Hidden Madness

By Rick Noel

In their wildest dreams or their darkest nightmares, the Decker family would never have believed what fate had in store for them on that strange summer day in the deep south. They began the day with the anticipation of a pleasant cross country return homeward to the midwest from a wonderful week long vacation at a Florida gulf coast resort. But, it was a day that ended with a dark confrontation, the likes of which none of them could have ever imagined. After a series of storm related events and unfortunate circumstances brought them car trouble along the highway, they found themselves in an evolving situation that would call upon them to reach into the deepest reserves of their determination to survive the horrendous chain of events which threatened to destroy them. The madness living along the backroads of their path home challenged them as nothing had ever challenged them before, and it is the story of how they coped with that sinister hidden madness which brings their chronicle forth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rick Noel
• Release date: May 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005298159

Rick Noel

Working many years in the communications and advertising departments of several corporations as an art director and illustrator aroused in me an avid interest in the relationship between words and images. So, I began to explore the craft of writing fiction. I live in Davenport, Iowa with my wife, Bonnie and am devoting my time to the creative arts.

Book preview

Chapter One

Ted Decker sighed and gazed at the pearl-colored highway that stretched, through the haze of a gray morning, far into the distance.

He fingertipped his curly brown hair away from his eyes, pleasurably remembering the great time he and his family had enjoyed during their weeklong stay at the beach. The week had been outstanding, but it had gone by so quickly, that now, with vacation over and the unsettling prospect of two days of steady driving staring at him, he wasn’t looking forward to the long road home.

The trip to Florida had been slightly unpleasant, what with the tension of anticipation putting an edge on everyone’s nerves. It was hard to believe that the excitement of going somewhere to have a good time could cause a family such stress. Somehow it all seemed ass backward. They should have been thrilled and happy to be going somewhere, but instead; they bitched and moaned and were at each other’s throats all the way across country.

Ted had been driving for a half-hour, seeing nothing but scrub brush, sand, the highway and an occasional glimpse of the surf. There was no doubt about it; Maryland Heights, Missouri, was a long way off and it was going to be a tedious, pain-in-the-butt drive.

Maggie Decker sat next to her husband quietly twirling a strand of her shiny black hair through her fingers. She wondered why they couldn’t have slept just a while longer that morning, and then found a motel later in the evening. She was mildly upset that Ted made them all get up so early. Her idea of vacationing was certainly not waking at five in the morning, trying to put her face on through blurry eyes, and then ramrodding her sleepy children into getting themselves ready, too. She couldn’t understand why her husband insisted on leaving so early. All he had to look forward to was returning to work. Why the big hurry? She knew he was unhappy with his job, so why hurry back to it? It seemed odd.

Usually though, there was method to Ted’s madness. Once he chose a course of action, he stuck to it stubbornly, and it usually worked out. So, to avoid needless argument, Maggie went along.

She turned and glanced at the fleeting images of blue-gray sky and sunshine that slipped steadily past her window. The view reminded her of the full-color brochures that the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce had sent them. The literature proudly stated that the Florida Gulf Coast was home to the most beautiful quartz-white sand beaches on earth. After visiting the area, Maggie agreed; it was beautiful there.

Everything had been wonderful about their time there. Maggie was certain that the kids had a great experience and were delighted with the mystery and excitement of the Gulf of Mexico. She also felt that she and Ted had enjoyed a special closeness. Yes, she felt happy about this vacation, but she was glad to be going home. Home, after all, was where she felt her best, where she belonged.

Maggie shifted slightly so she could see her son in the back seat. You hungry, Vincent? she asked, raising an arched eyebrow. Maggie could speak volumes with her eyebrows without ever uttering a syllable. Her husband was the master of reading those eyebrows, after all; he had almost seventeen years of experience with them. The kids were getting better at it, too.

What? Vince screamed, looking up. His hair was still slightly damp from being last one in the shower. Vince didn’t seem to understand that a person could speak in a normal tone when wearing the tiny earphones of his MP3 music player. Like most teenagers, he felt volume was the only answer to communicating effectively, so it seemed fair to him that instead of turning his player down, he should simply speak louder.

Maggie raised her eyebrow slightly higher. This clearly meant that until Vince removed his earphones there would be no discussion. It was weird how she could do that.

Vince grudgingly turned the volume down, brushed a comma-shaped strand of dark hair from his eyes, and looked up.

Maggie waited.

