“Don’t,” Joe said. “She won’t know anything until Bill wakes her up at five-thirty.”
“But…” Judith goggled at Joe. “At that time of day Renie won’t be fit to deal with anything that doesn’t include a pillow and a dark room.”
Joe stepped away from Judith and shrugged. “That’s his problem. After forty years of marriage, Bill can handle it.”
Judith considered. “So we’re flying. If Renie doesn’t realize that, she won’t be a nervous wreck and therefore won’t have time to drink herself into a stupor like she did before we flew to San Francisco.”
“Very true,” Joe said. “And don’t worry about your mother. I talked to Carl and Arlene. I also told Mike where we’re going.”
Excitement began to build. “Oh, Joe, this is going to be wonderful!” She hugged him and planted a big kiss on his lips. Suddenly she tensed. “Does Mother know?”
“She knows we’re going,” Joe said.
“Does she know where and for how long?”
Joe looked vague. “Not exactly. A few days at the beach was the way I put it. She may have the impression we’re…ah…visiting Auntie Vince and Uncle Vance up on the island.”
“Just as well.” She smiled. “Oh, this is going to be amazing!”
Judith had no idea how right she was.
Renie was clearly smashed when the Flynns boarded the shuttle. But at least she was smiling, which wouldn’t happen in the early morning unless there’d been several shots of Wild Turkey involved.
Bill acted as if he’d never seen his wife before in his life. The trip to the airport was uneventful, however. Judith had been impressed by the older couple who had shown up to take over the B&B. They’d owned their own establishment for years in Idaho, but had sold it and moved farther west to be closer to their two sons and their families. Full retirement hadn’t suited either of them, so they’d become substitutes for absent innkeepers.
As usual, the airport was under construction. Judith couldn’t remember a time when it wasn’t being expanded or altered. When the Flynns and the Joneses got off the shuttle, she paid no attention to the overhead signs designating the various airlines. Judith was too busy watching Renie stagger slightly as she exited the vehicle.
“Thank you, doorman,” she said to the driver. “Put my purchases on the porch, okay?”
Bill was already at the curbside check-in desk. “Yes,” he said wearily in response to the woman who was checking their tickets. “She’s my wife. There’s nothing I can do about it. We’re Catholics.”
Joe was behind Bill. The process went smoothly except for Renie, who managed to get herself entangled in the ropes designating the passenger line. Judith managed to free her, and Renie managed a loopy smile and murmured, “…Crazy place for a jump rope.”
The husbands led the way to the escalators. Both men were walking faster than Judith could manage, but she thought it best to stay close to Renie, who was wandering this way and that.
“Hang on to me,” Judith said softly to her cousin.
“’Sa matter?” Renie asked. “Your hip hur’?”
“Yes.”
“Poor you.”
Judith kept the husbands within sight, but was puzzled when they headed for the tram that went to the far-flung airline waiting areas.
“Odd,” she murmured. “The California flights are in the main terminal.”
“You sure?” Renie asked.
“Yes.” Judith thought for a moment. “But I think some of the Hawaii flights are on the tram route.” She beamed at Renie. “Do you suppose we’re going to the islands?”
“What islands?”
“The…” But Judith had to hurry, hauling Renie along with her. The tram had arrived and the husbands were boarding. The cousins entered just before the doors slid shut. Recorded announcements were made while Judith scanned the stops listed above the doors.
“I was right,” she told Renie. “The first stop is for the Hawaiian-bound airlines. The second one, too. Oh, I’m so excited!”
“Unh,” said Renie.
But when the tram doors opened, Joe and Bill remained in place. Nor did they budge at the second stop.
“Golly,” Judith said, “we’re going to the international terminal.”
Renie gave a start. “Are you kidding?” she asked in what sounded almost like her normal voice. “You’re right. It’s the last one. Are we going to Polynesia or the Caribbean?”
“Australia or New Zealand, maybe,” Judith said. “It’s late summer or early fall down there, and we’ve had guests who’ve raved about the fishing—and the beaches.”
As the tram glided to its final stop, Joe nodded at Judith. The Flynns and the Joneses got off along with a half-dozen Asian businessmen, a couple of bearded Sikhs in turbans, an elderly cleric, and three exquisite young Japanese women whose beauty wasn’t the least bit marred by their giggles.
Only the cleric and one of the Sikhs headed in the same direction as Joe and Bill. Judith’s eyes grew huge as she realized they were going to the British Airways desk. She and Renie nudged their way in front of Joe and Bill as they waited to go through security. “London!” Judith gasped, and pointed to the departure listings. “Oh, I’m thrilled!”
“I thought you wanted sun,” Renie said. “The weather in London is the same as it here. Which, of course, is fine with me.”
Joe turned around. “London’s not our final destination.”
Judith stared at him. “What is?”
“You wanted beaches and an ocean view, right?”
“Yes, of course.” Judith jabbed Renie. “The Riviera—or Spain.”
“Really long flight,” Renie said under her breath. “Damn.”
Judith and Renie passed through security without any glitches. Joe and Bill, however, were stopped.
“Men,” Renie muttered. “Too many keys and other suspicious metal objects. It always happens.”
Joe was cleared after only a couple of minutes. Bill, however, was still being detained. But finally he was allowed to move on.
“What was that all about?” Renie demanded of her husband.
Bill frowned. “Do I know you? Are you a patient, or were you in one of my university classes?” He turned on his heel and walked away.
“Why have I not killed him in forty years?” Renie mumbled. “And why isn’t the bar open in this part of the terminal?”
For the next hour, Judith did her best to avoid Renie, who spent most of the time pacing around the waiting area. Joe and Bill had gone off to buy magazines. At last, the boarding call was announced.
“I wish I’d changed my will,” Renie murmured as she got into line. “I’d have left Clarence to Madge Navarre.”
“You know Madge hates animals,” Judith retorted. “She’d hardly want a bunny running around her condo. And don’t be so pessimistic.”
“Our husbands aren’t sitting with us,” Renie said as they moved up a few places in line.
Judith looked at her boarding pass. “You’re right. You and I are in a completely different part of the plane.”
“I can’t blame Bill,” Renie said. “The last time we flew I brought some small liquor bottles in my purse. The flight attendant said it was illegal and threatened to throw me off the plane. Bill offered to help.”
The cousins displayed their boarding passes and walked down the corridor to the plane. Inside the cabin, Judith saw Joe wave at her from his seat several rows away. Judith waved back but didn’t smile. Having Renie as a seatmate during a twelve-hour flight to London might be trying.
But as soon as she buckled her seat belt, Renie dug around in her purse, took out a pill caddy, extracted four small yellow tablets, and chewed them up. They had just begun to taxi for takeoff when Renie put her head on her cousin’s shoulder and said, “G’night.”
Judith also dozed off. The initial excitement had worn off and the long walk in the terminal had tired her. When she woke up, it was dark.