Page 91 of For the Boys
They won their game against Carolina that night and flew home to Detroit the following morning. His research the day before had indicated that the Frankenmuth Winter Festival would begin the upcoming Wednesday and run through Sunday. The Warriors would be playing at home on Friday before three days off. As long as he could convince Berkley to sneak away, they were in the clear.
The second he walked back into his condo, he called Berkley.
“Hi, babe,” she said when she answered.
“Hi,” he said back, smiling at the sound of her voice. “What’re you doing?”
“It’s Monday. What else would I be doing but studying?”
Brent laughed. “Okay, stupid question. So look, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Okay…” She sounded dubious.
“I know things have been really hard for you lately, and I haven’t been around much. So I wanted to make it up to you and whisk you away for the weekend if you can swing it.”
“Whisk me away to where? You know how much I hate you spending money on me.”
“Yes, I do know that, Berk. I only want to take you to Frankenmuth. They have this winter festival this weekend. I thought it might be nice for us to go Saturday and stay overnight. I found this Airbnb with an outdoor hot tub that’s not too far out of town. We could get away, unplug, and relax, just the two of us.”
Brent held his breath while he waited for Berkley to answer. He knew any free moment she had was used to study for the Bar, but he also knew they needed this time together.
“When would we leave?”
“Early Saturday morning, and we can come back as early or as late as you want on Sunday. That’s all I’m asking, Berk. Forty-eight hours, tops.”
“Okay,” she said. “Forty-eight hours. I can do that.”
“Really?”
“Really. I would love to go away with you this weekend.”
Asking his very new girlfriend to go away for the weekend was a bold move, but Brent was nothing if not a risk-taker. The hard part hadn’t even been asking; it had been getting her to agree to blow off a few days of studying. Her graduation was looming, as was the dreaded Bar examination, but he figured she deserved a break.
He arrived at her apartment early on Saturday morning, once again greeted at the door by Kimber and Amelia. This time, at least, no one was injured in the process.
“If she’s not back by tomorrow evening,” Amelia said, eyeing him up, “we’re coming for you.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Brent replied, laughing as he stepped into the apartment.
Berkley appeared at the end of the hallway, rolling a suitcase behind her that was half as tall as she was.
“Berk,” Brent said, placing his hands on his hips, “we’re only going for one night! What the hell did you pack?”
She huffed, blowing her hair out of her face as she stopped in front of him. “Sweaters and boots are bulky,” she said with a shrug.
“She would pack like this even if it were summer,” Kimber told him.
Brent laughed and leaned down to kiss his girl on the cheek. “You’re lucky I drive a big truck. Are you ready?”
“Ready!” She turned to her friends. “You two better not drink all my wine! Actually, you better leave the second we’re gone. And no boys!”
It had snowed the night before, a dusting that coated the trees along the highway in a white frosting. But the sun was out, and the roads were clear, making the trip a smooth one.
Frankenmuth was referred to as Michigan’s Little Bavaria. It was an apt moniker because it looked for all the world like a little German village had been uprooted and dropped at the base of Michigan’s thumb. The area had been settled in 1845 by fifteen Germans, led by a minister, with the express purpose of evangelizing Native Americans. A church was the first building the settlers had constructed, followed by a school. Less than a decade later, the settlement had boasted eighty cabins and farmhouses.
Upon their arrival, Brent found an empty space in a lot near the main street. He and Berkley bundled up before exiting the truck. Despite the sunshine, there was a bite to the air.
“I’m already looking forward to that hot tub you promised,” Berkley said, shivering and pressing herself further into his side as they walked toward the shops.
