Destination Date Ch. 16 on FFn
The days following Emmett’s phone call about Miss Alice were hectic. Bella contacted the United States Consulate and got more definitive answers about reentering the country. Their biggest issue was the timing of when they needed to get their rapid COVID tests. Some websites were saying that the test needed to be done within a week of travel and other sites said it needed to be within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
Erring on the side of caution, the doctor was coming the day before Bella and Edward’s departure. They were not looking forward to having their nasal passages swabbed and the cotton swab practically touching their brains, but they needed a negative test in order to get home.
“Okay, Osvaldo is driving us to the airport. Our flight leaves at half past eleven and we fly into Dallas. We have a health screening and then we have several hours until our connecting flight to Seattle,” Edward said. “We will need to stay in one of the lounges, but there will be food for us.”
“Sounds good,” Bella murmured, unfocused as she was packing her bag.
“Hey, Glitter, look at me,” Edward whispered, gently turning her in his arms. He saw tears in her eyes. “Sweetheart, Miss Alice will be okay. You’ve talked to her on FaceTime.”
“She looked so pitiful. I’ve never seen her look anything less than curled and poofed and beautified,” Bella whispered, curling into his arms. “With the mask on her face and her skin looking grey? I’m so scared, Edward. I can’t lose her.”
“I spoke to my dad and despite her appearance, Miss Alice is in good health and is not as sick as other patients in the hospital. She’s also isolated from the more serious cases, but still on the COVID floor. She’s got a private room,” Edward explained. “Let’s get out of here. We haven’t eaten yet and all this stressing is counterintuitive.”
“Edward,” Bella argued.
“Come on. Nahuel is bringing a basket of food for a lunch on the beach. It’s a little chilly for topless times on the beach, but we can still eat,” Edward said, threading his fingers with hers. “We need to get out of this room.”
Bella frowned, but allowed Edward to pull her out onto the beach. They put on their masks while they walked to the beach, finding Nahuel spreading out a blanket, using a picnic basket to keep it from blowing away. Edward handed him a large tip before Nahuel left.
“This looks nice,” Bella murmured, taking off her mask and sliding on her sunglasses. She sank onto the blanket and curled up. “Thank you for being the voice of reason. Normally, I’m pretty even-keel, but with Miss Alice, all sense of calm dissipates. She is, for all intents and purposes, my mom.”
“I get it, Bella. I’d probably be as much of a mess if it were my mother,” Edward said softly, pulling out the food from the basket. “However, you’re not a mess, Bella. You’re strong and positive for Miss Alice when you talk to her. I can see how much she loves you. Her eyes light up and despite her being sick, she’s happy to see you, happy to talk to you.”
They made their plates and Bella huffed out a breath. “You know what pisses me off? Her family! Her kids and grandkids! They haven’t once contacted her. And yet, once she kicks the bucket, they will swoop in and pick over her shit like fucking vultures. They don’t care about her. What the hell?!”
“Have you met any of Miss Alice’s family?” Edward asked, sipping some beer.
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