Vince continued to stare innocently and inquisitively at his mother. In a second or so, her other eyebrow raised and her forehead wrinkled slightly. Vince knew that when that happened the skirmish was over and he’d lost the battle. Reaching up, he removed the earphones.

Okay. What is it? he asked with an edge of impatience in his voice. I was right in the middle of a good song.

Your mother just asked if you were hungry, Vince, Ted offered, glancing briefly in the rearview mirror. We’ve been on the road for a while now, and I guess before long we ought to be stopping for something to eat.

Ted and Maggie waited for a response from their son. Suddenly, a flurry of activity came forth from the other side of the back seat. It was their daughter untangling herself from a beach towel and colorful inflatable pillow. Energetically pitching forward, she planted herself with both arms hanging over the seat back, and exclaimed, I’m hungry, Dad! Starving. Could we go to MacDonald’s?

Ted looked sternly at her and asked, Mandy, do you have your seat belt on?

What? No.

Well get it on right now, and leave it on. I get so tired of telling you that. It’s for your own good.

I want to go to Hardee’s, Vince cut in. I hate MacDonald’s.

MacDonald’s is better! argued Mandy.

Hardee’s is!

MacDonald’s!

Hardee’s!

Both of you just stop it! Maggie said. You’re being silly.

With Maggie’s words, another skirmish in the perpetual war one child in a family has with another ended. Shrinks and counselors call it sibling rivalry. Most parents call it crap.

I’m starved, too, Vince added, making sure that he somehow got in the last word.

Ted looked at Maggie. It’s only about twenty minutes to Pensacola, he said. We’ll just get something there. By then everyone will be good and hungry.

Maggie nodded, That sounds good.

Sound okay to you two? Ted asked the children.

But I’m hungry now, Vince objected.

So am I, Mandy whined.

You two cut it out, Maggie stated with all the finality her raised eyebrows and wrinkled forehead could summon. It won’t hurt either of you to wait a few more minutes.

Vince and Mandy looked at each other, and resigned to waiting, said in unison, Whatever.

Vince slumped back and slipped his earphones back in. In less than a moment he was caught up in his music and oblivious to the world.

Mandy wrapped herself in her towel and turned to gaze at the passing terrain. After a moment, she glanced at her father and caught him glaring at her in the mirror. Seat belt! he said firmly. Maggie turned in her seat and cocked an eyebrow at her daughter.

Okay, okay, Mandy complained, I’ll put it on. But I don’t want to, and I hate it. She shifted in her seat and drew the irritating restraint around and connected it. Then with great ceremony she squirmed down into her seat to pass the time until breakfast.

Thank you, said Ted.

Ted winked at Maggie before she turned around and settled into her seat. He watched her fondly out of the corner of his eye, and soon she began fiddling with her hair again. Sweet thoughts of her filled his head as he leaned back and relaxed into his seat. Soon, he was thinking about Pensacola and a nice, steaming-hot cup of black coffee.

Chapter Two

That has to be a world record, Ted said to anyone in the Chevy who might be listening. A gurgling combination of hiccup and belch surged out under his breath and was immediately sucked out the car window. Excuse me, he added and then continued. I don’t think I’ve ever been in and out of a restaurant so fast in my life.

Maggie nodded her agreement. I know what you mean. I am just stuffed. She took a deep breath and then asked, What time did we go in there?

Just before seven, I think, Ted said responding with a twitch of his shoulders while he adjusted his position.

"What time is it now?

Seven thirty-five, Ted noted glancing at his watch.

That is fast, Maggie said with some amazement. Sometimes it takes us that long at those fast food places. And I thought the food was good. What was the name of it, again?

Ted looked over and shrugged his shoulders indicating that he couldn’t remember.

Wally’s Waffle House, a voice offered from the back seat.

Say what? asked Ted, tipping his head back slightly to hear better.

The name of the place was Wally’s Waffle House, Mandy stated flatly.

Are you sure? Ted asked. He wondered why anyone would give a restaurant such a dumb name

Yes, I’m positive, Mandy said with assurance. To prove it, she reached into her shirt pocket and presented a shiny, electric-green matchbook with silver foil letters boldly advertising–‘Wally’s Waffle House’. A smaller typeface below said–‘Home of the best Belgian waffles in Pensacola’. See.

Ted took the matchbook from Mandy and held it up so he could study it and still keep an eye on the road. After looking it over carefully, he grunted, nodded his head, said, Neat, and then handed it back. With this, the business of breakfast, Wally’s place, and Pensacola slipped slowly behind them and into the land of memories.

