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Nana…
“I do not see why we have to get on a ship,” Mary Lynn grumbled. A small suitcase was wedged between them in the backseat.
The strangers Terry had handed them over to were very rude. The two women were so similar that they could have been twins. They were barely old enough to be considered adults. Nan doubted they were even as old as Kendie.
Both of them had crazy died hair that went every which way. There were more holes in their faces than should naturally be there. Mostly she could tell them apart because one of them had a cartoon beaver tattooed on her upper arm. Ridiculous.
Compact and solid, their burnished skin shone in the sunlight. Nan couldn’t pronounce their names, so she’d taken to thinking of them as girl 1 and girl 2 in the car. When they arrived at the port, the shopping trip they had been taken on suddenly made sense.
“Boats are bad luck,” grumbled Mary Lynn. Leaving the cats behind, even for three days, was not sitting well. She’d insisted on thoroughly inspecting the home the cats were staying at. Only the threat that they would put Kennedy in danger if they stayed had gotten Mary to agree to go. Her daughter-in-law was being ridiculous. It was only three days.
“We offered to get you a wheelchair.” Thing 1 said as she hauled the first unfamiliar suitcase out of their trunk. Mary Lynn recoiled with a sneer and Nana was surprised she didn’t brandish her cane. Her daughter-in-law had been moving much better since she had been taking David’s medicine. It was a pity it hadn’t affected her sour temperament.
Mary Lynn gestured at the bag. “That is not my suitcase. I didn’t pack that.” Girl 2 rolled it toward Mary Lynn, ignoring her complaints. Her daughter-in-law said, “They tell you point blank at the airport to never accept any suitcase that someone else has packed. Why would I need such a large suitcase for a three-day trip to the Bahamas? That piece of luggage is not getting on the boat with my name attached to it.”
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The girl answered, “You aren’t going to the Bahamas.”
Girl 1 pulled out a second suitcase and said, “We just had to get you in the car.” She clicked the lock button on her key fob when Mary took a half step toward the car. “You aren’t getting back in the car either.”
Thing two bumped her sister’s arm fondly. “Don’t worry, we noted your sizes, ladies. I think you will like what our community purchased.”
Mary Lynn clutched her purse to her chest. “Where are we going?”
Thing 2 said, “Somewhere Sheep won’t think to look for you.”
“Why are you worried about Sheep?” Mary tightened her grip on her cane.
Thing 1 added, “Because one put a human roast in your mother-in-law’s freezer with cooking directions attached and your daughter’s name on the label.”
Nan pressed her hand flat to her sternum. “They did no such thing.”
“Do you need to see a picture?” Nana and Mary Lynn both recoiled.
Between the two of them, the Wolves sorted out the paperwork and visas.
Mary Lynn’s mouth dropped open. “I’ve never even applied for a visa. I can’t just go wandering about the world.”
“You have one now, or what will pass for one if you keep your mouth shut about your troubles and focus instead on complaining about what they feed you…”
“And your beds…” Thing two added.
“Just keep doing what comes naturally to you. The staff on the cruise ship will avoid you, not investigate you. Play bingo. Sit in the sun.”
Nana held her purse close to her body. “I cannot believe Terry would agree to this.”
Thing 2 shut the trunk with a loud click. “This was his idea, actually.”
Her sister next to her crossed her arms. “I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe.”
“What?” Horror spread across Mary Lynn’s face. “For how long?”
“Until the danger passes.”
Mary Lynn tapped her cane on the ground. “I am not getting on that ship.”
Thing 1 shrugged. “If you do not get on that cruise old woman, we already have a container ship that will put you in its hold with two weeks worth of peanut butter sandwiches, a case of juice boxes and a bucket that both of you can shit in.”
“That was uncalled for.” Nana straightened the strap of her purse so it rested in the crook of her arm. “We will take the cruise option, thank you very much.”
“I have not…” Mary spoke, unable to be anything but stubborn. Nana elbowed the woman hard.
“She says thank you as well.” Nan glared at her daughter-in-law as a porter from the transatlantic cruise ship rolled a wheel chair toward them beaming. Nana gave her a look that dared her to say one more word and put them in the belly of some miserable vessel. With a polite nod to the approaching young man, Mary Lynn extended her hand to accept their tickets.