Cindy Bell - Pups, Pilots and Peril

T he aroma of mint and cherry floated up from the tea cup before her, bolstered by a balmy breeze off the water .

It smells delicious, but Im just not sure that its going to be the right combination for me. Suzie sniffed at the steam that drifted from the cup .

Just take a sip, Suzie, dont be so picky. Mary rolled her eyes as she laughed. Youre worse than my kids used to be. I would tell them, take a bite, it wont kill you. But they would insist that it would be the end of the world if any unfamiliar substance touched the tips of their tongues .

Maybe they were right? Suzie grinned as she picked up her tea cup. Just because something smells good, doesnt mean it will taste good. Once you get a terrible taste in your mouth its hard to get it out. Right ?

I guess I can agree with that. Mary brushed her long auburn hair back behind her shoulders and gazed out over the water. What a beautiful morning. But every morning is beautiful here. I still feel so surprised and lucky when I realize I live here .

Me too. Suzie settled back in her chair and took a slow, tentative sip of her tea. She scrunched up her nose, pursed her lips, and swallowed. As the flavor rushed over her taste buds, she smiled. All right, you win, this is delicious .

See? You should trust me. Mary glanced back at her and winked. Ill make sure theres a batch available for our guests .

Itll be nice to have a busy house. Its been quiet lately. She took another sip of her tea and smiled. At least its been fun having Peter pop over for meals regularly over the last couple of weeks. I love hearing his stories about the places hes seen .

Me too. She tilted her face into the breeze and closed her eyes. Can you imagine what it would be like to live such an adventurous life ?

Oh, I dont know. I think our lives are pretty adventurous. Although, Ive never flown a plane. Maybe Peter would be willing to teach me. What do you think? She gazed across the table at Mary .

No way! Marys eyes flew open and she shook her head. In that dinky little plane? Every time I see it, it makes me shiver .

Youve never mentioned that. Why do you feel that way? Suzie studied her friend .

I dont mention it because I dont want any of the guests to think I dont find it safe. But ever since the seaplane flights started up theyve made me nervous. I get that its a tourist gimmick for a couple of months over summer, but the plane is just so tiny. She shook her head. And to land on water? Scary .

Oh Mary, remember life is all about adventure! You were just saying that you envied his exciting life, but you wouldnt take a ride in his plane ?

Not a chance. She laughed and pointed out across the expansive clear blue water. Planes crash and there are sharks in there. Great beasts that would delight at a morsel like me. Im not going to volunteer to feed myself to them .

Yes, its probably a good thing that you dont mention this to the guests. Suzie grinned, then checked her watch. Our guests will be arriving soon. Im going to do a last-minute check of their rooms, then we can head down to greet them .

Ill clean up the kitchen. Mary gathered the tea cups and plates that once held fresh baked muffins as Suzie stepped off the wraparound porch through the side door. She left it open for Mary to get through with the tray of dishes. As Mary carried them inside she admired the fine details of the interior of Dune House. Between the two of them they had made it cozy and welcoming, but Suzie was the one with the real talent for interior design. All of the gold, and deep browns, as well as splashes of color combined to create what Mary described as a happy glow, that absorbed and reflected the sunlight through the multitude of windows. She set the dishes in the sink and began to tidy up the counters .

Suzie reached the top of the stairs and stepped into the first guest room. It was a smaller room with a single bed. The bed was made nicely, the floors were clean, and there were magazines as well as books to choose from. In the corner was a small table and chair. There was also a recliner on the other side of the bed. She checked the closet to be sure there were extra towels. Then she checked the bathroom to be sure it was spotless and had enough toiletries available. The next room was nearly identical, but for the design of the room, which was more rustic than modern. In her opinion, it had the better view of the water, but really there were no rooms in Dune House that didnt have a nice view. She checked the closet, and snatched the broom shed left behind .

Then she moved on to the last room that would be occupied. It was the largest of the rooms they offered, they called it the suite. It had a double-width window that overlooked the water. The bed was a king size and piled with a thick quilt as well as plenty of pillows. As far as she could tell everything was in place. Satisfied, she headed back downstairs to check on Mary .

When she found her in the kitchen she swiped the towel off the oven door .

Ill dry .

Dont be silly, I can do it. Mary tried to snatch the towel back .

Dont be stubborn, I need something to keep myself busy. With Paul gone on a trip, Ive been going a little stir crazy .

Ha, Ive never known you not to be able to entertain yourself. Whats really on your mind? She smiled affectionately at her friend, who was more like a sister to her .

Okay, you caught me. I dont know. I just feel a little restless. Isnt it ridiculous to feel nervous when things are going a little too well? She rubbed the towel across the surface of a plate, though she knew it was already dry. Im happy with Paul, happy with Dune House, I couldnt pick a better housemate. And yet, theres this sense of, I dont know if its dread, or anticipation, or just bored old lady syndrome .

First of all, youre not an old lady. If youre an old lady, then Im an old lady, and I am definitely not an old lady. Secondly, give me that towel if youre not actually going to dry the dishes. She tried to snatch it again .

Okay, okay. Suzie laughed and picked up the next dish. Do you ever feel that way , Mary ?

Our lives have been a little different. I have longings sometimes. I miss when the kids were young, the way they would snuggle with me. Sometimes I think about what I might have done with my life if I hadnt dedicated so much of it to being a wife and parent. But most of the time these feelings pass. Its just part of being in our fifties I think .

You might be right about that. Im sorry youre missing your little ones. I know how proud you are of them as adults, but even I miss their cute little toddler faces sometimes. She smiled as she dried the last plate. Maybe thats all it is. Feeling wistful for the years Ive already lived .