***

They were crossing the long interstate highway bridge that leads into Mobile, Alabama when Maggie said abruptly, Look over there to your left, Vince. She pointed toward a large battleship that was standing at anchor in the bay. The battleship stood there triumphantly, an everlasting reminder that our nation once waged war in the name of honor. Maggie paused a few seconds to watch Vince and Mandy as they both sat up in their seats to get a better look. It’s sure a big boat, she offered.

Ship, corrected Vince. When they’re that big they call them ships. Vince remembered a time when he had built a plastic model battleship. On the instruction sheet was a short historical narrative of the ship he was building with glue and an Exacto knife. On that same sheet was a brief anecdote by a famous naval commander explaining why a boat was a boat and a ship a ship. Vince couldn’t remember all the details, but what did stick in his mind was that really huge boats are called ships.

It sure is neat. Could we go and see it up close? Vince asked, hoping for a positive reaction from his father. Vince was so bored that any distraction would be a welcome relief from the drudgery of the trip.

I’d like to, said Ted. But it’s too early to stop now. We’ve got a long way to go today, and we better keep moving.

By now, they were past the ship and it was fading into the distance behind them. The highway curved away from the bay moving in a long sweeping arc into Mobile. The road seemed to be escaping the gulf coast shoreline as it turned inland and headed, both lanes, due north. They would cut across Mobile and pick up Highway 45 North on the other side.

Maybe sometime we’ll come back down this way again and we’ll make it a point to stop there for sure, Ted said.

Sure, Dad, Vince said sarcastically. That’s what you always say, but it never happens. You’re always promising to do something we never get to do.

Gimme a break, Vince, Ted responded. If we stopped at every place you wanted to, we wouldn’t get home for a month. You gotta draw the line somewhere. And, you do want to get home, don’t you?

Vince grunted a monosyllable in response.

Mandy decided this would be a great time to cut in and try her luck. She was bored, too. Well, Dad. If we can’t stop there, could we stop up the road a bit and get a Pepsi? It’d only take a minute, and I’m dying of thirst. She paused a second and then used one of her favorite tricks. I’ll even pay for them.

Okay, we’ll see, said Ted knowing that he might as well give up and stop. He knew that once the seed was planted, no one in the car would be able to think about anything except having a cool beverage to take the edge off an hour and a half on the road. Most of that time had been spent in a fair amount of traffic.

Ted felt bad for not considering Vince’s proposal. He took a last try at appeasing his son. Vince, I really do promise that when we come down this way again, I’ll make sure you get to tour that ship. The U.S.S. Alabama will wait for us until another day, I guarantee it. Ted felt in a strange lonesome way that this would probably never happen, yet he honestly hoped that it would, and that someday, he and his son would walk those proud decks together. The emotion was so powerful that he almost turned around and went back. But he didn’t. He reasoned instead that it was far too early to stop, and their drive was so long, and it would put them so far behind schedule, he just couldn’t do it. As it was, they were going to be on the road longer than any of them could comfortably tolerate. He ended the thought with a subtle twitch of the shoulders and brightly said, Now, let’s get on down the road and have us a cool drink.

How did you know it was the Alabama? asked Vince. Mandy looked up wanting to hear the answer as well.

Ted saw an opportunity here to lighten things up. Assuming the air of a pompous professor, speaking condescendingly to a classroom full of dull-witted students, Ted began, It just stands to reason, kiddos. Here we are in Alabama, and the ship is docked in Mobile Bay. As you know, battleships are always named after states. Now, I ask you, why would one state put another state’s battleship on display? Huhm?

Maggie looked at her husband and grinned. She knew this was leading to some time consuming silliness so her gaze returned to the passing scenery.

Ted continued, So therefore, thanks to my incredible powers of deductive reasoning, the astonishing magnitude of my brainpower, and the fact that I am so good looking, I just reasoned that the name of that ship has to be the U.S.S. Alabama. He paused, That, and the fact that yesterday I read in a brochure at the motel that the U.S.S. Alabama was anchored in Mobile Bay as a waterfront attraction.

Oh, Dad, groaned Mandy. She sat back, an exasperated expression danced on her features. That’s dumb.

Ted chuckled leaving Interstate 19 to cut across town while thinking, what the heck; a cool drink did sound good. He began to watch for a place to pull off the road to get some refreshments and maybe take a much-needed leak as well.

Vince sat quietly in the back seat with an expression on his face as turbulent as a dark stormy day.

