Chapter Text
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Charlie knew the moment that dang phone rang that she was gonna be in trouble. No telemarketer in their right mind, sans ones located out of the states,would call this early in the morning. And no sane person that knew her personally would interrupt the short and fleeting moments of peace she had before Zaiden woke up.
She peeks at the screen through tired eyes: haphazardly pouring the hot water into her mug. Charlie mutters a swear under her breath, roughly placing the kettle back into its holder.
And to think I was going to have a peaceful start to the school holidays.
With her dominant hand, she picks up the phone and answers it, her tone changing to that of a tired mother that was almost ready to face the world.
Or in this case, her ex brother-in-law.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Charlotte? It’s Chris.”
Her stomach sank deeper into her chest upon hearing Chris’s voice, tremulous. He sounded unusually stressed.
“Hey.” Charlie pours a little bit of milk into her cup, placing the bottle back in the refrigerator. “Are you okay? Is someone hurt?”
Chris mutters something before repositioning the phone. Charlie hears his voice more clearly now, alongside others chatting in the background. “I’ve got a no show for the camp nurse I hired — you were the first person I thought to call.”
“That’s not like the hires.” Charlie replies, more speaking to herself than to him. “You’re usually good at vettin’ ‘n shit.”
He sighs. “I know. And now I got a whole bus load of kids on their way over in a couple of days, so it's looking a bit dire.”
A pause. Charlie knew what was coming.
“Let me guess, you want me to help?”
“I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t serious.”
“Any good parent should know never to ask another to babysit when they’ve just offloaded their own.” She teases, moving to sit out on the porch. It already felt warm, at this time of the morning: the woods in front of her chirping with the sound of cicadas.
“I’ll pay you what you’d earn at the station.” Chris bargains. “You wouldn’t have to pay for any food or accommodation: that’ll all be covered.” She can imagine him in his office now, leaning back in that squeaky chair of his. “Please say yes. Kaitlyn’s good, but she ain't no paramedic.”
Charlie sighs, leaning her head back on the porch swing. It'd probably be in her best interests to refuse.
Her plan was to spend some time to herself over the summer, without needing to worry about Zaiden. She’d built up enough annual leave days that taking this holiday wouldn't dent them by much. To be fair, she hadn't had a holiday since the separation.
“You know I didn’t leave on good terms.”
“You won’t have to speak to Ma or Pa, I promise.” She hears Chris shuffle the phone around, yelling something that she can’t quite pick up. “. . . . probably can't say the same for Travis.”
Charlie closes her eyes slowly, letting the emotions in her head filter out.
Shit. He really is desperate.
Despite her worries, she finds herself wanting to agree. To keep busy instead of moping around.
“I don’t care about whatever Travis is up to.” Charlie tells him. “He’s a grown man that can supervise himself.” She sits up. “D’ya need me to bring my own gear?”
He whoops a cheer down the phone line. “Really?! You’ll do it?!”
“Outta the goodness of my heart, yes.”
“Thank you so much!” Chris sings. “You’re a gem. Let me fetch you the time table for the week: when you get here, we can go over contacts and stuff.”
“Cool.” The heat from her mug disappears into the air. “And Chris?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t tell Travis ‘bout this.” She says. “Otherwise he’ll be hangin’ around camp like he’s a counsellor.”
There’s a reluctant pause on the other side of the line. “. . . . while you’re not wrong —"
“Chris. Please.”
That was the trouble with Travis’ family, getting all into each other's business. Stubborn as a mule when it came to it, too. She liked Chris: he was a good man and uncle. Most of the time, at least.
“He won’t hear about anything from me.” Chris says. “Just don’t be surprised when he ends up hearing it from someone else.”
“Well, then I’ll just deal with him diplomatically.”
“. . . . That isn’t at all reassuring.”
“We’ll be fine, you worry wart.” Charlie takes a sip of her tea. “I’ll behave.”
