Page 23 of Deserving Lara
“Scavenger hunt where they have to do things like find a perfect leaf, make a rubbing, pick up a unique rock.”
“Sidewalk chalk.”
“Put on some sort of play for their parents.”
“Make bookmarks.”
“Dance party.”
“Pool noodle boats.”
“Glitter glow-fairy jars.”
The two women threw ideas back and forth. All things they’d done before at the preschool in DC.
“Seriously? You guys would be willing to help?” Alaska asked when she could get a word in.
Lara realized that she’d kind of gone into some sort of tunnel vision. So many memories swamped her. She’d loved her job. Loved the children she worked with. It had been so long since she’d even thought about her kids.
“Lara?” Cora asked quietly.
Taking a deep breath, Lara turned to Alaska. “Yeah. I’d be happy to pitch in.”
“Thank God!” Reese breathed.
“You too, Cora?” Alaska insisted.
Cora’s eyes narrowed. “Why do I have the feeling your mind is going a mile a minute?” she asked suspiciously.
“Because it is?” Alaska said with a smile. “Don’t be mad, but living here is like the smallest small town. Pipe said something to Spike, who told Tiny, who told Brick. Word is that you’re restless. You aren’t sure where you fit in. What you can do here to earn your keep. But the thing is, you don’t have to do a damn thing. If you want to sit on your tush every day up here on this amazing deck, you can. No one expects you to work. This place is a well-oiled machine. I lucked out when I got here because the admin assistant had just quit. I just happened to do what they needed. And Henley, of course, already worked here.”
“I kind of flit around and help out where I can,” Reese said. “I’m taking Spanish classes so we can serve a broader community of people. My brother’s wife helps with that, she calls me every day and refuses to speak English with me, so I’ve been picking it up faster than I probably would otherwise.”
“And of course, we already have housekeepers, landscapers, an accountant, and Luna helps her dad in the kitchen,” Alaska added. “So there’s not much else that we need around here that isn’t already being done. But if we’re seriously considering opening this place for kids for designated weeks, we clearly need help coming up with activities for those kids and implementing them. I hadn’t thought about it enough, obviously, so we also need more of an organized plan. So…I was thinking you could try it out this first time. See if you like it. If you don’t, that’s okay, we can hire someone from town to be our kid coordinator. But if youdolike it…”
Alaska’s voice trailed off hopefully.
“I’m not…I mean, I’m good with kids, but I’m not good at being in charge. I never have been,” Cora said. “But Lara…”
Everyone turned to look at her, and Lara stilled. She wasn’t sure what to say or do.
“You’re freaking her out,” Ryan said firmly. “She’s helping Cora with this first group, but that’s it. No pressure, right, Alaska?”
“Right,” Alaska said without hesitation. “And I’m sure Brick and the others will pay both of you. They don’t expect anyone to work for free around here.”
“Theyall do,” Cora said with a small laugh.
“No, they don’t,” Reese countered. “They have their cabins, and utilities, and food. That’s basically their payment. Sure, they work their butts off to make this place a home, not only for the guests who come, but for themselves and their families too.”
“You’re right,” Alaska said with a nod.
“Okay, valid point,” Cora conceded.
Lara felt a little overwhelmed. She was both excited and terrified at the same time. She loved The Refuge. It had become her safe place, even if she never thought that she’d stay long-term.
But deep down, she knew that was a lie. With every day that passed, she couldn’t imagine leaving. When she’d first arrived, she’d wanted nothing more than to hide out somewhere remote. Now, the thought of being alone, vulnerable, scared the crap out of her. And going back to DC wasn’t appealing at all. She loved her job at the preschool, but not enough to go back to the city. While she still didn’t want anyone else getting hurt because of her, she couldn’t deny that having others around was a comfort.
And not just anyone…Owl and his friends. They’d more than proven that when shit hit the fan, they’d do whatever it took to eliminate the problem. With Alaska and Jasna, when Reese was taken to the border, with Lara’s situation in Arizona.