***

Vincent Decker was still angry. It took more than a soda and a quick whiz in some men’s room to assuage his anger. It was the kind of feeling that seemed to eat away at him, leaving him edgy and unfulfilled, like the taste of a warm soda on a hot day. He felt cheated. Again, it was another one of those times when he felt as if he got the shaft. All he wanted was to tour that ship. To him, that didn’t seem to be asking too much. But, no, he didn’t get to do anything he wanted to do especially when his sister was around.

But just let that little fart, Mandy, ask for something, anything at all, and his mom and dad both seemed to fall all over themselves to give it to her. She wants a drink, give her one. She wants a beach towel, give her one. If she wanted his head handed to her on a silver platter, well, they’d probably give her that, too.

Vince couldn’t wait until they got home. Then he’d get even. He knew she was crazy about that beach towel. Well, he’d show her. That towel was grass and he was the lawnmower. He’d find it and shred it just to show her. Home was his turf. There, nobody got the best of him.

No sooner had he finished his thoughts of revenge than his mind was off on another tangent. Thinking about his sister reminded him of other matters that provoked his ire. School would start not long after he returned home from vacation, and school was number two on Vince’s hate list.

School–now there was something to which he could attach some good, healthy, significant loathing. In his opinion, and in his words, school sucked.

His high school was like a windowless mausoleum. Each morning, he would get up, dress, eat, and then go there to die; of profound boredom. He would sit quietly staring through the gray fog of oblivion waiting for the day to end. This was school for him. Not because he was a dull and stupid youth, but just the opposite. Vince was extremely bright and he truly loved learning. He loved it, but he disliked the formal, plodding classroom structure that slowed him down. His classes sucked because he was always ahead of everyone and continually being pulled back. At the beginning of each year, he would take his books home and study them avidly. He learned the material himself with only an occasional question for his teachers. After a time then, he would find himself sitting in class again, bored to death, waiting for the others to catch up. But, they usually didn’t, and so each year he’d sit there feeling entrapped in a prison of tedium. A prison he hated.

However, there were benefits to being ahead of most of the rest of the other students. It meant, that he didn’t have to pay much attention to his instructors. He had time to think about other things in class. And, one of his favorite subjects was Carol Palley. The gorgeous and delectable Carol Palley.

Vince loved Carol. He loved her with all the intensity of which his heart was capable. She was the fire in his loins that heated his blood and created feelings in him that were at once wonderful and frightening. He loved the flow of her long, honey-brown hair, lying gently against her neck provocatively hiding the sweet, tender flesh there. He ached to feel the touch of her skin. Carol was the hazel-eyed, perfectly contoured embodiment of all his teenage fantasies.

Unfortunately, she didn’t know he was alive, a source of deep anguish for Vince. He couldn’t understand how Carol could like Archie Bohanon. Archie was crap. Archie was slime. Archie was useless. Vince wished that Archie were dead, and that his death would have been painful. And, when the funeral came, Vince would be there to comfort Carol, to hold her hand, to offer her his condolences. These gifts of his sweet sensitivity could be hers for the taking, if only she knew he existed. Sometimes life just wasn’t fair.

Vince spent hours trying to understand Archie’s appeal. It couldn’t just be his looks. Heck, Vince felt he looked as good as Archie any day. Vince was tall enough. He was five-eight, and that was pretty good for almost fifteen. He wasn’t fat. He had dark, almost black hair and emerald green eyes; eyes that his mother had said would someday melt a lady’s heart. Although, they sure didn’t seem to do much good around Carol. Other girls had even made up to Vince and told him he was cute. This had shown him that at least someone knew he was alive. But not Carol, and she was all that mattered. Vince was mystified by it all, and pained by the mystery.

It might have been less of a mystery if Vince had known that on every Sunday afternoon Archie Bohanon got the family car. On those days he would cruise to Carol’s, pick her up, and while eating chips and drinking soda would patrol the neighborhoods around Maryland Heights. Archie would drive and Carol would ride ‘shotgun’. Sometimes he’d even let her drive. It was a definite advantage for Archie to have been born a year earlier than Vince. It gave him an opportunity to have the driver’s license and exploit it as much as he possibly could.

Vince had hope though, because one just never knew what fate has in store. Who knew, maybe someday life would give him a chance to speak to Carol. And, once they spoke, maybe then they would become friends. And then, with luck and time, they might become close friends and possibly confidants. Then, as naturally and certainly as the sun rises and sets, they would become lovers. Then, Hallelujah, that glorious body of hers would belong to him. Her perfect face, those amazing breasts, her soft, sweetly rounded little butt, her…

***

While Vince was floating around somewhere out on cloud nine, Mandy had been thinking about the past week and of what a great time she’d had. She couldn’t have shoehorned more fun into a week if there’d been two of her.

