“Next up, the men’s competition.” The volunteer’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker.

  “You’re up, boss,” Barry said.

  Baxter had already been nervous, now his hands were full-on trembling. “Let’s go,” he whispered to Barry.

  “What?” Barry asked. He clapped as all of the contestant’s names were read.

  “Come on,” Baxter grabbed Barry’s elbow just as his name was shouted through the loudspeaker. Everyone in the crowd turned to face him.

  “Looks like you’re not getting out of this one.” Barry stepped out of his way.

  Baxter smiled at the volunteer and jogged over to the lineup of mountain men waiting to throw the axes. Unlike the hatchets the women were throwing, the men’s were double-headed, more suited to a Viking than a CEO.

  Even at six feet tall, the gigantic hockey player loomed in front of Baxter. The man effortlessly lobbed the giant ax into the bullseye three times in a row like it weighed nothing. The entire crowd was behind Logan Brush, but his friends were the loudest. He tried not to glance over at them, but every time they erupted in cheers his eyes involuntarily met Lauren’s. They averted their gazes every time. Baxter started to feel like he was getting a mild case of whiplash when it happened for a third time. When it was his turn to throw, he cast another quick glance over and it happened again, but this time Lauren was the one to whip her gaze away. He looked away from the beautiful woman and his eyes fell on Charlotte, who smiled at him. The hockey player waved at the screaming crowd and made his way to stand beside the realtor and pulled her in close to him.

  Next up, “Baxter Caldwell,” the bullhorn wielding volunteer shouted.

  Baxter gulped and stepped up to the line. The crowd clapped politely. He grabbed the handle with his leather gloves and stepped to the mark. The ax was heavier than the ones he had thrown at the planter’s camp, but once he had it in his hands, his muscle memory took over and he arced it over his head slowly and then contracted his entire body as he swung the ax over his head. As soon as his fingers released the handle, he knew that it was too early. The ax sailed completely over the target and clattered against the chain-link fence behind it.

  “Someone ate their Wheaties this morning,” the announcer’s voice boomed through the megaphone and the crowd tittered. He couldn’t even look over at Lauren. He knew that his face was two shades redder than it should be.

  He jogged to retrieve the ax, well aware of everyone’s eyes on the outsider. He stepped to the line and took a deep breath. The crowd dissolved around him, the only thing he could see was the wooden target. He reared back and threw the ax again, this time releasing it at the perfect time. It performed two slow loops in the air before sticking perfectly into the bullseye. The crowd clapped and when a woman’s voice whooped, adrenaline shot through his body and he stole a quick glance at Lauren, but she was mid-conversation. The voice cheered again, and he turned to see a woman in a pleather jacket clapping and cheering while she visibly chewed a piece of gum. He nailed his third shot and the entire crowd cheered this time. He may not have won, but he had redeemed himself from his first throw. He retrieved the ax and handed it to the next contestant, another mountain man wearing a plaid jacket.

  Don’t look, don’t look, he whispered to himself as he joined Barry along the sideline then cursed himself as he stole another glance across the crowd, expecting to meet the emerald eyes one more time. She was like a car crash. He didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t stop himself. But this time he did a double take. She was gone.

  Seventeen

  Lauren’s arms pumped by her sides, making a swishing sound against the body of her down jacket while she made her way through the crowd, trying not to bump into the other carnival-goers. She gasped as she felt a hand on her arm, stopping her forward momentum. She turned to see her sister.

  “Ow, let go,” she said. She flexed her arm and tried to pull it out of her sister’s newfound herculean grip. Charlotte squeezed her harder, but then released her grip. “That’s going to leave a bruise.” She rubbed at her arm.

  “Where are you going?” Charlotte asked.

  Lauren looked around, still rubbing her arm, “I have to get out of here.” Then she leaned in closer, “Did you see him looking at me?”

  “How could I have missed that?” Charlotte whispered. “Do you think he figured it out? Does he know who you are?”

  “I don’t know,” Lauren said. Her heart was hammering against her chest. It seemed like the harder she had tried to avoid meeting his eyes, the more it had happened.

