Strawberry Summer
Page 10
Chris shook her head as she remembered, her brown eyes shining with merriment. “See that? It really does pay to be a twin. Even when Sooz and I haven’t actually planned to take advantage of the fact that we each have a double!”
“That sure was lucky.” Jake Reed nodded. “If Tom hadn’t mistaken Susan for Chris right before we signed those papers ... well, I shudder to think.”
“And it’s lucky that Chris had the foresight to hang on to a copy of all those memos and letters that she found in their offices,” Alan said admiringly.
“Hey, after all I went through to get them, I wasn’t about to leave them behind! But the funny part is, Tom never even realized that I had made two copies of each document and kept one for myself, hidden away. When I handed the whole pile of papers back to him, he just assumed I’d given up.
“Of course,” she added, laughing, “he was still in shock over the fact that I’d managed to show up at Town Hall while still remaining locked up in his office. I wonder if he’s managed to figure that one out yet.”
“Well, I’m sure our lawyers will explain the whole thing to him. Now that we’ve got that evidence, Chris, we can make sure that the Lake Majestic Realty Company never tries to pull a stunt like that again.”
Olive nodded in agreement with her husband. “That’s right. In fact, I doubt that the Lake Majestic Realty Company will even be in existence very much longer! Especially since everyone’s beginning to suspect that this kind of thing has gone on before.”
“Well, I could sit around celebrating all day, but I’ve got things to do.” Jake Reed stood up from the kitchen table. “There are a lot of parents out there who need to be given a tour of this place. And,” he added with a wink, “I’m sure they’ll be wanting to meet the heroes of Camp Pinewood. You know, you two have already become legends around this place!”
“I’ve noticed,” said Alan. “The kids actually argue over whose turn it is to sit with Chris and Susan.”
“Oh, Chris did most of it,” Susan said, blushing. “All I did was happen to be in the right place at the right time.”
“Hey, what about your ‘sixth sense’?” Alan teased. “You told me you ‘had a feeling’ you should show up at Town Hall. I’d say that counts for plenty!”
Just then there was a knock at the screen door.
“Hello? Anybody in there?”
“Oh, it’s Richard. Come on in! Door’s open!”
“Thanks, Mrs. Reed. I don’t mean to break up your little party, but there are a lot of parents out there who want to meet the owners of Camp Pine-wood. Apparently word has spread about everything that’s been going on, and there are quite a few who’d like to shake your hand!”
“Come on, Jake. Our public awaits,” said Olive Reed with a smile. “Let’s go attend to our camp, and let these four kids enjoy themselves.”
Richard joined Alan and the twins at the kitchen table and helped himself to some lemonade. “Ummm, this looks good. But we should all save some room for the Parents’ Day banquet they’re setting up. I checked out the dining hall before coming over, and they’ve got quite a spread laid out.”
“Yes, they’ve been working hard at it all morning,” said Alan. “And even though I’ve been sworn to secrecy, I’m going to tell you that my parents asked me what the celebrity twins’ favorites are. They want to make sure you two know you’re a key part of this celebration today.”
“That was sweet of them,” said Susan. “But I don’t know how you’d have any idea....”
“Oh, no?” Alan grinned mischievously. “Let’s just say that you two are not the only ones around here who have a natural talent for spying!”
“Well, the best part of all this is that now we can all take it easy and enjoy the rest of the summer,” said Chris.
“Right,” her twin agreed. “Now we don’t have to worry about any more mysteries or pranks or prowlers in the night.”
“One thing we do have to worry about, though,” said Richard with great seriousness, “is making sure that Chris is really Chris and Susan is really Susan. Now that we all know how easy it is for you two to switch places, how can we be sure we’re talking to the right twin?”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Alan looked pensive. “And you two said that you’ve done this switching-off business before, right? “
“Oh, on occasion.” Chris looked at Susan and laughed. “But we promise not to do it anymore this summer. Right, Susan?”
“Right! But wait a minute... I thought I was Chris!”
The twins broke into hysterical laughter at the boys’ confusion.
“Hey, we’d better get down to the dining hall,” Richard reminded them all. “If my nose serves me correctly, I’d say it’s just about time for the big Parents’ Day banquet to get under way.”
“I’m famished!” Chris jumped up from the table. “And I can’t wait to see those special ‘goodies’ that the Reeds have arranged to serve in our honor, Sooz.”
Still laughing and joking, the foursome tromped down to the dining hall, Alan and Chris arm-in-arm, Richard and Susan holding hands. It was a real celebration, the twins had to admit. Getting rid of the “ghosts” that had been haunting Camp Pine-wood for three years, saving the camp for the Reeds, and seeing that justice was done as far as the Lake Majestic Realty Company’s three real estate agents were concerned were all cause for feeling triumphant. And knowing that now they could enjoy the rest of the summer, with Alan and Richard as well as each other, made everything even better.
As they walked into the dining room, there was suddenly a loud burst of applause. Indeed, word had spread quickly, and parents, campers, and counselors were all on hand to salute them. The Reeds were there, too, standing in front of a cake large enough to serve dozens of people. And written on it in big red letters were the words “Thanks, Chris and Susan!”
“Oooh, you shouldn’t have!” Susan cried as she spotted the cake. The real reason for her modesty, however, was, being afraid she would start to cry. But when she glanced over at her twin and saw how glassy her eyes were, she stopped worrying. At least she wouldn’t be the only one!
“That’s not all,” said Alan in a teasing voice. He led the girls over to another table. On it was placed the biggest bowl of strawberries they had ever seen.
“Strawberries!” they cried in unison, bursting into laughter.
“Didn’t you once say something about strawberries being one of the things that make summer so special?” Alan grinned knowingly.
“Of course. Strawberries ...”
“And lemonade ...”
“And going barefoot ...”
“And let’s not forget the really important things,” Susan said seriously.
“Like what?” Chris popped a huge red strawberry into her mouth.
“Like good friends ... and having a good time.”
“Of course,” said Chris. “And I can think of one more thing, too.”
“What’s that?”
“Having a twin sister!”
With that, the two girls leaned forward and gave each other a big, long hug.
Copyright © 1986 by Cynthia Blair
Originally published by Fawcett Juniper (ISBN 0449701832
Electronically published in 2014 by Belgrave House
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228
http://www.BelgraveHouse.com
Electronic sales: ebooks@belgravehouse.com
This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.
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