The annoying ring of the phone
interrupted a strange yet beautiful dream. Alex Carter groped for his cell and
mumbled a greeting. Instead of the husky voice of the answering service,
hearing his sister’s voice confused him. She spewed a stream of words with the
force of a flash flood. “Megan, slow down. Do you know what time it is?”
“Six a.m. and I have to work and Lauren
arrives this morning and I was supposed to meet her but I have to work and
can’t go so do me a favor and go to the airport and be there by ten when her
flight arrives.”
Alex pushed to a sitting position.
“It’s Wednesday.”
“Very good.”
The sarcasm in her voice made him
clench his teeth. “Brat.”
“I know you’re off and since I
can’t go and neither can Jenessa, you have to and just think you can do this
favor for me without rearranging your office hours. Were you planning something
special with Johnny?”
“Noooo.” He dragged out his
response. Who was Lauren?
“Please say you’ll go. When she
called the other day I was so excited about her coming here I never thought
about who would meet her.”
Convinced her non-stop to take a
breath delivery wasn’t healthy, he interrupted her stream of words. “I’ll do
it.”
“Great. See you.”
“Wait a minute," he shouted to
gain her attention. “How will I know her?”
“Brown hair, brown eyes, tall,
slender. She was here the summer Mom got sick. She roomed with Jenessa and me
at Grantley.”
“My memories are vague.”
“Alzheimer’s so soon.”
”I’ll remember that.” Alex
stretched. “Once I have her what will I do with her?” Megan’s giggle pressed a
warning button. “No way, sister mine.”
“We’ll see.”
He imagined her cat in the cream
smile. “Megan.”
“I’ll leave my key under the mat.
Have her call the minute you arrive in town. See you.”
Alex held the receiver until he
heard a dial tone. Why did he have the feeling Megan had just orchestrated a
crescendo in his life? His sister had a habit of trying to match every
unmarried acquaintance, friend or relative with someone. He shook his head.
Being involved in one of her schemes was the last thing he wanted.
Should he take Johnny or arrange
for his housekeeper to pick him up from kindergarten? He wasn’t sure.
After he finished dressing in jeans
and a cream-colored knit shirt he decided that while a five year old might find
the airport fascinating if the plane arrived late his son would complain and
fidget.
Alex remembered the hours wasted at
the airport waiting for his wife to return from one of her vacations in Europe with her “beautiful” friends. Though nearly three
years had passed since the divorce and a year since her death, his anger
remained strong.
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