“Nothing wrong with a little afternoon siesta,” Dad announced. “Let’s plan to meet at the restaurant at six o’clock for dinner. I’ll call and make a reservation.”
“Thanks, Tom,” Jessica said. She looked like she wanted to say something else.
Oh, please don’t make Sandy come out here to say goodbye to me, Chloe worried.
Luckily, though, all Jessica said was, “Hope you get some good rest, Chloe.”
“And you, too,” Dad said to Jessica. “The restaurant up at the lodge is supposed to be excellent—definitely not a meal you want to sleep through.”
“Come here, Charlie,” Chloe said with her special whistle. He trotted over so that she could clip his leash to his collar. Then Chloe, Charlie, and Dad walked outside.
The pebbles on the path crunched under their feet as they set off for their cabin. When they were out of earshot, Dad sighed with relief. “Phew! I’m glad that’s over with,” he said.
“What do you mean?” Chloe asked, surprised. Dad was crazy about Jessica—right? Why would he be glad to leave?
“All the pressure,” Dad explained. “It’s stressful to meet people for the first time! I was pretty nervous this morning.”
“You were?” Chloe asked. “I had no idea.”
“Oh, sure,” Dad told her. “What if you didn’t like Jessica? What if you and Sandy didn’t get along? What if Sandy didn’t like me? Well—actually—I don’t think Sandy does like me—”
Chloe’s face turned red again. “That’s her problem, not yours,” she said, surprised by the anger in her voice. “You’re an awesome dad!”
“Yes, I know,” Dad said in that funny voice that always made Chloe laugh. “But this kind of thing is hard for everyone. A lot of stress. A lot of pressure. And—just between you and me—Sandy’s still struggling with her parents’ divorce.”
“I don’t get it,” Chloe replied. “I thought her parents got divorced, like, three years ago.”
“They separated three years ago,” Dad corrected her. “The actual divorce just became final last September.”
“Oh,” Chloe said. She still didn’t understand why Sandy would be having a hard time. After all, she’d had three years to get used to it.
“Anyway. Just something to keep in mind,” Dad said. He rubbed his eyes as they approached their cabin.
“Your allergies?” Chloe guessed.
Dad nodded. “They’ll probably get better now that we’re in a cat-free zone,” he joked. “Don’t worry about me, sweetie. Just get some rest.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Chloe said as she gave him a hug.
A couple of hours later, Chloe’s eyes opened. She sat up on the bed, momentarily confused, until she remembered that she was in a cabin at the lodge. Chloe stood up, stretched, and wandered into the living room. “Dad?” she called out. “Charlie?”
There was no sound—not even the clinking of Charlie’s tags.
That’s when Chloe noticed a note on the table.
Hey, sleeping beauty—I went to the lodge in search of some allergy medicine. Charlie has accompanied me. Back soon. Love, Dad
Chloe had just finished reading Dad’s note when she heard a key turning in the lock.
“Look who’s up,” Dad said, grinning at Chloe.
“Successful shopping trip?” Chloe asked as she glanced at the large paper bag in his hand.
“I bought every kind of allergy medicine they sell,” Dad said. “And one of these, too. Think fast!”
Chloe’s hand flew up just in time to catch the chocolate bar Dad tossed to her.
“Attagirl,” he said. “Great reflexes! But don’t ruin your appetite for dinner. We’re going to meet Jessica and Sandy soon.”
“I’ll just have a bite or two,” Chloe replied as she tore open the wrapper. It was her favorite kind.
Then Dad’s face grew serious. “Chloe,” he began, “I don’t want you to worry, but Charlie got sick on our walk.”
Chloe swallowed hard. Suddenly, she didn’t feel like eating the candy bar. She didn’t feel like eating anything. “His gastritis?” she asked. Her voice sounded higher than usual.
Dad nodded. “I was wondering—is there any chance you forgot to give him his medicine this morning?”
“No way!” Chloe exclaimed. “I always give it to him!”
She leaned over to pick up Charlie and buried her face in his fur.
