Page 61 of A Secret Chance

Busted.

“That’s not true,” she lied.

Lauren’s meditation music filled the air between the sisters as they stared each other down. Lauren knew she was lying, and so did Charlotte. That’s the problem with being close to your sister, she thought, that woman knew her next move before she did.

The door flew open and Tabitha burst into the house. She tossed her backpack on the chair and kicked her boots haphazardly against the wall. “Hi, Mom. Hi, Auntie C.”

“Whoa,” Lauren shouted. “Where does your backpack go?”

Tabitha turned on her heel and let out an exaggerated groan. She picked up her backpack and hung it on the hook by the door and then set her boots in the tray. “How was your sleepover?” Lauren asked.

“Good,” Tabitha said from her bedroom.

“Come here and say hi to your mom,” Lauren said. They heard another groan and then the surprisingly heavy footfall of the nine-year-old as she headed into the living room and jumped onto the sofa between them. Lauren squeezed her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.

“Did you stay up all night talking?” Charlotte leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

“Yes,” Tabitha giggled then stopped as Lauren pretended to give her a harsh look.

Lauren’s eyes glanced at the stack of papers on the kitchen table, and her mind wandered to the paragraph she had just about completed. Tabitha was showing Charlotte the haphazard manicure the girls had given each other when they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“You expecting someone?” Charlotte asked.

“No.” Lauren headed to the door, expecting to find Julia’s parents holding something Tabitha had forgotten at their house. Instead of peering through the window, she pulled the door open wide.

Baxter Caldwell was standing on her doorstep with a bouquet of flowers.

Chapter 22

BAXTER PUT THE CARin park in front of the little bungalow with the green trim. Lauren’s hot and cold attitude was frustrating but understandable. She was stronger than he was. Although she had more to lose – he couldn’t be kicked off his own project by banging the opposition’s lawyer – she was smarter than he was and he loved her for it.

“Oh, hi...,” He was surprised when she pulled the door wide open. She was dressed from head to toe in sweatsuit material, her hair was messy, and her fuzzy socks were mismatched. He had never seen anyone look so beautiful.

“Hi.” Her voice sounded strained. The expression on her face told him that she had been expecting someone else.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. She pulled the door in front of her so that it was almost closed, peering through the gap.