Page 1 of A Secret Chance
Chapter 1
“DO I REALLY HAVE TOgo?” Logan yelled from where he was lounging on the sofa with Freddie.
“Yeah, it’s the third period. It’s almost over.” Freddie pointed to the giant screen TV where the hockey players were on a power play.
“Yes.” Charlotte and Serena said at the same time. They looked at each other and smiled.
“She’s my niece,” Charlotte said. She picked up the remote control and shut off the game and the brothers groaned.
“Hey guys, at least she’s having the party somewhere with a liquor license,” Serena added.
“It’s still a nine-year old’s birthday party – how wild can it get?” Freddie groaned theatrically as he peeled himself off the sofa.
“Car’s running, boys.” Charlotte slapped the back of Freddie’s worn sofa and leaned over the back of the sofa to plant a kiss on Logan’s cheek.
“Alright, alright,” he groaned. Logan pushed himself up from his well-worn spot on the sofa. The sky was clear when the four of them left Freddie’s downtown house, but as they crossed the covered bridge heading toward the ski hill, clouds were rolling in and snow was starting to fall. Charlotte navigated her SUV up the switchbacks of the mountain road. By the time they reached the base of the mountain, tire tracks in the fluffy white powder followed them into the parking lot.
“How was opening day?” Logan asked.
The ski resort had just had one of its earliest openings ever; the leaves had barely fallen from the trees when the snow started accumulating on the higher peaks.
“It was a little patchy up there, but not bad considering it’s November,” Freddie said. Aside from the years he was sidelined with knee injuries, Freddie was always on the mountain on opening day.
The foursome headed to the chalet and Logan and Freddie stumbled blindly along behind their girlfriends, peering around the elaborately wrapped presents in their arms.
They were met with a wall of noise as they stepped into the day lodge. Kids were screaming, a piñata swung wildly in the corner, and a frazzled-looking bartender had twenty Shirley Temples, complete with paper umbrellas, lined up on the bar.
“Thank god you’re here,” Lauren rushed over to them. “They turn into wild animals when they’re in packs like this.” Lauren took one of the boxes from Freddie’s arms.
“Where would you like the rest of these?” he asked.
“Follow me,” Lauren replied, and the two men disappeared into the throngs of red-cheeked, snow pants wearing tweens.
“Want to get a drink?” Charlotte asked.
“I think we’re going to need one,” Serena replied and the two of them headed to the bar.
As Logan and Freddie added to the pile of presents, they heard a squeal and turned, and saw that the usually reserved Tabitha had a huge smile on her face. “Uncle Logan, Uncle Freddie,” she bounded over to the brothers and they bent down to hug her.
“Happy birthday, sweetie,” Logan whispered in her ear.
“Thanks,” she smiled. “Are you guys going to take a turn at the piñata?”
“Of course,” Freddie grinned.
“Good,” Tabitha replied. “We need someone with some actual arm strength to bust it open.” She grabbed Freddie by the hand and led him away.
Logan turned and Charlotte slid a glass of beer into his hand, her eyebrows raised. “Now aren’t you glad you came?” she asked.
“Yes,” Logan smiled. “That little hug was worth this...” he paused as he looked around the room, “this, chaos.”
“I’m so glad you guys are here,” Lauren smiled. “If you think the kids are bad, you should see some of the parents,” she whispered. Lauren had raised Tabitha on her own and was the opposite of a helicopter parent. She didn’t have time to be hovering over her daughter every second. She had spent most of her life either working two jobs or working one job and going to law school full time. She looked over at her daughter, who was giving Freddie instructions on how to whack the unicorn piñata and smiled. She didn’t know if it was luck or the way she was raised, but her daughter was an old soul in a young girl’s body. She was independent and, in many ways, Lauren’s co-pilot in life.
“Do you need a drink?” Charlotte asked, shoving a martini into Lauren’s hand. “Thanks,” Lauren replied and downed it in one swig.
“Easy, sis.” Charlotte took the glass from her hand.
“No time for easy,” Lauren said. She wiped her lip with the back of her hand. “Is Megan here yet? She’s bringing the cake.”
