wrath of the Sea Queen by Cynthia Woods Read Free Book Online

asked several times, she had not yet chosen to discuss it.   Maybe now that she was home again, she might open up.
    " Y ou know me .  I ha ve been excited for days , and I can catch up on my sleep on the plane.  It ' s going to be a long flight. "
    "Speaking of that, you should check the weather .   I caught the late news last night while you were finishing your packing .  That tropical storm seems to be settling near the island.  They are predicting that if it hits the island directly, it will be one of the worst storms they ha ve ever seen.  I ' m surprised they aren't cancelling flights.  If the weather is going to get that bad, I would prefer it if you didn't go.   It won't be safe. "
    "I wi ll check for a n update before we leave, but you know how reporters get.  They wi ll turn a summer rain into a monsoon if it will get rating s pikes ," C a eli answered.
    She was aware of the potential bad weather.  However, each time she turned on the news, she heard a different forecast.  One said the storm would not be close enough to the island to cause any trouble .  Another said the island should be evacuated in preparation for the worst storm in history.  And each channel changed its own story several times.  She didn't know which one to believe.  C a eli decided that if flights were not cancelled, then the weather couldn't be that bad.  If the flight was called off , then she would be quite happy to spend the week at home or perhaps ride up to visit the guys at the lake house for a couple of days .
    C a eli and Vin both went into the bathroom to get showered and dressed.  Even though she was only two days returned from a two week long conference in Manhattan , they were both getting ready to leave for separate vacation s .  Neither C a eli nor Vin originally intended to spend so much time apart within such a short span, but the right opportunity came along, and it somehow worked out that way. 
    Their luggage was ready and waiting by the front door.  Vin's bag consisted of an oversized black duffle, packed and sitting on the floor.  C a eli 's large, navy blue suitca se and a matching carry on bag were pla ced next to his less formal luggage.  She tucked her swimsuit and purse into the suitcase.   She wouldn't need either of those while she was on the plane.   C a eli had already placed her important items and things she might need on the plane in her carryon bag.
    Her stomach gave one last lurch before finally settling down , and then the happy couple shared a few more pre-departure kisses on the couch while wait ing for the taxi.  C a eli briefly considered an additional cause of her discomfort during the cab ride to the airport .  It could be at least partially due to her guilt about going on a second trip without Vin, despite his insistence that she go and have fun.  Her first trip had been for business, and Vin had prior commitments that prevented him from joining her; not to mention, he did not like the crowded city.  C a eli could certainly understand that. 
    T he upcoming trip , however, was a vacation ; but it was not the type of scenery Vin enjoy ed .  He was not at all fond of sand or seawater , much preferring a wooded landscape .  While C a eli was looking forward to spending some relaxing time on the beach and watching the ocean waves , her guilt for going without Vin persisted .  Ever s ince they married more than ten years ago , C a eli had never gone on any trip, much less a vacation , without Vin.  Never, that is, until now.   Now, she was about to leave on the second such outing in a month's time .

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    Dr. Erickson,
     
Perhaps you did n o t receive my first letter or maybe it is buried in a stack of mail on your secretary's desk.  Either way , I am sending this one to your home in hopes that it will garner your attention .   In the months since I first wrote to you , my father has died .  M y brother's illness grows worse by the day .  I feel certain that