Today, Tomorrow and Then (page 3)

A womans's voice said, "Good morning Miss Andrews, this is you daily nine-0'clock wake-up call." "Thank you, how is the weather?" Cory asked. "Its a lovely day. A balmy eighty five degrees." "Thanks again." She said to the desk clerk. "We hope you're enjoying your stay with us, Miss Andrews." "I'm loving every day, and thank you." Cory Andrews sat up and stretched, then flung the covers off and excitedly jumped out of bed. She showered and dressed in another of her new outfits. Her days flew by, the cool breezes and sunny skies her companions. One evening after several weeks, Cory just didn't feel right. So she decided to have dinner in her room and finish reading the novel she'd bought earlier. She wondered where the time had gone as she sat relaxing, the book lying in her lap. She had really wanted to go sailing on the ocean and also see a bullfight. The phone rang suddenly then and jumping up out of her chair, thinking it must be room service calling about her order, a man's voice exclaimed, "Cory, this is Nick Barry. I'm in the cocktail lounge. How soon will you be here?" "Who?" Cory asked. "Nick, Nick Barry." Cory stood with the phone pressed to her ear, a confused look on her face. "You must have the wrong room," she said politely. "Cory," the man said, "We have a dinner date for tonight." "I'm so sorry,I don't know you," she said hesitatingly. "Well, I see I didn't make a lasting impression on you yesterday on the cruise." "What?" Who was this man and what was he talking about. A cruise? "Sorry," she said again and put the phone down. Shaking her head, she went back and sat with her book and began to read. Now the words made no sense, the story new. Puzzled she turned it over and looked at the cover. Where did I ever pick this up? The book was new to her, she'd never seen it before! She got up and began to pace around the room. And as she did, looking around everything looked new to her. Her pacing slowed and she began to tremble. She eyed the beautifully decorated place warily. Lush carpeting tickled her bare tanned toes. She walked over and touched the flimey drapes and ran her hand over the papered walls. Was this her home? Shopping bags, neatly folded lay on the tables. Used tickets from bullfights and ocean excursions lay on the coffee table.

Today, Tomorrow and Then (page 2)

"How long will you be gone?" Her son had asked as he carried her luggage out to the waiting taxi. "A few weeks, but I don't know for sure honey. I want to be lazy and just ramble." "Okay mom, don't worry about the house, I'll keep it clean and pick up the mail. Man, it's great to be home again for the summer." "Honey," the woman said hugging him tightly and smoothing his ruffled hair,"don't worry about me either. I'll be having a great time! I love you sweetie." Then she stepped into the waiting taxi and blew a kiss to her son as the vehicle backed down the drivway. A wonderful free feeling tingled through her body as she put her dark glasses on, ran her hand over her new hair-do. Her suitcases bulged with new outfits and accessories. The sun was high in the sky and wisps of Ciera perfume filled the back of the taxi as it sped along on the freeway on its way to the airport. Cora Andrews was fifty three years old, divorced for ten years with two boys in college. Her mother Daisy, had lived with them for years and had been there for all of them, with home cooked meals and mouth watering baked goodies. Then she had gotten sick. It had started slowly with everyone thinking she'd slowed down and just become forgetful. But it wasn't so, Daisy had Alziemers! The last few years had been hard for Cora seeing her mother slowly fade into a stranger and then finally die. Now with everyone gone her house had become terribly silent, so quiet at times she'd find herself walking softly and talking to herself in whispers. Daisy had left her daughter Cora a sizable inheritance and she had an idea. And one day she promptly marched out of the stuffy accountants office she had been in for too many years. She bought herself a bottle of champagne and celebrated a decision. First of all, she christened herself Corey instead of Cora. She'd always felt her name was too old fashioned. Then she called for an appointment for a make-over, for a new hair-do and make-up. And to her delight, her brown hair was cut to curl under at her shoulders, glistening now with a rich auburn tint. Now her new make-up brought life to her glowing unlined skin that was so like her mothers. She replaced her glasses with contacts and her blue eyes suddenly appeared larger and brighter then ever. Then armed with catalogs, she studied the new styles. Soon Corey Andrews emerged a new woman. Then she carefully began to make her plans. She was going to travel. She was going to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina just off the Atlantic coast. ********* Corey awoke to the ringng phone and pushing her hair out of her eyes, she reached for the reciever.