Empowerment. Engagement. Authenticity.
Rangers Lodge Saga - Frisbee Fun
Breakfast conversation centered around the
singoff. Logan seemed to know all the behind the scenes details…how many
entries there already were, that the south lawn would be converted into
an outdoor concert venue complete with stage and dressing rooms, that
contestantss would get a say in the lighting and props for their
selected songs, that auditions would be held the following morning.
Despite her nervousness, Kristen loved singing, found the idea of
singing on a stage exciting.
“No singing for us,” Raven was giggling to Brooke after breakfast as
they waited on the cabin porch for Kristen to change for their workout
in the poolhouse. “But we could definitely help out with hair and
makeup.”
“Hey, make sure you tell my brother to contact Mom and Dad when he
finally drags his ass from bed,” she yelled to Kristen through the ajar
door, secretly hoping to rouse Adrian.
Kristen emerged. “Why? I’ll be back here to shower and stuff after.”
“Take your clothes with you,” Brooke insisted. “Shower in the poolhouse.
We’re walking up to the ponds afterwards. Adam says it’s a nice easy
walk, lots of scenery. I’ll take Bel in the stroller, we’ll have a
picnic.”
“God, Adam’s yummy,” Raven gushed and laughed when her cousin cut her a
look. “What? I can still appreciate prime meat when I see it and Adam
Ranger is definitely prime meat.”
“Anyway,” Brooke said to Kristen, giving her a shove, “just tell Adrian
to get in touch with them when he gets up.”
Kristen told herself it was perfectly okay for her to do her own thing
without Adrian. He wanted to sleep. He would only get annoyed at her for
constantly disturbing him with invitations she knew he’d refuse. So she
threw herself into the exercise, enjoying the throbbing music. All the
activity she’d done so far had her feeling amazingly energized. And, all
right, Adam’s grin kept sneaking into her head and making her smile.
Raven was right, he was prime.
“Tell me again why guys were banned in there?” Logan jutted his chin to
the poolhouse as he, Ollie, Jackson and Adam joined the girls an hour
later. Ollie pushed a stroller where Bella banged away on a toy piano.
“’Cause we didn’t want you leering at us,” Brooke told him, falling into
step beside her husband as the group started along a trail bordered by
towering willow trees. “Grab my arm or the stroller, Kristen,” she
offered as Kristen flipped open her cane.
Put that away and come walk with us.” Logan pulled her between him and
Adam before Kristen could answer. “That way you can save me if Adam
starts talking flowers and shit. Or worse yet,” he snorted, “when he
stops to take photos of flowers and shit.” Adam and Kristen exchanged an
amused glance.
“I won’t tell you what I did this morning, then,” Kristen said dryly.
“Did you do the flowers around here as well?” she asked Adam, admiring
the clusters of blue and yellow blossoms encircling each tree.
“How do you know they’re not wild?” Adam countered even as Logan
groaned.
Kristen considered Adam’s noncommittal tone, his blandly professional
demeanor and decided to keep her real answer to herself. “Just a hunch.”
She turned her attention ahead as the trail opened into a wide clearing
punctuated by ornamental ponds. She suspected Adam was behind this
landscaping gem as well.
“God, wouldn’t this be the best place for wedding photos?” Raven pulled
Jackson ahead of the group, her head swiveling to the ponds, the
mountains that rose as a backdrop, the stretch of lush green grass
beyond. Rangers could make a killing in the wedding market.” Kristen
could almost see the wheels in Raven’s promotional designer head
turning.
“We do,” Adam confirmed. “Event rentals bring us a lot of business.”
With the Ipod turned up full volume, Kristen watched the six of them
spread out and engage in a few practice Frisbee throws as she spread a
blanket on the grass a safe distance away, set out Bella’s toys and
liberated the squirming child from the stroller. Bella’s avid eyes
tracked the brightly coloured disc soaring through the air as the game
heated up. Kristen could all but see her tiny pink-sneakered feet
itching to chase it.
“Here’s Bel’s Frisbee!” she chanted and Bella hopped with delight as
Kristen produced a pink mini version out of the stroller. Kristen went
down to her knees and laughed as Bella mimicked her mother’s catcher’s
stance. “Ready, love? Here we go!” She tossed the Frisbee and Bella
clapped as it floated towards her. Gingerly, the child plucked it from
the grass and tumbled it back to Kristen.
“Higher!” Bella demanded and giggled madly as Kristen hummed like an
airplane and zoomed the disc just beyond the reach of her grasping
fingers. They chased each other in circles until they both collapsed
breathless from laughter onto the grass.
“N-A-P time, Aunty Kristen!” Brooke called as she whizzed the Frisbee to
Ollie. When Bella waved to her, Brooke blew a kiss then pivoted to catch
a throw from Logan and zip it back to Adam in a low pass.
Still on her knees, Kristen gathered Bella into a hug and smoothed the
child’s rumpled red-brown hair. She looked at Bella’s beaming face, big
hazel eyes shining in her pixie face, and knew she was absolutely
content right here in the moment. It was an odd feeling for her outside
of the classroom. Too often, she found herself overthinking and second
guessing herself. Not since I’ve been here, she thought idly. She had
found it remarkably easy to be herself at the dance and then this
morning with Adam…well, she wasn’t quite ready to analyze that just yet.
“Come on, baby,” she grinned at Bella and took the little girl’s hand.
“Let’s go for a walk in the forest.” She caught Brooke’s eye and nodded
to the strand of willows. Bella’s eyes tracked over the flowers and
birds as Kristen pointed them out but Kristen knew Bella was battling
drowsiness. “Shall we sing for the birdies?” she suggested, scooping
Bella up and the child nodded.
