Message Received (12 page)

He took her hand and escorted her to the rental
car.  “Just hold on a little longer.  We’ll be at that clinic in a few
minutes.”

After helping her inside the car, he walked
around the hood, and dropped into the driver’s seat.  Before starting the
ignition, he checked his phone.  “No messages,” he said worriedly.

“I didn’t get any from Grandma either,” she
said, tipping her head back against the head rest.  “I hope they’re okay.”

“I do too.  I’m a little concerned about two
older people trying to navigate their way around an unfamiliar area.  What if
they get lost?  What if they have a car accident?  Or, in Granddad’s case, what
if he has a health crisis?”  He ran a hand through his hair.  “The people who
prey on others know exactly who to target.  Two elderly people are veritable
sitting ducks.  I just hope nobody tries to take advantage of them.”

“Me too.”

As Brady pulled out of the lot and headed for
the clinic, Amanda’s cell phone rang.  “I bet that’s grandma now,” she said with
relief.  “Hello.”

“Amanda, it’s your mom.  Hey, I just stopped by
the retirement home to see your grandmother and…”

“I know,” she cut in wearily.  “She’s gone.”

There was a long pause at the end of the phone
line, followed by a shuddering breath.  “You mean…  Mother is…?  Your
grandmother is…?  Oh, no! 
Mother is dead
!”  She began sobbing.

Amanda was taken aback. 
What
? 

“Mom, what are you talking about?  Grandma isn’t
dead.”

Her mother sniffled.  “But you said…  You said
she’s … gone.”

“Okay, Mom, back up please.  You stopped by the
center and … what?”

“I went directly to Mom’s room and she isn’t
here.”

“So you haven’t spoken to Mrs. Williams, the
director, yet?”

“No, I just got here.  Your father and I decided
to visit, since it’s been so long since we’ve seen her.  We just got back from
Idaho.”

“You did?”

“Your father and I went to Idaho, to see Missy… 
I told you all about it, Amanda.  I left you a message…”

She hadn’t gotten it.  “Oh, well, anyway… 
Grandma isn’t there, Mom.”

“I know that,” she said irritably.  “Where is
she?  Did she go shopping?”  Before Amanda could answer, her mother asked her,
“By the way, where are you?”

She emitted a long sigh.  “Okay, here’s the
story. 
From the top
…”  She filled her mother in on everything.  “So,
they’re somewhere along the Central Florida coast, and … so are we,” she
finished.   “Until we know Ike is having his medication levels checked, we’re
stuck.  Oh, and I think I have double ear infections, and if they don’t clear
up, I won’t be able to fly and I’ll probably have to walk home…”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry about your ears,” she
said, and then burst out laughing.  “Oh, Amanda, this is a hoot.  Not your ear
infections, of course,” she said dismissively.  “But your grandma…”

She was
really
taken aback by that declaration. 
“What?  You’re not upset?  Angry?  Worried about your mother?”

She sighed.  “Oh, honey, your grandmother
deserves a vacation.  I wish your dad and I could have afforded to give her a
trip.  We’ve talked about it, but with the cost of helping to pay for the
retirement center…  Well, it just isn’t financially feasible.”

“But Mom, what if something happens to her? 
We’re not there to protect her.”

“Ike is.  And I trust he’ll watch out for her.”

Amanda gasped.  “You’ve met Ike.”

“Oh, sure.  He’s a great guy.  I’ve had lunch
with him and Grandma on a few occasions.”

“But Mom…”

“But what, Amanda?  She’ll be back soon.”

“Oh, you think so?  She won’t even answer my
calls.”

“Well, honey, turnabout’s fair play,” she said
with a delighted giggle.  “You’ve been mighty stingy lately, when it comes to
spending time with your Grandma.  You’ve been so busy with work, that you
rarely even answer your phone.  Heck, you don’t take my calls,” she pointed
out.

“I … do too,” she said in her defense.

