Page 5 of One More Chance
Chapter 3
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. Yeah right, Charlotte scoffed as she passed the road sign for Chance Rapids. Its cheesy slogan had been freshly painted, the vibrant colors boldly contrasted by the freshly fallen snow.
When she had left Chance Rapids in December, the snowbanks were just starting their annual climb to dump truck height. Now, three months later, while it was still very much winter up in the mountains, there were signs of spring in the valley bottom. The sun was still shining for one. In December, the sun dropped behind the peaks at 4 p.m. She remembered admiring a rare winter sunset as she high tailed it back to the city. Now, it was 6 p.m. and a pink spring sky welcomed her back to her hometown.
If only she had known Logan the asshole had moved back to town, she would not have agreed to be a nanny for the week. She filled up the tank in her SUV in the neighboring town, Windswan, eliminating any need to stop at the G-Spot, the one and only gas station in Chance Rapids. As much as she hated herself for it, she wanted to eliminate the possibility of a chance encounter with one local hockey legend.
She turned onto the main street and crept past the Sugar Peaks Café. Its windows were steamy on the inside, a good sign that meant it was busy. The profit numbers for the café she and Megan owned had far exceeded her expectations. Megan had done an amazing job with the hiring and menu. So amazing that the place had turned into a hangout spot for regular locals and rich out of towners – exactly what she, and Logan had envisioned when they had come up with the concept years earlier. Mr. Peterson, her economics teacher would’ve been so proud of the numbers, she thought and smiled to herself as she continued her stalker-like pace down Main St. There were a few smokers huddled outside of the Last Chance Tavern, the only bar in town, and she thanked dusk for providing her with cover.
She drove through town before crossing the covered bridge into the wealthy Sugar Peaks subdivision. She had been one of the original owners, and as real estate values climbed with the opening of the Ski Hill, her mountain home had easily tripled in value.
She pulled onto the heated driveway and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the rental car. She hopped out and jogged up to the door, bursting into her house, “Lauren, Tabitha!” she shouted as she pulled off her winter boots.
“Auntie Billie!”
Charlotte smiled as a gangly ten-year-old set down her book and ran to hug her.
“You’re so big, you’ve gotta stop growing kid,” Charlotte gripped her niece into a bear hug, surprised that they were almost eye to eye.
“Tabitha. Remember we talked about calling your Auntie Charlotte, not Billie Jo.” Lauren yelled from the kitchen.
The child looked at her feet. “Sorry, Auntie Charlotte. I forgot.”
Charlotte’s heart melted. “It’s okay, Tabitha. I haven’t seen you in a billion years.”
“It’s been two.”
She was at the sweet age where she took everything literally. Lauren walked over and hugged Charlotte. “It’s been too long.”
“It has,” Charlotte agreed. She pulled back from their embrace to get a good look at her younger sister. She was in her early thirties, but the stress of her life as a single mother was showing in her tired brown eyes, and she felt rail thin in Charlotte’s arms.
Charlotte smelled something delicious coming from the kitchen and her stomach responded with a growl. “What’s cooking?”
“Tabitha was craving mac and cheese.”
Charlotte typically wouldn’t touch carbs or dairy with a ten-foot pole, but she didn’t want to seem high maintenance in the first five minutes of their reunion. She opened the oven and practically moaned as the smell of gruyere cheese and breadcrumbs filled the kitchen. “When did you learn how to cook?”
“Ha. I didn’t. We stopped at your café and picked it up. There’s a nice little section of pre-made dinners there. Didn’t you know that?”
“Of course,” she lied. She didn’t know. She had given Megan free reign of the daily operations of the café.
Lauren pulled the bubbling tray out of the oven to cool.
“You know what would go well with this?” Charlotte smiled and opened her wine fridge. “Wine.”
“It’s my first day of work tomorrow, Bill.”
“Geez. I’m not suggesting that you drink the whole damn bottle, Lauren. You can have one glass and still be able to get up in the morning, can’t you? And it’s Charlotte. Even to you.”
“Roger that, Boss.” Lauren saluted.
“Sorry. I’m just a little on edge,” Charlotte said as she poured a glass for Lauren and herself. “Does Tabitha want any?”
“She’s ten.”
