by Sandi Scott
Dottie stood completely still. The color had drained from her face. Wondering if Dottie was going to faint, Georgie motioned for Daniel to be prepared to catch her.
“All that time wasted,” Dottie muttered. “He gave up drinking, but I didn’t know where he was going on those morning. A couple of days a week he’d leave early in the morning. I though he was going to the gym to sit in the sauna. He didn’t tell me he was back at church. Had I known I might have—”
“Come on, darlin’ girl,” Daniel put his arm around Dottie’s shoulder. “You’ve had enough, let’s get you off the side of this mountain.”
As she was about to pass Georgie and Aleta, Dottie took hold of Georgie’s hand and squeezed it tightly.
“All that time we wasted.” Dottie lifted her chin. Her eyes were filled with fresh tears. She still had the scowl lines along the edges of her mouth. Georgie couldn’t tell if she was mad at Herb all over again, or if she was mad at Pam for taking her away from him permanently. Maybe she was mad at Georgie for telling her.
“You know, Norman is an ex-FBI agent,” Georgie saw Daniel’s ears perk up. “He can probably help you with questions and procedures for this or anything.”
Georgie said it as much for Dottie as she did for Daniel. As if on cue, it was obvious the wheels were turning in his head. Maybe Daniel would ask Norman for some help with his own drama back at home.
Aleta slipped her arm through Georgie’s as they followed the train of people to the bottom.
“Wow. Norm wasn’t kidding when he said Uncle John would know how to handle things.” Seven squad cars and two unmarked cars had arrived, along with an ambulance and even one fire truck.
“Everyone is looking at us,” Aleta said, as giggles started to shake her shoulders.
“What’s so funny? I was almost killed up there,” Georgie said with a smirk.
“Nothing. I’m not laughing at that.”
“Is it my outfit? It is. You’re happy now that it’s covered in mud and no one can see how beautiful it was.”
“No, Georgie. I’m just laughing because this was supposed to be our vacation and here you are almost getting yourself killed. Again.”
“That’s funny to you?” Georgie looked at her sister through heavy eyelids. “I want you to know that I told Pam if she chucked me off the side of that mountain I was going to yell ‘Pam did it’ all the way down.”
Aleta’s laugh was like a bursting balloon causing everyone to really look at them and wonder if they weren’t more injured than they appeared.
Pam had come to and was sitting on the ground with her hands behind her back in handcuffs. Hector, who was nervously running his hands through his hair and shifting from his right foot to the left and back again, was talking a mile a minute with two police officers who were writing everything down. He was obviously trembling, and the sweat that covered his face wasn’t from the hike up the trail. Whether or not he was guilty of anything would be for the law to figure out. As it stood right now, he didn’t look too confident in his own innocence.
Dottie was also talking to police officers. She’d started crying again but as she pointed at Pam it was obvious she was doing exactly what Herb would have wanted. Dottie was going to get what she could, what she deserved, out of this bad situation.
“Do you think this will make any difference?” Aleta asked Georgie while watching Dottie talk and point at Pam.
“Difference in what?”
“In how she lives? Do you think she’ll be a happier person or will she just go find herself another guy like Herb who will be grumpy and rude jerk?”
“Who knows? What really matters is that Pam pays for what she did,” Georgie said. “No matter what she said up there on that ledge, I don’t believe she meant to do it. I think her temper got the best of her. If Herb would have said anything kind or decent or encouraging, he’d still be alive. He didn’t have it in him. That’s my guess.”
The Kaye sisters noticed that Daniel was talking with Norman who was listening intently to what he was saying and even started to laugh a couple times.
“You’ll need to meet with them, and the sooner the better,” they heard Norman say. “In fact, I’d get it done as soon as you can. Look, you’ve got a clean record. You lost your temper. It happens. But no real damage was done. I think if you apologize and make some sort of kind gesture you can make this go away fairly easily.”
“I like the sound of that.” Daniel sighed with tears in his eyes.