“Come on, Amanda.  I’m not a ninny.  When I call
you at work—which I only do on very rare occasions—you don’t take my calls. 
Don’t bother denying it.”

“If I’m in a meeting, I can’t, Mom.”

“Yes, but you could call me back after.  A
simple ‘I can’t talk now, Mom, but will call you later’ would suffice.”

Amanda felt as if she’d been punched in the
gut.  Her mother was right.  She’d been neglectful of everyone.  Her parents
and her beloved grandmother.  Her mom and dad were still relatively young and
in good health.  They lived an active lifestyle, and probably didn’t feel her
absence to the degree her grandmother might.  Oh, she was a terrible person!

“Well, honey,” her mother said brightly, “keep
me posted.  Call me!”  She gave a laugh.  “Oh, who are we kidding?  You aren’t
going to call me back.  I’ll give Mom a call…”

He words dwindled and Amanda was left staring at
her phone.  She glanced at Brady, and her lower lip began to quiver, before her
eyes welled with tears that promptly began dropping onto her face.

“Amanda!  What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, unable to form words.  Oh,
she was an awful daughter, and an even worse granddaughter.  She was so full of
herself, that she’d forgotten about the people she loved.

Brady pulled the car over to the side of the
road.  He shifted into park, and then reached for Amanda and pulled her into
his arms.  “It’s going to be all right,” he told her.  “We’ll find the
grandparents, apologize for ignoring them, and make things right.”

“But what if it’s too late?” she cried, pulling
back to meet his gaze.  “That was my mom on the phone.  Did you hear her?”

He shook his head.  “No, I didn’t.  What did she
say?”

Her lips trembled and she sniffled.  “She said I
don’t take her calls.”

“Well, do you?” he asked.

She met his eyes and began nodding, but she
gradually began shaking her head.  “I’m so busy at work, and the higher-ups
frown on personal calls.  It’s not that I don’t want to…”  She let out a moan. 
“Oh, she’s right.  I’m …
awful
.”

Brady pulled her close to him again.  She
burrowed her face into his chest.  She didn’t want him to look at her.  If he
looked too closely, he might see she was a neglectful, self-important jerk. 

Brady smoothed his hand along her back, trying
to comfort her.  He understood her guilt.  He felt it too. 

“Amanda, it’s going to be all right.  We’ll fix
this, okay?”

She pulled back and met his earnest eyes.  She
nodded.

“But first, we have to fix you,” he said,
chuckling softly.

***

Ike and Liz were sitting in the waiting room of
the urgent care clinic in Cocoa Beach.  They had explained Ike’s medical
situation to the patient registration person behind the counter.  She had left
momentarily, but returned.

“I’ve spoken to the doctor and he would like to
talk to you briefly before you have your blood drawn,” she said.

“That sounds fine,” Ike said.

He glanced around the empty waiting room.  “Wow,
I guess the folks here are healthier than back home.  There are always people
waiting in the doctor’s offices there.”

“Well, it’s late spring, so we’re past the cold
and flu season,” Liz pointed out.

He acknowledged her words with a nod, and then
smiled eagerly.  “When we’re done here, we’re off to the cruise terminals.”

She gave an eager, but silent, clap of her
hands.

A door to the back of the clinic, where the exam
rooms were located, suddenly opened.  “Mr. McKinney, will you please come back
now,” a young nurse asked.

He rose and glanced at Liz.  “Will you come
too?”

“Absolutely,” she said, and took his extended
hand.

They followed the nurse to an exam room at the
end of a long hallway.  Inside, she asked Ike a few questions.  “The doctor
will be in shortly,” she told them with a smile, and then left the room.

“It shouldn’t be too long,” Liz said
encouragingly.

They chatted while they waited, and soon a young
doctor entered the room.  “Ike, I understand you’re on blood thinning
medication,” he said.

He nodded and told him the name of the
medication and the amount he was presently taking. 

“Okay, we’ll draw your blood, check your level,
and call you with the results.”  His brows furrowed.  “You have been diligent
about your weekly blood work…?”

