Free Message Received by Rosemarie Naramore Page B

to bring along
phone chargers.  I mean, why would it?  It’s not as if they’re techno savvy.”
    “They may still be ignoring our calls,” Amanda
pointed out, grasping the side of her head in agony.
    Brady gave her a sympathetic glance.  “You’re
really hurting, huh?”
    “Yeah, my head and my ears.  And my neck.”  She
abruptly konked the side of her head, and followed by pressing a flat palm
against her right ear.  “My ear is throbbing,” she moaned.  “And my neck…  Just
shoot me now.”
    “We’ll get you something for the pain, but
first, we have to find our way out of this airport.”
    “Where are we staying tonight?” she asked. 
After their initial flight, three-hour layover in Salt Lake City, and four-hour
flight to Orlando, she was ready for bed. 
    Brady sighed.  “Well, considering you look like
death warmed over…”
    “Thanks,” she muttered testily.
    “You’re still beautiful,” he assured her.  “You
just look a little green around the gills.”
    She stood up and took a hold of her carry on. 
Thank the Lord the thing had wheels.  “Let’s go.  The sooner we leave the
airport, the sooner I’ll get to bed.”  She paused.  “Wait.  Where did you say
we’re staying for the night?”
    Brady’s eyes did a pass over her face.  She
really didn’t look good, and he could see she was in a lot of pain.  “Why don’t
we stay in Orlando tonight, and drive into Cocoa Beach tomorrow.  It’s going to
be dark soon anyway.”
    She nodded.  “Thank you.”
    Soon, they were in a rental car and driving the
short couple miles to a hotel.  Once there, Brady saw to their rooms, despite
her protests.  “Please keep track of expenses, and we’ll split them down the
middle.”
    “We’ll see,” he murmured, as he indicated she
should follow him to a nearby panel of elevators.  They rode up to the third
floor and exited.  Amanda numbly followed Brady to their neighboring rooms.  He
opened her door with a key card, and passed it to her.  “Don’t lose the key,”
he warned.
    “I won’t,” she yawned, and then attempted a
smile.  “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    He studied her face briefly, and then said
dubiously, “I hope so.”
    “Do I look that bad?” she asked, wincing from
the pain in her ears. 
    “Nooo,” he assured her, but began nodding. 
“Yeah, actually.  Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?  I’m sure
there’s an urgent care clinic in town.”
    She shook her head.  “No.  No.  I’ll make it
until morning.  Besides, my ears should unclog in a week or two.”
    “That long?” he asked, making a concerned face.
    “Yeah, probably.”  She thrust out her hand. 
“Well, see you tomorrow.”
    He accepted her proffered hand and then tugged
her close to him and gathered her in his arms.  She leaned weakly against him. 
“What are you doing?” she mumbled.
    “Comforting you,” he informed.
    “Oh, okay,” came her muffled response.  “I could
use a little comfort.”
     
    ***
     
    The following morning, Ike and Liz strolled
along the beach, close to the breaking waves.  “Just look at the color of that
ocean,” Liz said.  “It’s such a beautiful shade of blue.”
    “It reminds me of the color of your eyes,” Ike
said.  “But your eyes are even more beautiful.”
    “Oh, Ike,” she giggled coyly.  “Do you really
think my eyes are beautiful?”
    “Your eyes and … you!”
    “Oh, Ike.”  She resumed walking along the beach
but continued to send veiled glances his way.  He was such a good looking
man—had aged so well.  He still had a full head of hair, and sparkling, almost
youthful, gray eyes.  He had a full, crisply trimmed mustache over beautifully
masculine lips.  He was average height, but well built. 
    To her surprise, he suddenly paused again.  He
took her hand and turned her to face the ocean.  She gave him a questioning
glance.
    “It’s time to dip those toes into that water,”
he