They continued talking. Luke was standing back a bit and chatting with a female officer who had long brown hair in a ponytail, and wore pink lipstick.
“June and Forrester sure missed all the excitement,” Aleta said.
Georgie nodded just as Luke waved to get her attention.
“The paramedics want to take a look at you, Georgie,” he said. “I think you better. Just to be on the safe side.”
“He’s right, Georgie.” Aleta urged. “I’ll go rustle up one of these officers and you can tell them everything that happened.”
As quickly as the authorities had shown up, they were soon gone. Pam and Hector had both been taken downtown for more questioning. Daniel was acting like his chipper self. Norman and Luke were on the phone with Norman’s wife filling her in on everything that had just happened.
“Do you want to call Stan?” Aleta asked.
“What for?”
“To tell him your shirt is dirty, Aleta said sarcastically. “To tell him what happened, silly,” Aleta sighed.
“No. I’m not going to call him. We’re going to see him soon enough when he comes to the airport to pick us up.”
“Do you want to tell the kids?”
“Those no-good kids who sent us on this trip where I almost got killed? No. They’ll just worry,” Georgie joked. “But this will come into play when Christmas comes along. There is nothing like a little dose of guilt to influence the present purchases.”
“You would extort from your children in that way?”
“What’s the point of having children if you can’t guilt them into doing things for you?” Georgie pulled a Hershey bar from her purse, broke it, and gave one half to Aleta.
“We were just talking about people getting a second chance and using it to be thankful rather than for personal gain. Now, here you are doing exactly what we said people shouldn’t do.”
“That’s with strangers. You don’t think that really applies to family, do you? Kids? Of course it doesn’t apply to kids. Ungrateful from the minute they are born.”
“Georgie. Of course it applies to family. Especially to family.”
“Oh, I’m not liking this.” Georgie shook her head.
“Don’t think you’re fooling me, Georgie Kaye,” Aleta said, as she casually looked out the window of the shuttle. “This was the best vacation you ever had because you almost got killed. In fact, it is you, madam, who owes your children. And I’m going to make sure they milk it for all its worth.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Georgie slipped her arm through Aleta’s.
“Wouldn’t I?”
The sisters relaxed in their seats. The hum of the shuttle engine and the scenery buzzing by was like a lullaby making everyone on board relaxed and even sleepy.
“This was a pretty good vacation,” Georgie confessed.
“We did get some rest and shopping in.”
“The food was great.”
“The desserts were out of this world,” Aleta replied. “I’m still not sick of pineapple.”
“Me neither,” Georgie added. “What should we have for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we should all have dinner together.”
“All? Half our group is either dead or at the police station,” Georgie muttered.
“That will be the title of your biography.” Aleta replied with a stoic expression. “I meant the survivors, of course.”
“I think that sounds like a splendid idea.” Georgie agreed, cheering up immedi
ately.
THAT NIGHT, EVEN FORRESTER felt well enough to join them in the hotel restaurant, so he and June, Norman and Luke, and Georgie and Aleta put on their flowery finest and had dinner together.
The restaurant was called Xi. It was an elegant white on white room that was open air along the entire western side, allowing for breath-taking sunset views every night. Tonight’s extravaganza was speckled with a few clouds that became purple as they drifted across the orange sky.
“Are you really going to wear that?” Aleta asked, before she and Georgie entered the restaurant.
“What are you talking about?” Georgie snapped, smoothing out her snug-fitting Hawaiian dress. It was a royal blue color with white and green palm leaves all over it.
“That thing in your hair. Really? You needed to ask?” Aleta pointed to the fake bird that was adorned with real peacock feathers.
“Yes. Yes, Aleta, I am going to wear this.”
“You don’t think it’s a little over the top? I mean, if we were at the Kentucky Derby I’d say it was perfect. But we’re having dinner. The other guests are going to be swatting those droopy things out of their soup.”