“I know you do,” Dad said, patting Chloe’s back. “I just thought, maybe with all the excitement of packing and getting ready for the trip…”
Chloe paused, racking her brain as she thought back to that morning. Had she given Charlie his medicine? Or had she been in such a rush to pack everything that she could have forgotten?
Chloe shook her head. “I definitely gave it to him,” she told Dad. “I’m certain. It’s the first thing I do every morning. Even before I eat breakfast.”
“Okay,” Dad said. “That’s what I figured.”
“But if Charlie took his medicine, why is he sick?” Chloe asked anxiously. “He hasn’t eaten anything weird. He hasn’t had a flare-up in ages. Oh, Dad, do you think—”
“Nope,” Dad said firmly, cutting Chloe off before she could even say the words. “I don’t think there’s any reason to panic. Remember, it’s been an exciting—and stressful—day for Charlie, too. New people, new places, a long car ride…”
“Don’t forget an angry cat,” Chloe said, remembering Elsa’s claws swiping across Charlie’s nose.
“A very angry cat,” Dad agreed. “I’m not a vet, but I’d guess that would be enough to upset his stomach. Remember what Dr. Garcia said to do when Charlie has a gastritis attack?”
Chloe nodded. “Watch him carefully for twenty-four hours,” she said. “Make sure he has lots of water, takes his medicine, and only eats his special food.”
“And that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Dad promised. “And if Charlie doesn’t get better—or if he gets worse—we’ll call Dr. Garcia right away. I promise.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Chloe said. As she stroked Charlie’s fur, he stretched and yawned, making Chloe and her dad laugh. Charlie didn’t seem sick, but Chloe still couldn’t help worrying about him. She couldn’t bear the thought of Charlie getting really ill and going back to the animal hospital again.
Dad stood up. “I’m going to figure out what to wear tonight,” he told Chloe. “The restaurant looks a little fancier than I expected. I don’t want to get kicked out for not wearing a tie.”
“I forgot we were going out to eat,” Chloe said. “Can I stay here with Charlie?”
“Let’s see how he does for the rest of the afternoon,” Dad told her. “If Charlie gets worse, of course we’ll cancel our dinner reservation. But if he’s doing okay, we should both go. This is a great chance for you to get to know Jessica and Sandy a little better.”
“Okay,” Chloe sighed. She’d much rather stay with Charlie than eat dinner with Sandy. But if Charlie had to get even sicker for Chloe to stay in, dinner with Sandy sounded great.
By the time Chloe and Dad had to leave for dinner, Charlie seemed like he was feeling better. Chloe could tell by the way he waited by his food dish, wagging his tail expectantly. “Just a little bit, Charlie,” she told him as she measured a few spoonfuls of his special food into the bowl. “Then you can have a little more at bedtime with your medicine.”
A few minutes later, Chloe and Dad set off toward the lodge. Small diamond-shaped lights illuminated the path, gleaming in the darkness. Up on the hill, the lodge glowed with light, and Chloe could imagine how cozy and warm it would be inside. Chloe realized two things at the same time: It was really, really cold, and she was really, really hungry. She started walking faster.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Chloe decided to thaw by the roaring fire in the lobby while Dad checked in with the maître d’. She glanced around the lobby, but there was no sign of Jessica or Sandy. Maybe Sandy didn’t want to come to dinner, either, Chloe thou
ght.
Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Chloe was surprised when she saw Jessica—and not Dad—standing behind her. “I thought that was you,” Jessica said with a warm smile.
“Hi, Jessica,” Chloe replied. She glanced around but didn’t see Sandy anywhere. Maybe she really did stay at their cottage, Chloe thought.
“Sandy and I got here a little early, so we’ve already been seated,” Jessica said, almost as if she could read Chloe’s thoughts. “Come with me. The menu is amazing—it’s going to be hard to decide what to order.”
“Dad—” Chloe began.
“I already pointed him in the right direction,” Jessica assured her. “But we’d better hurry before he and Sandy eat all the bread!”
Jessica kept talking as she led Chloe through the dining room. “How was your afternoon? Did you get some rest?” she asked.
“A little,” Chloe replied. “How about you?”
“Yes, thankfully,” Jessica replied. “I’m happy to report that there’s no risk of my falling asleep in my entree tonight.”
