INTERCEPTION: ONLY LOVE MATTERS

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Interception: Only Love Matters

A mini-romance.

Written by Allan Jon Kretzmar, JD

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UNEXPECTED ANGEL Heaven between her legs On a motorbike She enforces the karma Of the afterlife This lady has style She will redeem you with her smile With a toss of her hair She captures my gaze No need for words I understand her ways So in tune with the truth She will always find the proof Her leather boots have stiletto heels That have punctured their way into my heart The rings that she wears Are symbols that she plays a part She controls our destiny A new marauder for you and me I see her on the horizon She is coming for you To help you through the night A witness to everything that you do There is nothing that she does not know Look inside, are you friend or foe

----Chris Steven Young

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Heathrow Airport London, England

Elizabeth Potter was excited, yet petrified. This was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. Drew sent airplane tickets to Hawaii for his graduation. After his parents died in a horrendous car accident, she stepped in to help by regularly sending her nephew money for his education. Drew is an outstanding young man, she thought, completing his studies, not dropping out or falling in with a bad crowd. The tragedy sobered him, making him a man overnight, with a lot of adult responsibility.

Bundling under the thick New Zealand woolen blanket, she peered out at the tarmac with the giant 757 staring back in the sleet and hail. The Commodore Airlines logo emblazoned on its tail, the plane seemed oversized and grotesque. Her mind wondered how so heavy a monstrosity could hurtle itself into the clouds, and propel her literally across the world.

Elizabeth hated flying, but did not want to tell this to Drew. After all, when he called a few weeks before, she remembered their conversation vividly.

“Auntie Liz,” he said, “I don’t want to hear another world from you! I am sending you the plane ticket, and all I want to hear is a ‘definite yes’ you are coming to my graduation! I know you have helped me all through the

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years, and paid for it, so I want you to come as my guest and see that your investment has paid off!”

“Of course, it has,” she answered, “Nothing could make me prouder. I will be there.”

“It is next month, so plan the date. The weather is great here, I bet you will even be surfing knowing your energy!”

Elizabeth laughed, “Dear boy, there is not a snowball’s hope of that.”

Inwardly, she felt all the muscles in her stomach tighten. She did not want to tell him about her knee surgery.

Her husband Frederick had never returned from a military mission, and could never get over the dread and foreboding the mere thought of planes evoked. Elizabeth hated flying, even detested it.

“If I don’t come back,” Frederick told her, “make sure that you look after the kids. Tell them everything will be all right.”

“Stop, Frederick,” she said, “don’t even think negative thoughts like that.”

But those thoughts became a living nightmare when she was told by the wing commander Frederick’s plane did not return after a sortie. “Don’t worry,” he told her, “there is still a chance his plane was not shot down, and that the crew parachuted to safety. The plane was never shot at from the 6

ground, and no wreckage was recovered. Be strong. Perhaps Frederick made it through. We have to wait and see.”

The waiting turned from days into weeks, to months, finally to years.

Frederick never returned.

Her sense of sadness and loneliness was indescribable. It pursued her like a cloud. In fact, depression became her friend. The dark days were “her” dark days, and the cloud of melancholy belonged to her too. She was proud of owning them, and they became so familiar she hated it when sunlight broke through the drab English gray days.

When there were these cheery rays, Elizabeth drew the drapes shut tight in her tiny flat on Devonshire Road. She reared their boys, and they grew up and left. She was used to living alone now. There was a handcolored picture of Frederick she placed on the dining room table. He was wearing his airman’s uniform. He looked so handsome, she thought, especially the way his cap was set to a rakish angle, and she loved his pencil-thin moustache, “He looks like a movie star!” she told friends and visitors. Over the years the photograph discolored, and at the ends of the white paper yellowed. Not only had the picture frame turned from white to beige, but the picture looked water soiled. “I bet those are my tears,” she always said if anyone asked her. Over time, there were fewer and fewer visitors, eventually no-one asked.

Elizabeth never remarried. No-one can give me what I got from Frederick, so why should I even try, she thought. She talked herself out of 7

every possible man that wanted to meet her. There were a million reasons why she did not want to meet them before she met them for a cup of tea, followed by another million why she would never see them again after the tea.

Drew was her life blood, her connection with something living rather than someone who was in all probability dead. Elizabeth vehemently clung to the hope that Frederick parachuted to safety with his crew, was captured, later freed, and someday she would see him again. Somewhere, somehow, she would feel his arms around her, and he would say to her like he always did, that “everything would be all right” as he did in his deep, comforting, gravelly voice.

Tonight it was raining and the conditions outside the airport were miserable. Elizabeth sat in front of the huge windows, where her plane with its steel-wings and glass cockpit was parked. She just stared at the plane, and the plane just stared back without feeling or emotion. The rain and snow were relentless, and she wondered how in the world could they take off and land in such miserable weather. She had tried to talk Drew out of sending her the plane tickets during several subsequent phone conversations, but he was quite adamant. He could be as headstrong as she was.

“Aunt Liz,” he insisted, “you have to see me graduate, you just have to! Besides, this is a paradise, you have never been to Maui, its as if God sliced off a piece of Heaven and made it into an island, you will see. Plus I promise in a week you will be more refreshed than you have ever been.”

