Read Online Message Received by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online Page B

carry on is packed.  Let’s go by
your place so you can pack a bag.”  He checked his watch.  “We don’t have a lot
of time.”
    “Hey, how much did the tickets cost?  I’ll write
you a check.”
    “You don’t want to know,” he murmured, as they
hurried to his car.
     
    ***
     
    “We’re landing!” Liz cried gleefully, as she
looked out the window of the airplane.  It was just as Ike had told her.  The
Florida sky was the brightest blue she’d ever seen.  “Oh, Ike, just look at
that sky!  It’s just beautiful!”
    He grinned at her enthusiasm.  “Isn’t it
gorgeous?  Words just don’t do it justice.”
    “You’re so right.”
    “Well, sit back, hon.  We’re descending.  It
won’t be long until we land.”
    “Oh, I can’t wait!  Ike?”
    “Yes?”
    “Do you think we’ll see an alligator in
Florida?”
    “I can almost guarantee it,” he told her.
    She clasped her hands together.  “Oh, I can’t
believe it!  I’ve always wanted to see an alligator up close.”
    He chuckled.  “We’ll find an alligator.  I
promise.”
    The plane began a rapid descent.  “Oh, Ike. 
Landing is so much fun !”
     
    ***  
     
     Amanda clutched the sides of her seat.  Brady
noticed she’d been white knuckling the armrest from the instant they’d boarded
the plane.  When she suddenly grasped his arm, and dug her nails into his
exposed forearm, he gently extracted her hand and held it within his own. 
    “Let’s just put your hand here,” he said,
patting it reassuringly.  “You don’t like flying, do you?”
    “What was your first clue?” she asked, without
looking at him.  Her eyes were closed and her lips were set in a straight,
terse line. 
    When her lips suddenly began moving rapidly, he
asked, “Did you say something, Amanda?”
    She turned toward him briefly.  “I’m praying. 
I’m praying.  You should pray too.”  The plane gave a jolt and Amanda gasped. 
“Please pray too.  You might want to pray.  Pray, Brady.  Really.  We can pray
together.  Is there a pastor on the plane?  Pray.  Everybody pray.” 
    “We’re going to be fine,” he said, laughing
lightly.  “Haven’t you flown before?”
    “Oh, sure,” she said, attempting to sound
nonchalant.
    “Just not a fan though, huh?”
    “No, not a fan,” she agreed, without opening her
eyes.  “Not a fan.  Nope.  Nope.  Nope.  Not a fan.”  When the plane gave a
sudden burst of speed, Amanda let out a cry of terror.  “What just happened? 
Did a bird just fly into one of the engines?  All of them?  Oh, no, are we
going down?”
    “Amanda, open your eyes.  We’re still
ascending.  We’re fine.  We’re not going down.  Not for awhile anyway.”  Lord,
how would she react when they were landing?
    Brady glanced around.  If they weren’t still
belted into their seats, per the illuminated instructions at the front of the
cabin, he would have called over a flight attendant and gotten Amanda a stiff
drink.  He’d never seen anyone this terrified of flying.
    He leaned in, closer to her ear.  “Why didn’t
you mention you’re afraid of airplanes?”
    She gave a shrug, now staring straight ahead at
the seat in front of her.  “I’m not afraid of airplanes.  They don’t scare me
at all when they’re on the ground.  In the sky…  Another matter all together.”
    “You should have told me,” he reiterated.
    “I had to come.  I couldn’t expect you to track
down the grandparents on your own.”
    “I’d have let you off the hook, under the
circumstances.  Why don’t you try to sleep?”
    “Good idea.”  She pressed her eyelids closed.  A
moment later, she said, “I can’t sleep.”  She forced her eyes open and glanced
out the window.  She stared at the clouds floating by, and the patchwork quilt
of ground beneath them.  She suddenly spied the wing of the plane.   “Oh, man. 
This is just … unnatural.”
    “What is?”
    “You know, being up here.