“Well, that’s good,” Chloe replied. “But what about dessert?”
Jessica held up her hands. “I can’t make any promises,” she replied. Then she and Chloe started laughing at the same time.
Jessica’s pretty cool, Chloe thought. And funny, too. I can see why Dad likes her so much.
They were still laughing when they arrived at their table, which was tucked in a corner between another fireplace and an enormous picture window overlooking the mountainside. Chloe sat in a chair across from Sandy, who seemed really interested in her napkin all of a sudden.
“Hi,” Chloe said.
“Hey,” Sandy replied, not looking up.
“So what did you do this afternoon?” Chloe asked Sandy.
Sandy shrugged. “Nothing. Hung out.”
There was nowhere to go from there. Chloe couldn’t even think of a follow-up question. She gazed out the window at the dark winter sky, where far-off stars twinkled in the frosty night, and tried not to sigh. I guess we’re picking up right where we left off, she thought.
“I was just telling Sandy about my shopping spree,” Dad said, trying to lighten the mood. “Every allergy medicine in the gift shop! I could set up my very own pharmacy now. Specializing in allergy relief, of course.”
“You probably won’t need it, though,” Sandy said. She was still staring at the table. “It’s not like Elsa can even come out of my room when you’re around. You’ll probably never see her again.”
Chloe snuck a glance at Jessica, who did not look pleased. But she simply took a deep breath and turned to Chloe. “Speaking of our sparring pets, how’s Charlie’s nose?” she asked.
“His nose?” Chloe repeated, momentarily forgetting about the scratch Elsa had given him. “Oh! Right! It seems fine. It’s not bothering him at all. I’m more worried about…” Chloe’s voice trailed off. It didn’t seem appropriate to talk about Charlie’s upset stomach at the dinner table.
“What’s wrong?” Jessica asked.
“Charlie’s got some chronic health problems,” Dad explained. “Usually they’re pretty much under control, but he was showing some symptoms this afternoon.”
“Oh no!”
Everyone turned to look at Sandy. To Chloe’s surprise, she looked genuinely concerned—like she really cared about what happened to Charlie. “Is that what you were telling me about this afternoon?” Sandy asked Chloe.
Chloe nodded. “I just don’t know what made him sick,” she explained. “He’s been taking his medicine and eating his special diet—just like at home. Nothing is different.”
“He was only sick once,” Dad added. “I bet it had to do with all the stress and excitement of the trip. Besides his walks around our neighborhood, old Charlie doesn’t get out much.”
“I hope it wasn’t Elsa’s fault,” Sandy said, sounding worried. “Poor Charlie. I bet it was really stressful to get attacked by a cat.”
“Well, Charlie wasn’t exactly blameless,” Dad said with a chuckle. “Hopefully he’s learned his lesson… and some better manners, too. Anyway, he seemed fine by the time we left for dinner. I’m not worried.”
I wish I could say the same, Chloe thought.
The waiter was hovering nearby, so everyone paused to examine the menu. After they placed their orders, Jessica pulled some brochures out of her purse.
“Sandy and I picked these up in the lobby,” she explained as she passed them around the table. Chloe took one, even though she’d spent so much time on the resort website that she could have recited all the activities by heart.
“There’s so much to do here!” Jessica continued. “I wish we could stay for a whole week. One weekend won’t be long enough to even scratch the surface.”
“So we’ll just have to pack the most fun into tomorrow that we can,” Dad said.
“Before the big party,” Chloe added. She didn’t want to miss the fancy Christmas party that the lodge threw every year. The pictures online were amazing.
“Yeah!” Sandy spoke up. “I got a new dress and everything.”
“Me too!” Chloe exclaimed. “What does yours look like? Mine is cranberry and it has long sleeves.”
“Mine is long-sleeved, too, but it’s emerald green,” Sandy told her.
“I bet that looks amazing with your eyes,” Chloe said.
Sandy flashed her a smile, obviously pleased by the compliment. “Thanks! That’s why I picked that color,” she replied.
“Okay, party girls,” Dad said in his teasing voice. “Our plans for tomorrow evening are clearly set in stone. But what about the rest of the day? Any thoughts?”