“You’re crazy,” Georgie said, just as a tiny feather came loose and delicately wafted down to the floor.
When they sat down at their table the chatter with their travelling companions immediately started.
“Georgie, I love your hat,” June gushed.
“Thank you, June. You have excellent taste,” Georgie said as she rolled her eyes at her sister in triumph.
“Where’s Daniel?” Aleta asked.
“He had to get back to the States. There was an emergency,” Norman said.
“Oh, I hope no one is hurt.” June looked concerned.
“No. It was nothing like that. He had some legal things that needed to be straightened out, he said. Time is of the essence in some instances.” Norman took a sip of his fruity drink and winked at Georgie.
“So, how was the trail?” June asked innocently. “And where have Hector and Pam gotten to?” What remained of the Midhostel Tour group just looked at each other, it seemed no one had mentioned the craziness that had unfolded during their trip to see the waterfall, leaving June and Forrester completely in the dark.
A babble of voices all broke out at once, with snippets standing out.
“You missed all the excitement.”
“Georgie almost got pushed off a cliff”
“You won’t believe why.”
Chapter 15
“Do you have my neck pillow?” Georgie fussed as she tried to search through her massive carry-on purse while walking.
“No. For the hundredth time, I don’t have it,” Aleta said. “How did you lose it anyway? You had it around your neck for the entire flight.”
“I know. That’s why I think you took it.”
“I didn’t take it.” Aleta pointed. “Come on, we’re going to the Kiss-n-Ride. That way.”
Midway Airport was crowded with travelers making their way to and from gates. Several college-age people hurried past Aleta and Georgie, wearing pajamas and gym shoes; most struggling with luggage that included backpacks and pillows from home.
“I never understood how anyone could go out in public in their pajamas.” Georgie wrinkled her nose.
“Well, when you wear pajamas that would make even Hugh Hefner blush, I would hope you wouldn’t wear them out in public,” Aleta replied.
“You’ve been on a roll all the way home.” Georgie pouted.
“Not really.” Aleta was offhand, “You’ve just been making it very easy for me.”
“Is it just me, or are you happy to be back in Chicago, too? I can’t help it. I didn’t realize it while we were on the island, but it was kind of claustrophobic. Now I feel like my mind has more room to roam.” Georgie slung her heavy purse over her shoulder.
“Your mind wants to roam? Hold on. It’ll be a bumpy ride.” Aleta elbowed her twin in the side, unable to resist one last jab.
“Don’t you feel it?”
“Yes, Georgie. I do feel it. I didn’t want to think about it, but one tsunami and we would have been vacationing in Davy Jones’ Locke,” Aleta said. “Hawaii was beautiful, but home is where the heart is. My heart is here.”
“Yup. Mine too.”
“Georgie! Hey, Georgie!” Norman shouted from behind them. “Thanks for loaning me your neck pillow.”
“Oh, I forgot I gave it to you.” Georgie shook her head in dismay. “Actually, I don’t even know if I need it back. I don’t think I’ll be taking a trip again any time soon. How about you and Luke?”
“After this we are going to stay close to home for a while.” Norman looked to his son who was slowly strolling and chatting with a pretty blond girl by his side. “He struck up a conversation with the neighbor to his left.”
“Well, I think we have all made the right decision,” Aleta added. “We were just saying that Hawaii is beautiful but we’re glad to be home.”
“That’s for sure,” Norman said. “Hey, Georgie. Luke said that he saw some of your sketches while you were drawing on the plane. Do you ever sell your work?”
“All the time. I paint portraits of pets for a living,” Georgie beamed.
“Really? Can you paint three Boston Terriers all under the age of five? Or as I like to call them—Boston Terrors.” Norman smiled. “My wife would really love that.”
“Of course. I’d love to meet the better half of the Heidenkamp team. Here.” She struggled again with her purse while walking. “Take one of my business cards and drop me a line anytime.”