Mandy had been totally bored on the trip down to Florida. So bored, that more than once she stirred up quite a furor in the car by bugging her brother until he was so furious he could eat nails. Then when he would respond to her irritations with threats and anger, she would scream and beg her parents for help and protection. It was a game to her because she knew that no matter how mad Vince acted, he would never really hurt her. Actually, the way he acted at these times was hilarious. He’d seethe and fume, declare her dead and swear to make her pay for her annoyances. But she knew, and thought Vince did too, that these diversions were a great way to pass the time in spite of the terrible impact the shenanigans had on the peace and quiet in the car.

When they did finally arrive at the beach it was like heaven. The motel was outstanding, maybe even the best place she had ever been in her entire life. Of course, she thought that no matter where they went.

The motel stood on the white sand beach of the Gulf of Mexico like a small, self-contained city. It boasted a ten-story high-rise that faced the beach on one side, and a large pool in the center of a courtyard on the other. In the middle of the pool was a bar called the ‘Grotto’, designed to look like a small mountain with a cave at its base. One could swim or wade into the bar for a refreshing drink or walk around behind and enter through a cavelike passageway. The ‘Grotto’ had a waterfall bubbling out of the top, which cascaded onto the sunburned shoulders of people playing below. It was really kind of nifty.

The motel had smaller pools, snack bars, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and three walk-up bars scattered around the premises. There was also a shelter on the beach where one could rent canvas seats, umbrellas and water toys. It was a great place, and had activities for almost everyone from babies, waddling around and falling ass-flat in the sand, to senior adults who sat quietly and watched the activities with amusement and perhaps just a little regret.

The Gulf of Mexico was amazing. It was a vast, beautiful, sweeping adventure, and a garden of endless delights for Mandy.

She spent every moment she could in, on, or around the warm water. Ignoring warnings of sunburn, she’d charge again and again headlong into the surf with blue eyes flashing and blondish hair trailing like ribbons in the wind. Each time was a new challenge to see how many hops, skips and jumps she could go before the waves tripped her up, or just knocked her, gurgling and laughing, flat on her fanny. The beach was incredible to her, and she took to it like a sea gull takes to flight.

The beach was not the only source Mandy had for fun and adventure; it was everywhere. She would prowl the motel grounds, from souvenir shop to soda machine looking for stuff to do. Though she wandered widely in her pursuits, she wisely never left the property. She felt safe there because the grounds were patrolled by seemingly invisible security guards, and also her parents were usually nearby. It was a friendly place with a young and accommodating staff and there had been a lot of good times to remember.

Of particular note was the day she had followed Vince around the grounds and beach. She was busy people watching from a platform that overlooks the outdoor whirlpool when she spied her brother walking intently along one of the footpaths that meander through the courtyard. His father’s camera dangled from Vince’s neck like an overweight medallion.

Where you going, Vincent? she asked with a grin. What are you doing with Dad’s camera?

Leave me alone, was Vince’s terse reply.

Will you take my picture?

Get outa my face!

C’mon, take just one.

I said, get lost. I don’t want you hanging around.

Can I go with you?

Dammit, Mandy, what’d I just say. Get lost! Anger shadowed his face. It was a familiar expression, one she recognized that came usually right before he got mean.

I just wondered what you were doing. You don’t have to get mad.

Leave me alone, and I won’t have to smack you, he warned. I don’t have time to be messing around.

Oh all right, Mandy said. I don’t want to go with you, anyhow.

Good! spat Vince, turning and stalking away. Mandy stuck her tongue out at him when he left. The act was silly, but it made her feel better.

Mandy was mystified by her brother’s behavior, there had to be a reason for it and she became determined to find out what it was. While Vince walked away, Mandy ducked behind a nearby soda machine. Plastering herself against the humming, sweating, machine, she hid until he was out of sight. Then like a detective in a cheap paperback, trailing someone’s cheating husband, she followed him.

She stayed as close behind as she could without being seen. Several times she was sure she’d been busted, but was able to duck out of sight just in time. Mandy guessed he must have been intent on what he was doing because once he had looked right at her and missed her.

Vince wandered for a few minutes when all of a sudden he froze in his tracks like a hunting dog on point. His eyes where fixed on something and he reached carefully for his camera. He focused and then snapped a shot. Then, turning quickly, he fled the scene only to go through the same ritual a minute later elsewhere on the beach. The process repeated often over the next several minutes.