“I really, really, really want to go snow tubing,” Sandy said right away. “I’ve never been before, but I saw some videos online and it looks like so much fun.”
“Yeah! I’ve never been snow tubing, either,” Chloe said. “And I’d love to try skiing, too.”
“I read some reviews about the winter sports here,” Jessica spoke up. “Apparently, the lines for snow tubing are really long. If we go snow tubing, we might not have time for anything else, like shopping or skiing.”
There was a pause before anyone spoke. Then Dad turned to Chloe. “I know you were really looking forward to skiing,” he said. “But would you mind saving that for another trip? Maybe next winter?”
“I—” Chloe began. But Jessica was already talking.
“Actually, I’d love to go skiing, too,” she said. “Maybe we could hit the slopes in the morning—and the shops in the afternoon! What do you think?”
Chloe grinned. That sounded like a great plan to her. But just as she was about to respond, she noticed Sandy’s face. At first glance, it appeared frozen, like Sandy didn’t want to show anyone how she was feeling. But there was so much pain in her eyes as she stared at Jessica that even Chloe could see it across the table.
“You know, let’s all go snow tubing instead,” Chloe said, making a split-second decision. “We can go shopping anytime. And skiing’s not that important to me. I mostly want to do something outside, in the snow. If the lines for snow tubing are so long, it must be really incredible.”
Dad reached over and gave Chloe’s hand a quick squeeze. “You sure?” he asked in a low voice.
“Definitely,” Chloe replied, smiling so big her cheeks hurt. “Snow tubing is going to be awesome!”
She looked over at Sandy again, hoping that they could get back on track.
But Sandy, still staring at Jessica, didn’t seem to notice that Chloe was trying to catch her eye.
And she didn’t say a word.
No matter what anyone did, Sandy was practically silent for the rest of the meal. It was exhausting trying to carry on a conversation when one person refused to participate—and the harder everyone tried, the more sullen and silent Sandy stayed. Chloe couldn’t wait for dinner to end.
“Can I interest anyone in dessert?” the waiter asked as he cleared their plates. “I
n addition to our dessert menu, the special tonight is hot-chocolate cake topped with peppermint ice cream.”
“Hot chocolate in cake form?” Dad said, smiling at Chloe. “I know somebody who will want to try that!”
Ordinarily, Dad would’ve been right. But tonight, Chloe didn’t want to stay at dinner one minute longer than she had to… and not just because Sandy was acting so unfriendly.
“Actually, Dad, could we skip dessert tonight?” Chloe spoke up. “I want to get back to the cottage and make sure Charlie’s still feeling better.”
“That’s the best reason for skipping dessert that I ever heard,” Dad said, standing up. “Excuse us, ladies. We need to check on our furry patient.”
“We’ll walk back with you,” Jessica said, signaling the waiter for the check.
“But, Mom—can’t we stay for dessert?” Sandy asked. It was the first time she’d spoken a full sentence in almost an hour.
Annoyance flickered across Jessica’s face. “I—”
“Of course you should!” Dad said. “No reason why we all need to miss out.”
Once again, Dad and Jessica exchanged a look. Chloe had a feeling they’d be texting later.
“Okay,” Jessica finally said. “See you at breakfast tomorrow.”
“I hope Charlie is okay,” Sandy spoke up, surprising everyone again.
“Thanks,” Chloe said stiffly. It wasn’t easy to keep up with Sandy’s moods.
Chloe was unusually quiet on the walk back to the cabin. It wasn’t just her worry about Charlie that was weighing so heavily on her. Now Chloe was dreading having to spend the entire day with Sandy tomorrow.
Luckily, Charlie was waiting for them at the front door. From the way his tail was wagging, Chloe could tell that Charlie felt just fine—and was ready for his nighttime stroll and a little more food.
“Good boy!” Chloe said approvingly as Charlie took big bites of his second small dinner. “Check it out, Dad! Charlie’s appetite is back!”
“And his energy, too,” Dad said with a laugh. He held up Charlie’s leash. “Who wants to go for a walk?”
Celebrate the Season--Let It Snow! Page 3