“Will do, Georgie. Take care and we’ll talk soon,” Norman said.
“Doesn’t the idea of painting three Boston Terriers that are the equivalent to toddlers intimidate you?” Aleta asked, looking at Georgie with concern.
“Like being on the side of that mountain,” Georgie smirked.
They wove their way through the crush of travelers and airport staff, finally arriving in the roped off area where family and friends were eagerly awaiting. In the middle of everything, Stan was standing there with a bright pink sign that read ‘Georgie Kaye’ in huge bright red letters with glitter hearts all over it.
“Is there any way I can pretend I don’t know him?” Georgie blushed and muttered to her sister. “I’m glad to see you find this so funny.”
“I told him to do that,” Aleta snickered.
“What? Oh, that has to be the ultimate betrayal,” Georgie cried dramatically.
Of course, Stan stood there proudly holding his sign as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As soon as he saw Georgie and Aleta he started screaming and jumping up and down.
“Georgie! Over here! Georgie! Georgie!”
“I’m twenty feet away and this is what he does,” Georgie grumbled.
“I don’t get it. He’s not directing any more attention to you than the outfit you’re wearing,” Aleta joked.
“I’ll have you know that animal prints are always in.”
“Yes. I know that. I just don’t know if wearing all the different prints at the same time is in.”
“Aleta, you have to remember. I’m an artist. I express myself in many ways.”
“Okay. I just hope there aren’t any hunters coming back from Africa. They might mistake you for the illusive leopard-zebra-gator-saurus. You might end up with buck shot as an accessory.”
“Enjoying yourself?” Georgie shook her head.
“Immensely.”
“Yeah, just wait.” Georgie whispered. “I’ll get you back. You know I will.”
“Georgie! Oh, thank God you’re home! You’ve been gone so long!” Stan shouted. “My ex-wife,” he said, to the family standing next to him. “I’ve missed her so much!”
“Would you pull yourself together?” Georgie shouted down the corridor as amused travelers watched her and Stan making a scene.
“Oh, how I missed you,” Stan continued pretending to wipe tears from his eyes.
“I’ll give you a reason to cry if you don’t stop all that,” Georgie said, when she finally reached Stan and gave him a hug. As if he wasn’t aggravating enough, how dare he smell so good? She was also sure he’d been working out while they were gone since his biceps and pectorals felt a little harder.
“I did miss you,” he whispered in her ear.
“Thanks for picking us up, Stan.” Aleta said before she got a hug from him, too. “The idea of paying for a cab was too much.”
“Of course. So, tell me all about it. Did you guys enjoy yourselves?”
“Georgie almost got pitched off the side of a mountain,” Aleta blurted out.
“Well, that’s hardly news,” Stan said. “How was the food?”
“Fantastic. We brought back some chocolate covered pineapple and some SPAM,” Aleta said.
“SPAM? Why would you bring that home?”
“It’s where they make it,” Aleta said. “You didn’t know that, did you? Well, we got you some fresh off the assembly line.”
“Yum,” Stan rolled his eyes. “I can hardly wait.”
They finally got to Stan’s truck at the parking area called ‘kiss-n-ride’ because cars were only allowed to sit for about fifteen minutes before they were towed. The three of them crowded into the cab with Georgie in the middle and the luggage in the back.
“Here, I have a surprise for you,” Georgie interrupted. Reaching in her huge carry-on purse, she pulled out the Hawaiian shirt, wrapped in tissue paper.
When Stan unwrapped it his expression made Georgie’s heart swell with happiness.
“You picked this out, didn’t you?” He looked at his ex-wife.
“Of course I did. Not just any Hawaiian shirt would do for my favorite ex-husband.” She watched as he held the shirt up in front of him.
“I’m going to wear this to work. In fact, I’m putting it on right now.” He pulled off his long sleeved flannel shirt. His t-shirt underneath was tight across his chest. Georgie couldn’t help but notice. She tried to look away but caught her sister’s eye instead.