  “Maybe he just thinks that you’re hot,” Charlotte said.

  “Maybe.” Lauren bit her lower lip, a habit she only did when she was deep in thought. “But I doubt it.” She pursed her lips together.

  “Me too,” Charlotte said. “He couldn’t stop looking at you. And he looked embarrassed – especially when he chucked that ax over the target.”

  Lauren looked at her sister. “Where’s Tabitha?”

  “She’s with Logan.”

  What do I do now?” Her voice wavered, the adrenaline coursing through her body affecting her hands as well as her vocal cords.

  “Come on.” Charlotte waved for Lauren to follow her. The two of them ducked inside the ice rink, and hidden amongst the crowd, engulfed in the smell of French fries and Zamboni exhaust, they discussed Lauren’s options. Charlotte favored a more confrontational approach, whereas Lauren wanted to continue with what she did best - avoidance.

  “Can’t I just pretend not to see him?” she asked. “Or,” her eyes opened widely, “we could just leave.”

  Charlotte folded her arms and leaned against the painted concrete wall. “Absolutely not. You never take time off, and this carnival happens once a year. Don’t let a man stop you from enjoying the day with your daughter.”

  “You’re right,” Lauren sighed and leaned against the wall beside her sister. “I’m overreacting. If we are grown adults, why do I feel like I’m back in high school again?”

  “That’s not always a bad thing,” Charlotte said. “Did you see him hit the target? When he stepped up there in his wool coat and Burberry scarf, I didn’t think he was even going to be able to pick up the damn thing.”

  “I knew that he could do it. He was a tree planter when I, when I, um… knew him.” Lauren fought for her words.

  “A tree planter who can stay at a luxury heli-ski lodge?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “Come on, Lauren.”

  But it was true. At the time, all Lauren had seen was a young idealist who had the same patch on his backpack that she did. “We spent all night talking about living off the grid and alternative energy. There wasn’t a trace of this evil developer in him back then.”

  “You obviously didn’t just talk alllll night.” Charlotte winked.

  Lauren’s face flushed and she stared at the black rubber flooring.

  “Are you blushing?” Charlotte teased.

  Lauren looked up, her cheeks burning, and smacked her sister on the arm.

  “Come on, let’s get a drink,” Charlotte said. “Bar’s open.”

  “I could use something stiff.” Lauren rarely drank, but she needed something to take the edge off. “And if I see him, I will say hi and that’s it.”

  “And if he tries to talk to you?”

  The two sisters mixed in with the crowd of spectators leaving the rink. “I’ll…” Lauren racked her brain. What would she do? “I’ll play it by ear.”

  “Sounds like a terrible plan,” Charlotte said. “There’s the beer garden.” She grabbed Lauren, this time by her hand, and the two of them wove their way to the fenced-in beer garden, managing to snag the last picnic table. Lauren brushed the snow off the bench seat and scanned the crowd while Charlotte went to get their drinks.

  “I feel bad leaving Tabitha with Logan,” Lauren said. Charlotte passed her a plastic cup filled to the brim with craft beer.

  “Don’t be,” Charlotte handed Lauren her beer. “They both love each other.”

  Logan had been a great presence in Tabitha’s life. She didn’t need a father. She had Logan, Lauren thought to herself. “I wish I had brought a reusable mug.” She pushed the image of Baxter as a father from her mind. She took a sip of the beer and licked the foam from her lip. “I can’t believe all the waste.” She looked around at the trash bins, already filled to the brim with plastic cups.

  Charlotte took a sip of her beer. “You’re right, they should make everyone buy a commemorative cup.”

  “That’s a great ide—” Lauren’s sentence was interrupted as she let out a burp. She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Excuse me.”

  Charlotte giggled. “I didn’t know you spoke in burp.”

  That’s a great idea,” she repeated and stared into the bubbly brew. “Geez, this stuff is super carbonated.”

  “That’s because you never drink anything but coffee or tea,” Charlotte teased.

  Charlotte was right. Tabitha’s career and motherhood had consumed her waking hours for the past ten years. She finished off the cup of beer and tapped it on the table. “Another?” she asked.