•••☆•••☆•••☆•••
The two hour drive out to the camp went quicker than she thought it would be. It’s not often she makes it to North Kill, let alone the Hackett’s property: only when it pertains to Zaiden spending time with his cousins.
She drove the last couple of miles with the windows down, letting the earthy wind freshen up her mood, determined to earn this pay with a smile.
As the car slows, Charlie rolls the windows back up. The gravel on the road crunches under the car’s tires, the car turning right into the forecourt of the camp and taking the space at the end, facing the main cabin.
Her ears ring once the engine shuts off, anticipation making her hands sweat. With only the sound of her breathing and nature beyond the thin glass windows, it's a moment of reprieve before. . . . whatever came next.
“Who knew I’d be seeing this place so soon again.” She mutters, building up the energy to leave the car.
Charlie exits the vehicle and retrieves her bags from the back, just as the front doors swing open — revealing a very relieved Chris, followed shortly by her favourite niece and nephew.
“Aunt Charlie!”
“Aunty!”
The kids push past their father and bolt down the stairs like the cabin was on fire. Charlie braces herself, catching Kaylee and Caleb in her arms as they almost tack her to the ground.
Charlie blinks, realising how much they’ve grown - being able to smell the top of Kaylee’s head without bending down - tearing up slightly at the time that’s passed in her absence.
“Oh I missed you rascals!” Charlie hugs them a bit tighter, just as Chris reaches the last step of the stairs. “I take it you two are helping out your Pop for the summer?”
Caleb’s the first to loosen up on the hug, nodding. “Pop’s got me teaching orienteering this year!”
“Nice! What about you, Kay?”
Charlie looks down at her niece, the more reluctant of the two to pull away. But, by the time her Dad rolls up, Kaylee deposits a peck on the cheek.
“I'll be here and there.” She steps back, her hands in her coat pocket. “Pops says if I ask really nicely, I could shadow ya?”
Charlie raises an eyebrow, looking at the man in question. “Not even five minutes here and I’m being worked to the bone!”
“Kaylee.” Chris gives her a look: to which she pokes her tongue at. Chris turns back to Charlie. “I only mentioned it in passing: Kaylee’s thinking about college soon.”
Ah. That explained a lot, actually.
“Kaylee, you are my favourite niece. You only have to say ‘please.’ ”
“Aren't I your only niece?”
Charlie nods happily. “Just remember though, it's not going to be easy. Kids are a lot to work with.”
“I have Caleb, so I’m used to it.”
“Hey!”
Chris takes this moment to jump in. “Enough, you two!”
And as much as the kids bicker, they listen to their father.
Caleb hugs his Chris. “Sorry Pops.”
Kaylee continues speaking. “You won't regret it! I won’t be a bother, I promise.”
“Why don’t you two take Aunt Charlie's bags inside?” Chris suggests and the two are more than happy to free her from the burden. “I cleared the room next to the infirmary, so you’d have your own space.”
“Thanks.” Charlie watches as the kids take her bags, dead set on completing this mission. “I’ll catch up with you two in a bit!”
Once they were out of earshot, Chris’s shoulders loosen up slightly. He speaks with his arms crossed, looking like he’s seen better days.
“Have you been getting sleep?” She asks.
He smiles tiredly. “You know me. I sleep when they sleep.”
“You should take all the time you can before the campers get here.” Charlie thinks back to the schedule. “I can cook tonight.”
“I might just take you up on that.” He rubs his eyes. “The last lot of counsellors should arrive sometime this afternoon but other than showing them around and the general meet and greet, tonight should be laid back. It’s on Monday where the fun really starts. ”
She looks up at the worn facade of the building and breathes in. This would be her first summer separated from Zaiden. First time too that she was back here, of her own free will. She thought she'd feel guilty about not bringing him, once seeing Chris and his ducklings in person but she feels almost the opposite about the decision. Zaiden needed to spend time out of this environment he hadn't chosen for himself and she needed to keep going, in spite of it all.
“Great.” Charlie slams shut the boot of the car and checks that it's locked before following Chris inside. ”I’m excited to meet everyone!”
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