Free OMG, A CUL8R Time Travel Mystery by Bob Kat

admitted.  “Mom’s favorite flip-flops by the backdoor, the remote control lying on Dad’s chair, Mom’s robe hanging on the back of the door of her bathroom, Dad’s aftershave.  I’ll remember it . . . always.”
    “Yes, you will.  And you should.  But you’re strong, and every day will get easier. I f you ever want to talk or anything . . . I’m just two doors down.”
    “That’s really sweet , Austin.  Thanks.”  She reached for a napkin and dried her eyes.  Beneath the fringe of her bangs, she looked around to see if anyone had noticed her crying like a baby, but everyone seemed to be involved with their own group.  Austin gently released her hand.
    Keeping his tone light, he channeled the conversation away from their missing parents.  “I don’t know what you said to Scott, but he’s really impressed with you, and that doesn’t happen often with him.  Besides me, he really doesn’t have any other close friends.”
    “ That’s what he told me.  But I don’t see why not.  He’s super nice and really smart.  He even has a little sense of humor . . . mostly dry and sarcastic, but funny.”
    The server delivered their pizza and refilled their drinks.  Kelly’s heart felt lighter than it had for days.  It had been good to talk about her parents, especially to someone who truly understood what she was going through.  She was even able to laugh as Austin did his best to cheer her up.  They talked and chatted until there were only crumbs left on the pan.  Feeling a little bloated, they returned to the beach, picked up their boards, waded into the water and paddled north to Bowditch Point Park.
    With the boards and paddles secured on the stallion’s rack, they headed back home.  Kelly glanced at the radio clock. “Listen I better not be late again getting home.  Can we skip stopping at the high school today?”
    “Sure, it’ll be there tomorrow.   You don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with your aunt.  I’m sure that’s pretty weird.”
    “Yeah, right.  I feel bad for dropping into her busy life like I did.  It must be really strange to live all by yourself one day and the next to have a teenage girl in your lap.  It’s just going to take a while for both of us to get used to me being here.”
    Austin stopped in front of Scott’s house, and they walked through the gate to the backyard where Scott was standing on the roof.  “Hey, how was the boardin’?” Scott yelled down.
    “I had a blast,” Kelly shouted up as she smiled.  “Zoey said to say hi.”
    Austin whispered, “Scott knows better.”
    “ I’m sure,” Scott called back.  “She doesn’t have a clue that I even exist.”
    “ What are you doing up there?” Austin asked.
    “ We found a note that the radio was set up for the low frequencies only.  I went on-line and learned what I needed to make the ideal low frequency antenna.  It got a little more involved, but I’ll have it done by tomorrow . . . I hope.”
    “I need to get home and get ready for work , so we’ll meet tomorrow morning?” Austin asked.
    Austin and Kelly both nodded.
    “Okay, see you guys at ten.”
    Kelly walked with Austin back to his truck where she retrieved her wet towels. “Thanks . . . for everything.”
    “ Sure.  Any time.”
    Kelly could hardly drag herself up the sidewalk to the front door.  She was really starting to feel her muscles protesting the extreme exercise.  Her aunt’s car was in the drive, so Kelly was glad she had gotten home early.  She shut the door behind her.
    “Hello Aunt Jane,” she called as she headed to the kitchen for a drink of water.
    “Hi Kelly,” Jane answered from the bar stool at the kitchen island.  “What did you do today?”
    I hung with Scott and then went pa ddle boarding with Austin at Fort Myers Beach.  It was a lot of fun, but I’m starting to feel the pain.”
    “Austin?  Is that the high school quarterback who’s always in the newspaper?”
    “I guess