“Won’t they figure out that someone is on to them when they aren’t there next round?” Chloe dumped the eggs into her basket. “We don’t want them to know until we get all their eggs from every round, right?”
“That’s true, so we have to get those eggs they are hiding right now as soon as they leave,” I said. “I’ll go back to the front yard so they see me. You wait here and get those eggs by the third pond.”
“Ok, then what?” Chloe stopped walking. “No one will believe we found all those eggs out front.”
“I do believe you have a sneaky side too.” I scratched the back of my neck, thinking. “OK, you get the eggs by the pond and go hide them in round one zone. Then, when everyone takes off, we can grab them. By the time Mom and Dad figure out they’ve been caught, we will already have all the eggs.”
We did a double fist bump and I ran for the front yard. I looked back as I turned the corner to see Chloe doing an army crawl along the fountains as Mom and Dad ran to the opposite side of the yard toward the front.
Oh my God, she might look like Mia, but she seems to be a tad wilder. I think I like that.
Chapter 14
Chloe
I saw his parents turn to head back to the front, and all I could do was drop to the ground in an army crawl. I watched as they looked around then headed in an opposite direction. Thank goodness, because I hadn’t done an army crawl since high school, and I was guessing my pants were not going to look so great after. I waited for them to go around the corner, then jumped up to a bent position and ran for their hiding spot.
Crickey, What the heck am I doing? I don’t cheat at stuff, but Trey has made this so much fun.
When I got to the spot I found, at a quick count, about fifty eggs. I filled my basket, my shirt, and every pocket available, then ran for the backyard zone one area. I could hear Diana and Hank talking about the time, so I slipped about thirty of the eggs behind a rose bush just out of sight and ran for the front yard.
“Trey, over here, I found some more eggs,” I shouted so everyone would see me. “They’re my eggs, Mia, so stay back.”
“I’m taller than you, so good luck reaching those up in the tree,” Mia shouted as she pushed past me. “Sophie, come on, get on my shoulders.”
“Mummy, isn’t this so much fun?” Sophie laughed as she ran by me.
“It’s the best, baby girl.” I turned and ran to Trey. “There was only one egg. I just made them think there was more, plus I wanted them to see me out here.”
“You’re a quick learner ma’am.” Trey put his hand up for a high five. “The bell should be going off any minute.”
“Yeah they almost saw me...” I was cut off by the loud ringing of the bell.
As before, everyone stopped and headed to the back patio. Mia jabbed me as she went by, being a total skite about how full their baskets were.
If she only knew.
“Mummy, look how many eggs we found.” Sophie spun around in circles. “Mr. Trey, look.”
Trey walked past me to Sophie. “They have a lot of eggs- we may be in trouble.”
“Eh, this is a piece of piss. We got this,” I demanded. “Just keep smiling.”
“’Piece of piss’, is it?” Mia threw her arm across my shoulders. “You two are acting very dodgy.”
“What are you waffling on about?” I teased. “Go on back to your team.”
Chloe, what’s going on with you?” Mia circled me without losing eye contact. “You’re grinning like a shot fox.”
“Stop being a fruit loop, Mia.” I brushed dirt I had just noticed off of my knees. “I wish I’d thought to change my scuffs.”
“Ya, know no one else out here is such a shemozzle. How did this happen?” Mia crossed her arms. “I think you have been up to no good.”
“Nah, when everyone went to shoot through earlier, I tripped.” I tried acting casual. “I need to go talk to my partner, so go earblast someone else.”
I shouldered Mia lightly as I went around her. I could hear her laughing as I approached Trey.
“My sister is being a real sticky peak.” I sipped on the glass of iced tea Trey had handed to me. “Now we have to beat them.”
“Just remember, your girl is on that team too,” Trey pointed out to me. “Are you going to be alright with beating her?”
I looked across the patio to Sophie laughing about something with Victoria and Henry. It felt good to see her laugh. It felt good to see her with family. For so long it was just the three of us. She barely knew her father and she’d already been through so much in the last year. Trey was right, how could I beat her at a game?
“Hey, what’s with the deep thoughts?” Trey asked, just as Diana rang the bell for the final round.
“This is the home stretch. I will remind you to stay out of my Koi ponds,” Victoria announced. “Cyrus is getting to be an old man now and I don’t want him disturbed. Asher!”
“Mom, I only went in the pond a few times and that was years ago,” Asher groaned.
“Yeah, and we haven’t stopped hearing about it every holiday.” August shoved Asher. “Maybe Asher should have to stay here and miss this round.”
“That’s not fair. I was only eight years old.” Asher whined like a five-year-old.
“Then behave yourself, young man,” was all Victoria said as she ran down the steps toward the Koi ponds. “See you out there.”
“Oh, she’s a clever one. I see where you get all this from more clearly now.” I grabbed my basket and ran down the steps. “Trey, let’s go.”
“Mummy, don’t get all the bum nuts, okay?” Sophie yelled out from somewhere behind me.
Chapter 15
Trey
When Chloe took off after my parents, I knew right then this was my girl. My family name scared most people, but not Chloe, at least not since she first arrived.
“Mummy, don’t get all the bum nuts,” I heard Sophie yell out from Parker’s shoulders.
So even Parker is getting into cheating this year. I like it.
I noticed Sophie sitting on the edge of one of the Koi ponds with my mother. “Hey you two, everything alright?”
“Look how many big fish are in there.” Sophie leaned over to look closer. “I like that big orange, black, and white one.”
“That’s Cyrus and he’s my favorite too,” Mom told her. “Would you like to feed him?”
“What does he eat, and will he bite me?” Sophie scrunched up her eyebrows.
“He’ll suck on your finger but not bite,” I heard Mom tell her as I walked away.
I had to laugh. I stood and watched as Chloe and Mia raced back and forth for the same eggs. They were laughing and having so much fun, I didn’t want to interrupt. I looked back toward Mom and Sophie. I’d never seen my mother not battle to the end for eggs.
“What’s going on in that head, Three?” Murphy slid her sunglasses to the top of her head and looked right at me. “You like her, don’t you?”