Free Christmas Retreat by Rachel Maldonado Page A

“Here, you can look it over on the drive up.”
                  Sidney grabbed her toiletries and tossed them in her side bag pocket, then zipped up the bag. “I guess I'm ready. Let's do it,” she said grinning. She grabbed the list from Baxter and walked out the front door.
                  “Yes! That's the spirit! Let's do this. I'm so glad you're excited and that you didn't pack your laptop.” Baxter shut off the light switch and followed Sidney out. She took one last look around the apartment making sure she hadn't forgotten anything, then shut off the living room light and locked the door.
                  Sidney walked out towards Baxter's GMC truck. “I thought about it, but if I took it with me, then I'd be tempted to work and I'm sure you wouldn't like that.”
                  Baxter laughed. “No, I wouldn't. I'd have to toss it out into the woods.” Baxter opened the passenger door for Sidney in the same manner she always did and tossed all the bags in the bed of the truck. They both settled in for the drive and Sidney looked at the email she still had in her hands.
                  “It looks like half of these women are in their twenties and the other half is in their thirties,” she remarked as she read the names and ages.
                  “Sounds like a good mix of women. I'm sure we'll fit right in.”
                  “One of these women is an author. I wonder if she'll have her laptop with her. Now I'm wondering if I should have brought mine.”
                  “Oh, she's allowed to have hers. We're not going back for yours,” said Baxter laughing. “The next two days is all about me, you, a dozen single women, and the woods.”
                  “What makes you so sure we'll meet someone? We could have zero chemistry with these women and wind up stuck with each other for the entire duration.”
                  “No one said we had to fall in love, Sid. You can at least try to be friendly, right? Let's just go out there, have a good time, and try to make some friends.”
     
    ****
     
                  As Baxter pulled up to the cabin, the other women were driving up and parking as well and unloading their luggage. Sidney and Baxter hopped out and began taking out their bags from the truck. A young blonde woman in a black Chevrolet Cruze looked over at Baxter and smiled. She was standing at the trunk of her car digging through a backpack. She took it out of the trunk and swung it over her shoulder but failed to zip it closed completely. Half of the contents spilled out onto the pavement. “Oh my goodness!” she shouted as she scrambled to try to pick everything up.
                  Baxter dropped her bags and went over to help her. “Hello. I'm Jennifer Baxter. Everyone calls me Baxter.” She began to pick up lotions, lipsticks, mascara, and various other items and handed them to the blonde.
                  “It's nice to meet you. I'm Cherry,” said the blonde.
                  “I'm sorry. Did you say Sherry?” asked Baxter blushing. “I could have sworn you said your name was Cherry.”
                  “It is,” said Cherry laughing.
                  “Oh, I'm sorry,” said Baxter embarrassed.
                  “Hi, Cherry. I'm Sidney. You here for the retreat?” asked Sidney interrupting.
                  “Yes. As a matter of fact, I am. That's what you girls are here for?” She tossed the remaining items in her bag and zipped it closed.
                  “We sure are,” said Sidney grinning. Baxter was relieved that Sidney had saved her from further embarrassment. She walked back to her bags and picked them up from the ground.
                  “We're anxious to check-in, Cherry, but we'll catch up with you later, okay?” said Baxter as