggs, parmesan cheese, and extra-crispy turkey bacon. It’s surprisingly delicious.

“How far is the nearest courthouse?” I ask.

“It’s in the county seat, which is about two hours from here,” Jessie says.

I scribble in my notebook, doing a quick calculation: what time Jessie needs to leave to get the judge to sign the paperwork and get back before the official signing of the contract.

“Assuming the courthouse opens at eight, you probably want to leave here by five a.m. Just to give you a little wiggle room.”

“I can do that,” she says.

“I’m going with you,” Luke says, slipping an arm around her waist.

She turns and looks at him. “But your flight?”

“Canceled.”

“Really?” Jessie leans back as if she’s trying to get a better look at Luke. Studying him. “I’m not used to you being so nice to me.”

Luke laughs. “Don’t you worry, it’s all part of my plan. Get you comfortable, thenbam!” He hits the table, making us all flinch. “Payback for that syrup stunt when you least expect it.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Jessie says, giving him her best mean glare—which honestly isn’t that mean. Luke kisses her forehead and Jessie concedes, resuming her spot in the crook of his arm.

“Back to the plan,” I say. “My dad is emailing the paperwork we need for the judge. It’s an emergency injunction that will stop the contract from being signed and the construction from starting. It’s just a first step, but it’ll buy us time until the judge can fully review the case and make an official ruling.”

“Which’ll be in our favor?” Jessie asks.

I nod. “From what my dad said, you have a contractual right to keep the camp running as a camp. And the Valentines can either continue getting 99 percent of any profits, or they can agree to let the co-op buy it. Either way, Camp Chickawah isn’t going anywhere.”

“Which meansI’mnot going anywhere,” Jessie says, her eyes filling with happy tears. “I won’t have to leave. I can stay right here.”

Luke stiffens, but Jessie doesn’t seem to notice, even when he shifts slightly away from her, focusing on his plate.

Meanwhile, Jessie’s beaming at me like I’ve single-handedly saved her life. “Thank you, Hill. For everything.”

I reach across the table and grab her hand. “Don’t thank me yet. You still need to convince that judge to sign the injunction and get back before any demolition starts.”

---