When Mandy figured out what Vince was doing, she nearly laughed out loud. Even now, while she watched, a giggle tickled madly at the back of her throat.

She had caught on after her brother snapped his first picture. He was sneaking up on young, tawny-skinned beauties and snapping their pictures. He always shot from the rear because by appearances he didn’t want any of these teen beauties to know what he was doing. Boys are stupid, thought Mandy deciding that this adventure was now boring.

With a suppressed chuckle Mandy left the beach and wandered back to the courtyard. She took pleasure in knowing she had been a good detective and had shadowed her brother and now knew his little secret.

Yes, the week had been full of memorable moments.

Mandy treasured one other experience particularly and would carry the memory of its sweetness forever.

It happened at night when people are relaxing into an evening’s rest and gentle gulf breezes are kicking across the smooth glistening sand.

Her dad and brother decided to go across the street to play a round of miniature golf. Ted had tried to coax Mandy and her mother to come along but couldn’t get them interested. So, he and Vince went alone to challenge the Astroturf links.

After they left, Mandy and her mother watched a television show. The show ended with a ‘to be continued’ tacked on the end.

I’m glad we’ll be home to see the end of that, said Mandy.

Me too, said Maggie walking to the window and looking into the night. It will be so good to get home. She paused a moment and then said brightly, How about a walk on the beach?

Neat, said Mandy enthusiastically. That’s a great idea. Let me comb my hair a little and put on something nice.

You don’t have to get dressed up, you look fine.

But, Mom.

No, really. You look fine.

Minutes later they were out in the night breeze walking under the palm trees on the quiet beach just out of reach of the shallow waves dancing along the shore. A moment after that, they were toe-dancing, ankle deep in the warm gulf surf. It was fun, one moment walking on sand, and the next moment, as a wave came sneaking silently up on them, they would scamper, giggling, to higher ground.

The night was moonless and stars glittered throughout the black velvet vastness. It was a wonderful night, made even better by the closeness of the moment.

While they walked along, Maggie’s hand resting on Mandy’s shoulders, they spoke of things that women share, things of life, things of happiness, things of mystery. Mandy asked her mother about her life, her opinions, and her attitudes. And, Maggie told her. It had been quite some time since the two of them had been alone to talk like this. As time passed, Maggie realized with her daughter’s questions and concerns that one thing was obvious, her little girl was growing up and she was exploring insights that might help her understand the changes that were approaching. Maggie spoke directly and honestly to her daughter. She loved her too much to neglect this moment of total contact. It felt good, and right.

Maggie and Ted had long ago chosen honesty as a path when dealing with their children, and they never regretted it. Honesty was the foundation of truth, and truth was the anchor they had built their lives around.

Mandy would look at her mother occasionally and hope some day to be so beautiful. Their time together now was a time of sweet awareness; a time when each basked in the pleasure of the other’s companionship and love.

After walking a long distance down the beach and back they were both tired, but neither of them wanted to end the moment. Maggie headed toward the snack shelter closest to the beach. Let’s have a cool drink, she said, her daughter nodding in agreement. The stand was just closing for the night and it was neat to be the very last customers.

Thanks, Mom, said Mandy while the two of them took their drinks and went back out to the water. They gently kicked the sand along in front of them while they went for one final look at the huge expanse.

Mother and daughter stood side by side looking across the gulf. The water was so black they couldn’t tell where it ended and the infinite darkness of space began. Maggie put her arm softly around her daughter’s shoulders. I love you, she whispered. It was a statement of simple honesty, as perfect as any of the stars that gleamed overhead, like tiny beacons of truth in a never-ending universe.

I love you too, Mom, Mandy answered softly.

They stood in that embrace, mother and daughter, for the longest time.

***

Maggie felt cozy sitting next to her husband, the highway droning past mile after mile. She shifted slightly from time to time seeking a more perfect comfort in which to be alone with her thoughts.

With her head resting against the seat and her eyes closed to the bright, warming day, her mind drifted to the week past.

She was thinking about each day of a week, which teemed with memories, remembering isolated incidents that had made an impression. Each day offered new insights and it seemed as if there was no end to the things she could still discover about her family and its quirks.

All in all, there had been numerous good times and exciting moments, and actually very few problems. The vacation had been great.

There was one unusual moment in particular though; a moment and a feeling unlike any other.

She had been astonished to learn that Ted hated black olives. Something that simple had been a revelation to her, because she felt that she knew everything about him.

They had gone to a restaurant