“Absolutely,” he said.  “It just happens we’re
on a vacation, but I know I need to stay on top of it.”

“Yes, you do,” the doctor said sternly.  “Now, I
understand you’re taking a cruise?”

Ike took Liz’ s hand.  “We are.”

“And how long is the cruise?  If necessary, we
can make arrangements for you to have your blood drawn while you’re on the
ship.”

“Oh, it’s only three days,” Ike informed. 
“We’ll be back in plenty of time for my next appointment.”

“So, you’re going home after the cruise?” the
doctor asked.

Ike glanced at Liz.  They both shrugged.  “We’re
not sure how long we’re going to be vacationing,” Ike confessed.

“Okay, well, as long as you’re in Cocoa Beach,
please feel free to come in here for the blood work.  If you leave for other
vacation destinations, I can call ahead and make arrangements for you to have
your blood drawn wherever you happen to be.”

“Oh, that’s great,” Liz said.

“Well, let’s get the blood work done.  Please
leave a phone number where you can be reached.”  He suddenly looked concerned. 
“Will we be able to reach you while you’re on the ship?”

Ike glanced at Liz, uncertain.

“What time do you leave today?” the doctor
asked.

“We board at three,” Ike told him.

“Well, it’s early still,” the doctor said,
checking his watch.  “We should have the results in plenty of time.  As I said,
keep your phone handy.  It’s critical you get your medication in the proper
amount.  When you’ve had a heart valve replacement, you don’t want to play
around.”

“Oh, I know,” Ike acknowledged. 

“Okay, the nurse will be in to take your blood,
and then you’re free to go.  Enjoy that cruise, but stay on top of your health
condition,” he instructed.  “Oh, and again, keep your phone handy.”

“Thanks, doc,” Ike said.

“Thank you, doctor,” Liz said, smiling her
gratitude.

Soon, the nurse returned and drew Ike’s blood. 
The elderly couple left the clinic, walking hand-in-hand. 

Liz noted the pathway to the parking lot was
lined with bushes covered in beautiful pink flowers.  She’d seen the same
flowers all over the coastal region.

She hurried over to one and gently touched it. 
She bent to inhale its scent, still fingering the lovely petals.  “I wonder
what type of plant this is,” she mused.  “It’s beautiful.  And the fragrance is
so lovely.  I wish I could take them home with me.”

“Ugghh!  I wish someone would dig up these pink
flowers and bury them in a deep hole!” Amanda muttered, and then burst into
several successive sneezes. 

“You’re a fan of roses.  Why not those flowers?”
Brady asked.

“I don’t know.  I love roses, but these things
are making me sneeze.”

She waved a hand in front of her face,
attempting to fan away the pungent smell of those awful flowers.  She and Brady
were currently walking along the flower-lined path leading to the door of the
urgent care clinic.  The flowers were emitting a smell that was practically
killing Amanda.  Already congested, she felt as if her head might explode.

Brady noticed the expression on her face.  “What
is it?”

“Those flowers!” she cried, aiming a finger at
them.  “I think I’m allergic.  I feel … sick …er.”  She abruptly started
sneezing again, and then covered her nose and mouth with her hand and ran into
the clinic, lest she keel over dead from the smell of those horrid, horrid
flowers.

Brady followed her inside, watching her
ruefully.  He joined her at the reception counter.

“What can I do for you?” the patient registrar
asked.

Brady hitched a finger at Amanda.  “She’s pretty
certain she has ear infections in both ears.  Right one is worse,” he added. 
“She’s been running a temperature, feels awful—is generally cranky…”

Amanda gasped.  She wasn’t cranky.  She was
sick!  Well, maybe she
was
a little cranky…

“You’re her … husband?” the woman inquired,
brows raised.

“Oh, no.  We’re…”  He glanced at Amanda.  What
were they?  Friends?  Acquaintances?  Heck, thanks to the trip they’d taken
together, it felt as if they’d known one another for a lifetime.