Page 33 of A Secret Chance
Chapter 15
SNOWFLAKES SWIRLEDunder the streetlamps as Lauren arrived at work for the day. She turned on the lights and clicked the electric kettle on to boil. She had spent the past week arriving at work before dawn and leaving well after the sun had sunk behind the mountains. The snow hadn’t let up all week and Lauren realized that she hadn’t seen the sun at all. She sat down and was bathed in the light of her computer screen.
There had been a few developments in the fight against Caldwell Town, as the locals were calling the corporation’s development. They had modified the plan, so it was less like a theme park, but they hadn’t budged on the conservation side of things. She hoped that the town would stand their ground, and the proposed modifications to the official plan that would permit Caldwell to break ground would be killed at the next council meeting. Then Baxter would have to go back to the city with his tail between his legs.
She spent the morning preparing her amended recommendations to the council. She heard the creak of the office door as it opened and looked up from behind her computer to see her sister and daughter. “Hi, Sweetie,” she said. Charlotte and Tabitha knocked the snow off their boots at the door.
“Hi, Mom,” Tabitha said. “Are you ready to go?”
Lauren glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already noon. “I’m sorry Tabby. I don’t think that I’m going to be able to come this afternoon.”
Tabitha was a stoic little kid and was used to Lauren’s long workdays. “Okay,” she whispered.
Lauren’s heart wrenched when she saw her daughter’s little shoulders slump inside her puffy purple coat.
“Lauren.” Charlotte put her hands on her hips.
“What?” Lauren said. “You know that I have to get this done.” Lauren pointed to the stack of papers on her desk.
Charlotte pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of her pocket. “Hey Tabitha, can you go get a coffee for your mom?”
“Okay,” Tabitha smiled. She took the cash and carefully folded it and put it into her purse. “Auntie Charlotte likes hers with cream. What do you like, Mom?”
Lauren forced a smile at her daughter, fighting the tears. “I like milk and a little sugar,” she said. Lauren felt like the worst mom in the world; her daughter didn’t even know what she took in her coffee.
“Got it,” Tabitha said. She turned and skipped to the door of the office.
“Hey, Tabby Cat,” Charlotte said. “Don’t forget the hot chocolate and sprinkle donut tip for the delivery girl.” Tabitha smiled widely and when she had disappeared from sight, Charlotte unzipped her jacket and sat down in front of Lauren’s desk. “What are you doing?” she asked.
Lauren jiggled the mouse on her computer, bringing her document back to life. “I’m working on my report to the council.”
Charlotte crossed her arms, compressing the puffy down of her jacket. “That’s not what I meant.”
Lauren looked up from her computer. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?” Charlotte unfolded her arms and gripped the armrests of the metal chair. “That kid, all she wants to do is hang out with you.”
