![\"\"](\"http:\/\/trendflare.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-87-1024x512-1-300x150.png\")
<\/p>\nWhen Sadie, Lori, and their husbands go away for the weekend \u2014 eager to celebrate a birthday \u2014 Lori\u2019s husband, Ben, gives Sadie a cryptic message about a secret he\u2019s keeping. Sadie struggles between keeping the secret or telling her best friend \u2014 maybe some secrets aren\u2019t worth keeping?<\/p>\n
Since high school, Sadie and I have always been best friends. We grew up in front of each other, and we grew together. At home, Lori was regarded as another daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cLori,\u201d my mother would ask every evening, \u201cwill Lori be joining us for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
So, we went through everything together, including the fact that we dated, and now are married to, two best friends \u2014 Benjamin and Keith. I still remember meeting them in school. I was convinced that I was going to end up with Benjamin, but Keith ended up winning me over, along with Lori and Benjamin finding their soulmates in each other.<\/p>\n
Of course, we were each other\u2019s maids of honor, our bond strengthening as our lives intertwined further. As time went on, Benjamin and I grew close too, forming a quartet of friendship and love with our spouses.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now, we\u2019re couples who love to do everything together \u2014 from birthday dinners to holidays. So, to celebrate Keith\u2019s birthday, we rented out a little chalet because we wanted to celebrate somewhere else.<\/p>\n
\u201cBook a place, Sadie,\u201d Lori said. \u201cYou do the accommodation, and Ben and I will do the food.\u201d<\/p>\n
We were both childless and more than excited to get away \u2014 even if it wasn\u2019t far.<\/p>\n
Keith\u2019s birthday rolled around, and we got to the place early, ready to party. I ordered a birthday cake, which Lori picked up, along with enough food for two weeks, even though we were only going to be there for the weekend.<\/p>\n
Things were great until the evening took an unexpected turn. We were all drinking \u2014 nobody was going to be on the road. We were safe. But Benjamin, having indulged a bit too much, sought solace in the cool night air on the balcony with me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, Sadie,\u201d Benjamin began, his words slurring, \u201cthere\u2019s something I\u2019ve been working on for Lori.\u201d<\/p>\n
Intrigued, I nudged him for more.<\/p>\n
\u201cBen, what are you planning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a surprise! But you\u2019ll have to keep it a secret if I tell you. It\u2019s been so hard hiding bottles from Lori\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat bottles?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you know,\u201d he said, his voice trailing off as the alcohol took over him.<\/p>\n
Lori and Benjamin were not big drinkers \u2014 they had the occasional drink with Keith and me, but it wasn\u2019t something they did by themselves. It all stemmed from Lori\u2019s father being an alcoholic, so she was uncomfortable with having alcohol in their home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat mischief are you two up to?\u201d Lori\u2019s voice, light and playful, couldn\u2019t mask the sharp edge of curiosity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"