After five minutes of scrambling, the house alarms sounded, signaling time was up. Although we were only minutes ago chasing each other around stealing eggs, we all stopped hunting and headed to the porch where Diana stood with a tray of lemonade and a warm smile I really liked.
“Where have you two been?” Asher asked suspiciously of Victoria and Henry. “You know the rules.”
“Your father had a little mishap with the fountains.” Victoria helped a limping Henry up the steps. “Do we have a doctor in the house?”
“Dad, what did you do, or should I ask, what did Mom have you doing?” Parker stepped up to look at his leg. “I would say first that those pants are garbage. The question is how the knee is under them.”
“It’s nothing big, Son. I just slipped.” Henry plopped down in a chair. “Nothing a band aid and an ice pack can’t fix up.”
“You’re bleeding, so you slipped hard on this knee. Maybe you better sit out the rest,” Parker advised, all business.
“You would love it if I sat out, but that’s not happening.” Henry took the ice pack Diana had brought out. “I have a trophy to win.”
Diana walked around with a clipboard, taking count of everyone’s eggs.
“Now what happens?” I downed my whole drink. “Is it over?”
“This is not over yet,” Murphy offered from her laying position on a nearby hammock. “You have about three more minutes to rest and round two begins.”
“There’s a round two in this?” I immediately looked to Sophie to see how she was feeling. “Sophie honey, are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, Mummy. This is so much fun. I got ten bum nuts all by myself.” Sophie dumped her eggs onto the lawn. “Aunt Mia only got six.”
‘I’m not sure how many eggs I found.” I looked around at everyone holding onto their baskets trying not to listen. “You guys take this egg hunt pretty seriously?”
“Well, it’s about bragging rights.” Trey covered our basket with a napkin. “You remember I told you my parents have been winning this egg hunt for years, and we all want to take that title.”
“How do you suppose they keep winning?” I asked, looking over to his parents. “Do you think they cheat?”
“Ha. Chloe, I know they cheat, but we all do. Lately it’s become about out-smarting the others.” I really laughed now. “No one used to care as much until my parents started the bragging. They brag obnoxiously at the charity event even.”
“Oh my, I didn’t realize this went outside of this property.” I stood to be ready to go again. “I say it’s time to claim the throne.”
“There ya go, now that’s the attitude needed. When we go back out, you have to be cutthroat.” Trey rubbed his hands together. “Maybe we need a plan. Let’s walk over that way.”
We casually walked off to the side of the patio while eyes were on us from every direction.
“Well, now that I know what the yard looks like, I think I know where I saw some,” I said softly.
“It’s too late out back. We’ll be hunting in the front now, and by the way, each tier gets a little harder.” Trey chugged the last of his drink.
“So, we’re not allowed to grab any eggs that are still out back?” I scanned the yard spotting a few. “I mean, I can see some from here that no one picked up.”
“Yeah, we’re allowed, but it’s only a few leftovers. Everyone here knows you have to get to the fresh batch.”
“And that is out front, where we have already pillaged.” I waggled my eyebrows. “They have no idea either.”
“Oh, believe me they know, and don’t think they haven’t been sneaking into the next round area either.” Trey took out his cell to draw a picture. “This is where the next round will be, so we have to show up out front, but then one of us has to sneak out.”
“Bloody Oath,” I remarked. “No one, and I do mean no one, Down Under will believe the stories I’m going to be able to tell about this whole day.”
“What, you don’t have crazy family traditions?” Trey joked. “If it’s unbelievable stories you want, I have them, and this day isn’t over yet.”
Chapter 13
Trey
This day isn’t over yet. Now I have to come up with something crazier than this family.