“Maggie, which should I
wear? This pants outfit or the dress?”
“Traveling in a dress?
Not too comfortable, I’d say,” Maggie replied, as she dusted the lampshades in
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts’ bedroom.
“You’re so right. I’m
nervous about this trip. We’ve never been away from Penn for three weeks.”
“We’ll watch over him.”
“I’m sure you’ll take
good care of him.”
“He’s a teen. Good lad,
but rebellious. He’ll get over it.”
“I hope so. Pants
outfit it is.”
“John says he saw Penn
talking to the same redheaded girl three afternoons in a row, when he picked
him up. Said her name's Emma,” Maggie said, folding a
blue nightie.
“Emma, huh?”
Anne smiled.
“He’s gonna be a real
ladykiller. Such a handsome boy.”
“And sweet, too. Don’t
you think?” Anne brushed her hair, then handed the brush to Maggie.
“The sweetest.”
“At least he was until
he hit puberty. I’m hoping he’ll return to the child I adore, and soon,” Anne
said, grinning.
When the bags were
packed, Maggie retreated to the kitchen to tend the special dinner she was preparing.
Roast duck and pan roasted potatoes, a family ritual meal before his parents took a trip.
Penn breezed in with
John after school. He opened the fridge.
“Your plate is on the
table,” Maggie said. “Now don’t be gettin’ in my way.”
Penn picked up the
plate with a grilled cheese sandwich, carrot sticks and two homemade, chocolate
chip cookies. He grabbed the glass of milk with his other hand.
“Thanks, Maggie.”
The dinner went off perfectly. The Roberts’ were leaving at six the next morning in a private plane
bound for Central America. John was up at five, sipping coffee. At five thirty, he left to bring the car around.
“Have a safe trip,”
Maggie said, when Anne gave her a hug.
A sleepy Penn yawned
and scratched his chin as he joined them. There were hugs, kisses and promises
made all around before they left the apartment. Maggie and Penn went
back to sleep. The alarm went off at
eight as usual. When John returned from dropping Penn at school, Maggie
had made Eggs Benedict.
“Quiet day,” John said,
sipping his coffee.
“Got some cleaning
to catch up on.”
“Can I help?”
“Finish that book you’ve been readin’. I can manage.”
He helped clear the
table and shooed her away from the dishes. As she gathered her cleaning things,
the phone rang.
John answered it. “Roberts
residence.”
Maggie glanced up, but
stopped what she was doing when she saw his face turn pale.
“Right. Thank you.” His
voice was almost a whisper.
“What? What?” Maggie
stopped moving.
“Their plane’s gone
down.” 
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