Two hours later we landed in sunny Phoenix. After our airplane parked, Larry helped me remove my suitcase from the overhead. When the waiting line of passengers began to move forward to the exit, Trisha led me through the aisle, while her husband took up our rear off the plane and through the jet bridge.
After we located the restroom, we walked through the concourse to look over the departure screen hanging on one of the walls. We stopped in the food court when Larry spotted a souvenir station and wanted to buy a University of Arizona hat.
“This is one of my favorite teams,” he said as he tried a couple on.
“What about Idaho?” she asked.
“I have a University of Idaho hat, but it’s getting shabby.”
I looked around me and for some reason, felt watched. Trisha noticed my actions.
“What’s the matter, Susan?” She asked.
“I don’t know. I guess being under that man’s thumb all that time made me skittish.”
“Larry, hurry up. We need to get Susan a snack to eat,” Trisha told him. I guess she must think food solves everything.
“Okay, this one will do,” he said and walked over to the sales clerk to pay.
We continued on through the airport and found a small café lined with wine bottles along the shelving against the walls. Looking over their menu, I could see they had soup and sandwiches.
“I think I’ll order some soup. That airline sandwich filled me up,” I said.
Larry led the way in and we found an empty table toward the rear of the restaurant. When the waitress stopped at our table, we placed our orders. As soon as Larry said he wanted apple pie, my resistance broke down.
“I’ll have apple pie too. Trisha?”
“Oh no, but if you can’t eat all of yours, I’ll have a few bites,” she said.
“Deal.”
We ate our meal and when we stood up to leave, Larry paid for mine. Trisha got on the phone to call her children. I thought I should contact my daughter, Jan, but for some reason, I wasn’t in too much of a mood to talk about my cruise. I just texted her and said I’d call her when I arrived home. I know, it’s the chicken way out.
We located our gate, Larry made a few calls apart from us, and in no time we were flying home to the Idaho Falls Airport. We went through the same routine getting off the plane to our frigid February temperature. I pulled on my suitcase handle and followed my friends to the baggage claim where they picked up their large luggage. Trisha stayed with me at the front door of the airport so Larry could bring over their car he had parked in the long-term lot.
Chapter 32
Home Sweet Home
Within forty minutes, Larry pulled into their garage. The time was almost one o’clock in the morning. I yawned. The brief sleep I got on the plane just doesn’t count as a full night’s rest. He unloaded my suitcase from the trunk and started to follow me home.
“Larry, you don’t have to escort me.”
“Yes I do,” he said and Trisha trotted over the snowy path behind him.
I unlocked my fence gate and heard the doggy door slam. Out came little Mickie barking until he saw me. He wiggled so much he had to go in the snow.
“Oh, my wonderful little dog. I sure missed you,” I said as we stepped onto the porch.
I unlocked my back door and noticed the kitchen light was on.
“Oh, René forgot to turn off the light,” I said.
As soon as I uttered those words, I heard several voices at once shout, “Welcome Home!”
All my friends came from the living room into the kitchen and began smiling at me.
“How?–“ I began to ask.
“Blame me. I thought you might need a good pick me up,” Larry said, removing my suitcase from my hand and rolled it through the crowd down the hall to my bedroom. Trisha put her arm around me.
Not only were Sally, René, Officer Jacob Pearson standing there, but Hobs and a few elves sat around my kitchen table. Since I’m the only one besides Hobs that sees the little guys, I made sure I didn’t mention them. Then I saw my friends, Bosloe, Colin, Fin, Cal, Jack, and Thyla. I ran around to each person, hugging them.
“Oh, geez, you guys, I’m overwhelmed,” I said, trying to keep my eyes from flooding over.
“Larry told me about your ordeal in Hawaii. We had to come over and welcome you home,” Sally said.
“Of course, we can’t stay long. By the way, Mickie was a perfect little angel,” René said.
I looked at her and at my grinning dog with his tongue hanging out.
“He was?”
Trisha came over to me.
“Okay everyone, Susan has to get to bed and I know you do too. Thank all of you for coming.”
As I looked over at the kitchen table, I noticed the elves had left. Hobs climbed out of his chair and stood there. I ran over to him, grabbed him around his chest and lifted him up. I was surprised that he wasn’t that heavy.
“Oh, Hobs, am I ever so glad to see you again. You can come to my house anytime you want,” I said, putting him back down on the floor.
“Hrmmph ruph,” he muttered, trying to recapture his composure.
“Come on, everyone. Everybody has to leave,” Trisha called out.
Everyone wished me well and headed out of the front door. Trisha locked the door after the last person left.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Larry said and the both of them walked out of my back door.
“Thanks, you two. Sleep in,” I called after them. Trisha waved back at me and latched the yard fence gate.
Mickie kept circling me doing his little dance as I walked back into my bedroom. I dug around in my suitcase and located my nightshirt. After I brushed my
