“Again, we are prepared,” Sarah said with a shake of her head. “We’ve got forty-eight teenagers, some of them almost ready to head to college. Pretending they don’t have sex is just stupid.”

“I agree. Forty-eight?”

“Uh-huh. Six cabins, divided between the boys and girls, eight to a cabin—four double bunks in each.”

“What about the nonbinary kids?” Lily asked.

“They chose, along with their parents, which cabins they’ll be comfortable in.”

Lily did the math. “I thought I saw eight cabins up there.”

“You did—one for the four male counselors and RAs, one for the other four females.”

“One to six ratio,” Lily remarked. “Good numbers. How tight are the restrictions on…mingling?”

“Our people are living among the campers, twenty-four seven. They’re not in the same sleeping quarters but take a bed check every night. It’s possible, but not easy, for the campers to sneak around after lights out, but we all sleep lightly.”

Lily laughed. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

“Told you.” Sarah backed out of what would soon be Lily’s cabin. “Seen enough? We should head back over to the lodge. Natalie ought to be here any minute.”

“Yes, thanks. The setup is great.” Lily followed Sarah back outside. “So, um, what’s this meeting? Who’s Natalie?”

“I’m not entirely sure what’s up with the meeting. Nat—she’s the district DEC supervisor—called me to set it up with the staff early this morning. You’re part of the staff now,” Sarah said, “so you, Alisha Miller, and Philippe Santiago—the two head counselors—will need to be present at morning briefing, evening review, and any special meetings, like this one.”

“And Chase. Why her?”

“Good question.” Sarah grimaced. “Chase usually avoids the lodge.”

“Why?”

“No idea,” Sarah said, her attention diverted by a green Jeep, a cousin to the one Chase drove, pulling around to the front of the lodge. A trim woman in the familiar green uniform with shoulder-length chestnut hair, a light tan, and a confident stride headed their way.

“Nat,” Sarah said. “This is Lily Davenport, our new medic.”

Once again, Lily took the extended hand. “Good to meet you.”

“Doctor,” Natalie Evans said in a throaty alto. “Natalie Evans. Welcome aboard.”

“Thanks.”

Natalie scanned the small adjacent lot. “I see Chase made it back already.”

“She’s inside,” Sarah said as they climbed the steps to the porch and entered the great room.

A woman who looked about thirty with skin the golden brown of rich oak, in khaki shorts, hiking boots, and a lime green V-neck T-shirt, sat with a pale, thin man with dark wavy hair that draped his high forehead in artfully tangled strands. He had fine features and prominent facial bones that wouldn’t be out of place on a Greek statue. They both nodded as Sarah, Lily, and Natalie walked over.

“Lily,” Sarah said, indicating the two people on a dusky leather sofa that looked like it might seat a dozen more without crowding anyone, “our head counselors…Alisha and Philippe. This is Lily Davenport, our summer medic.”