Page 31 of Forever Flustered

She glanced at the clock; it was nearly three in the afternoon here – but that ‘sweet dreams’ would be something she heard in her mind for weeks or months, she realized as the call ended. Hitting play, she listened to his voicemail once more, marveling at the surge of feelings it brought simply hearing his voice, glimpsing at the man hidden behind the mask, and hope burning so brightly in her chest that it was staggering.

“He bought a plane ticket,” she whispered in amazement. “He’s coming to see me, and we’re going to give this a try. I can’t believe this is happening – it’s really, possibly happening.”

Opening her email, she immediately started to compose yet another email to him… this time slightly different.

Good morning, Psp-Psp-Psp!

I just got your voicemail and your package – I’m so sorry I missed your call; I was with a client… but thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for both treats! I love everything you sent me, and it was perfect – just like the voicemail. You don’t have to know how to do any of this, because I’d prefer that we figure it out together along the way.

See you soon; just let me know when to pick you up at the airport…

Yours,

Maureen

Smiling, she clicked send – and waited.

It was nearly eleven at night when she received an email from Eli that spoke volumes and sent shivers down her spine.

Dearest Psp-Psp-Psp,

How about we get Mexican food for dinner Friday night? I land at four that afternoon – your time. I’ll rent a car, so it’s not an inconvenience, and we can plan things around your appointments… okay?

Eli

P.S. If I mess things up, just tell me so I can learn and figure it out – okay? No hard feelings, I just need to know, and we’ll be short on time figuring out this dating thing between us.

Maureen chuckled in heartwarming amazement at the man who was starting to emerge from behind that front, just for her it seemed… and she was enchanted. This was not something she could have ever imagined at their first encounter – and truthfully?

She couldn’t wait for their next one.

Dearest Psp-Psp-Psp,

You just get those stuck-up, sweet buns on the plane, and we’ll figure it out together. Have I mentioned that I love Mexican food – and I’m already rescheduling what I can so we have several days free together.

See you Friday!

Yours,

Maureen

When Maureen woke up the next morning and checked her email – there was already a reply from Eli that was better than anything she could have imagined. She was pretty sure her guardian angel was sighing in relief or singing somewhere gloriously happy, because she had a full-blown crush on an Air Force pilot who was unlike anyone she’d ever met… and already adored all of the priggish quirks that made him adorable.

My lovely Psp-Psp-Psp,

I’m smiling at my desk, re-reading your email… and I promise that my ‘stuck-up, sweet buns’ will be on the plane, ready to go, even in the event of an apocalypse! Friday cannot get here fast enough to see how this all goes…

Yours truly,

Eli-the-cat-whisperer

CHAPTER 11

ARCHANGEL

My hands are shaking…

That singular thought kept flying through Eli’s mind as he made his way off the airplane that had just landed in Tyler, Texas. It had been a long flight, and he managed to sleep a little bit thanks to two beers – which he rarely imbibed, but with the upcoming time differences, he was worried that he would be too exhausted to be able to hold a conversation with Maureen.