  “Whoa,” Charlotte pointed to the empty cup. “Go easy there, killer.”

  “They’re small cups.” Lauren shook hers again. “Drink up.”

  Charlotte shrugged and then downed the rest of her drink.

  “I’ll get this round,” Lauren offered. She stood up and collected the empty cups.

  “What are you doing with those?” Charlotte asked.

  “I’m going to get them to refill them.”

  “How about you get a pitcher?” a deep voice said from behind Lauren. She turned to see Freddie Brush, Logan’s younger brother, and his girlfriend, Serena.

  “Done,” Lauren smiled. She pointed to the picnic table, “Have a seat.”

  Freddie and Serena joined Charlotte, and Lauren returned shortly with two pitchers of the Snowball Brew. She set the heavy jugs on the table and poured everyone a round. “It’s called Snowball Brew,” she said. “You’ll never guess what’s on the logo,” she laughed.

  “A snowman with balls?” Freddie said.

  “How did you know?” Lauren said.

  “I didn’t, but I know Charlie.” Charlie was the local bartender who had started a small craft beer company out of the back of the seedy bar in town. Lauren had been to The Last Chance Tavern once, and that had been enough for her.

  “Cheers,” Lauren said and held up her cup.

  “Cheers,” the group echoed and as they thudded the plastic cups together, Snowball brew spilled onto the checked plastic tablecloth.

  “Charlie’s beer is always great,” Freddie said.

  “Says the guy who still drinks Jägermeister,” Charlotte said.

  “Ooh, a round of Jager bombs?” Freddie grinned and pumped his eyebrows.

  “No,” the group said in unison. Freddie shrugged and joined in the group’s collective laughter.

  Lauren’s body started to feel a little lighter, and her head a bit tipsy from the beer. She felt her shoulders start to involuntarily groove to the music by the live band. She was grateful that her sister’s group of friends had welcomed her with open arms. Freddie slung his arm over Serena’s shoulder. Lauren felt a pang of jealousy as she watched Freddie kiss Serena’s forehead as she leaned into his shoulder. It seemed like such a sweet intimate touch and Lauren averted her gaze and chugged back the rest of her drink. If someone had told her high school self that she’d be hanging out with the Brush brothers at the Chance Rapids Winter Carnival she wouldn’t have believed it. They were the most popular guys in school, and she was a nerd who wore thrift store clothes. As she laughed with her friends, she felt a sense of comfort as well as loss. She was happy but still felt like there was an emptiness lying beneath.

  “Let me get that for you,” Freddie said. He poured her another beer and filled up the rest of the cups on the table.

  “I shouldn’t,” Lauren said. She pushed the cup away from her. “I have to go say bye to Tabitha before her sleepover.” She felt a little guilty using her daughter as an excuse, but she had no intention of returning to the party, it was her ‘out’.

  “Speak of the devil,” Charlotte said. “Logan just texted me. They’re at the gate.”

  “Tell them to join us,” Freddie said.

  “They’re not going to let a ten-year-old into the beer garden, Freddie.” Charlotte pursed her lips and shook her head.

  “I’ll go meet them,” Lauren said. “It was nice to see you guys. Freddie, you can finish my beer.” Freddie furrowed his brow and tilted his head at Lauren. “Does this mean you’re not coming back?”

  “I have work to do.”

  Freddie let out a giant ‘humph’ and jokingly crossed his arms. “Classic Lauren.” He raised Lauren’s cup as she stood up and proceeded to finish it before she had even left the table.

  “Bye, guys.” Lauren raised her hand in a wave.

  “Bye.” The three of her friends raised their cups.

  She had been having such a good time hanging out with her friends, something she rarely got to do. She sighed but thought to herself, ‘It’s probably a good thing.’ She could get away without having to talk to Baxter, and she could avoid a hangover because soon enough Freddie would be buying shots for everyone at the table, whether they wanted them or not…

  “Mom. Mom.”

  She heard Tabitha’s voice before she saw her. She scanned the crowd, then saw her big smile from beneath her purple pom-pom hat. She and her best friend, Julia, were eating hot dogs and Logan was standing with Julia’s parents Charmaine and Steve. He smiled as Lauren approached.

  “You’re off duty now,” she laughed and tagged Logan on the shoulder. “Charlotte is in the beer garden with Freddie and Serena.”

  “Bye, Tabby,” Logan said.

  Tabitha turned and ran over to Logan, her hot dog in her hand. As Logan crouched down to give her a hug, Lauren’s heart constricted. Tabitha truly loved her Uncle Logan.

  Logan handed Tabitha her pink backpack. “Don’t forget this,” he smiled.

  “That’s not yours?” Steve said. “Pink looks good on you, man.”

  “Ha. Ha,” Logan said and jokingly punched Steve in the arm. Logan seemed to be best friends with everyone in town. “Nice to see you, Charmaine,” Logan tipped his hat. “Wish I could say the same for your husband.”

  While Logan joked with Julia’s parents, Lauren crouched down to hug her daughter. Tabitha squeezed her neck quickly, then pulled on her backpack. “Bye, Mom!” she shouted.

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning,” she shouted. Tabitha raised her hand in acknowledgment but didn’t turn. Her daughter would rather hang out with her friends than her mom. She knew this day was coming but hadn’t expected it so soon.

  “Shall we?” Logan crooked his arm.

  “I was actually going to head home,” Lauren said.

  “To an empty house?” Logan turned Lauren by her shoulders and started to walk her to the beer garden. Lauren resisted for a millisecond but then gave in.

  “Fine,” she huffed. “If I have to,” she laughed and held his forearm as he led them back to the picnic table. She felt like a celebrity on the arm of the former hockey star. Everyone said hi to Logan and he yielded several high fives as they made their way through the crowd. Now the town’s hockey coach, he was loved by everyone. Her sister was a lucky woman.

  “Who is that?” Logan whispered as they approached the table. Lauren stood on her tiptoes to try and catch a glimpse of who he was looking at, but his six-foot-four height gave him an advantage over her. Four people had joined Charlotte, Freddie, and Serena at the table, and even though she could only see the back of the green hat, she knew exactly who was wearing it. She paused and felt her knees wobble.

  “Whoa,” Logan said. He grabbed onto her arm to hold her up. “Are you okay?”

  “I-I-I…” Lauren stammered. “Goddamn you, Charlotte.” She cursed under her breath when she found her words.

  Logan looked from the table back to Lauren. “Is that who I think it is?” he whispered.

  Lauren didn’t know how much Charlotte had told her boyfriend about Lauren and Baxter, but the concerned look in his eyes told her that her big-mouthed sister had told him everything.

  “What is she doing?” he said, more to himself than to Lauren. His jaw was set. Lauren squared her shoulders and unthreaded her arm from Logan’s. “Charlotte.” Logan shook his head. “That woman, I’m going to—”

  Lauren interrupted. “Kill her?”

  “I wasn’t going to go that far,” Logan replied, his eyes trained on the scene at the picnic table from across the beer garden.

  “We don’t have to go over there,” Logan said.

  Lauren put her hands on her hips. “Oh yes, we do.”

  “Are you sure?” his eyebrows knitted.

  “I’m a big girl, Logan.” Lauren tucked her hand back in his arm. “You just might have to hold me up a little,” she laughed. She was trying to make light of the situation but having a rock-solid man to hold onto never hurt.

  “You got it,” Logan said.

  Lauren tugged on his arm. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Eighteen

  By late afternoon, there were a few tipsy Rapidians dancing in front of the band’s stage. From the entrance, Baxter and his team scanned the scene. The beer gardens were packed. “Looks like it’s full,” he said. “Too bad.” He had been looking for an excuse to leave the Winter Carnival ever since he spotted Lauren Bunkman at the ax-throwing contest.

  “No way,” Nicole said to nobody in particular, her eyes trained on one section of the crowd. “Just give me a second.” She raised her index finger at Baxter and the executives, “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the crowd before any of her colleagues could object. Baxter was annoyed and looked at his watch, seeing it was almost dinner time.