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Finally Elizabeth gave up resisting. She paid for his tuition all through college, and this was her chance to see the happiness on his face. She knew he appreciated all she did, and it would be wonderful to vicariously experience his sense of fulfillment. Her faith and belief in him realized and rewarded.

So “Aunt Liz� found herself at Heathrow Airport in a blizzard, and feeling uneasy. The sun now set turning the sky from light gray to pitch black. The terminal windows were being continually pelted by raindrops, and the crew on the ground were frustrated preparing the craft to take flight in the sleet and the hail. Brrrrr, she shuddered just looking at them, I would hate to be out there in that rain, even if it was my job, she thought.

Her plane had been delayed for two hours more. The crew found ice on the wings, the passengers were told, and the ground crew was pouring hot water over the wings to melt the ice so that the flaps could open and close. Goodness, she thought, I feel like just not going up in this mess.

She peered into the darkness, everything was so black she could not see anything, until a flash of lightening illuminated the sky, if but for a silvery instant.

The only illumination she could discern were the lights ahead in the pilots cockpit, illuminated like the sunken eyes of a skull. She shivered in the cold terminal lobby, and pulled the blanket tighter around her.

She had tried to play a round of Solitaire earlier, but the card game could not stop continuing thoughts of dread and foreboding. Even a cup of 9

the elixir of English life -- tea -- could do little to snap her out of her all too familiar comforting friend -- her depression -- and her personal rain clouds.

She looked about at her fellow passengers. They did not seem to have the same sense of dread she did for the upcoming transatlantic voyage. Kids were running along the walkways, and parents were slumped, tired of answering incessant questions when the plane would actually take off posed by their children.

It was not that late in the evening, but the weather and the darkness made it seem that they were about to fly at night over the Bermuda Triangle.

God, Elizabeth thought, I had better stop with these dark thoughts -- people travel in droves daily -- in fact the skies are filled with planes traveling from cities and countries, all departing and arriving safely. Soon I will be leaving a cold climate, and exchanging it for one that is nice and hot. I am lucky to be going to Drew’s graduation, so I should dispel dark thoughts.

However, try as she might, there was nothing she could do. A magnetic field seemed to pull the dark clouds back over her head. In fact she wondered what she would do if she looked up and could not find her metaphorical rain cloud over her head. She retreated further into her chair.

I will just have to take my cloud with me, she thought, we will go to Hawaii together then. This gave her scant comfort.

A voice crackled over the loudspeakers -- an “update� -- another hour delay -- a collective groan from all those around her, and she felt her 10

stomach tighten again into a few more knots. This is becoming unbelievable, she thought. The crackling voice said the airline would ensure passengers needing help would be boarded first. Crew members would be circulating in the lobby, making sure that everyone was comfortable.

“Ah, Mom! Do we have to wait? Why can’t we leave?” She heard a youngster ask her parents, who seemed war weary from dealing with the delays and the incessant nagging of the kids. “I don’t know!” came the reply, “Read your book and be quiet.”

It was then that Elizabeth felt a soft hand on her shoulder. She was by then half-asleep, still drowsy, so she did not respond at first. A flight attendant was standing over her. “Hi luv, I’m Zara Jane, I’m with Commodore, and I just checking in with you. Is everything all right?”

Elizabeth looked up and stared at the flight attendant who was gently rubbing her shoulder.

“Um, yes, dear,” she stuttered.

The flight attendant was tall, shapely, and immaculately dressed in the Commodore Airlines uniform. She had black hair, cut shoulder length. Her uniform was a dark navy blue, and she had a red and blue scarf tied around her neck.

“Good,” came the response, “we will be ready in a while I am sure. I will come back to check on you.” She smiled.

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Elizabeth looked at the flight attendant who was standing over, and found something very comforting in her soft and soothing voice. But there was something other things about this young woman that left Elizabeth mesmerized. Firstly there was something about her smile -- it was as if she was shy, and was ashamed to smile -- but when she did she had the most amazing wide and white-toothed smile. Secondly, there was something about her eyes that caught her attention -- they were golden-yellow, and had a strange glow. The pupils were also large and cat-like, but this was something that Elizabeth remembered hours later. Many hours later.

Elizabeth was clutching her flight card with white-knuckled intensity, and this caught Zara Jane’s attention.

“Can I look at your boarding pass?”

“Yes, why, is anything the matter?”

“No, nothing is the matter. ‘A-9’ is your seat number. Everything will be all right.”

Elizabeth shuddered when she heard that comment, that is just what Frederick used to say, she suddenly realized, how strange.

Elizabeth stared at the woman that was standing in front of her. The flight attendant realized that she must have been towering over her, so she kneeled down in front of her.

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“Your boarding pass is fine,” she said, smiled a shy smile, and stood up again, patting Elizabeth reassuringly on the shoulder, “You have a window seat in the tail of the aircraft – the safest! You have nothing to worry about.”

Half and hour passed with agonizing slowness, and as promised Zara Jane returned, this time with a message.

“Luv, you have a phone call! A gentleman called very insistent that he talk to you before your flight left. The phone is in the VIP Lounge, and I will take you there if you like.”

“Is it Drew?” Did Drew call me?” Elizabeth was panicking, and the look on her face must have been noticed by her new found friend.

“No, his name was not Drew,” she told her, “come along my dear, I will walk with you to the Lounge.”

Elizabeth struggled up, dropping her blanket around her. Zara Jane picked up the blanket, and placed it reassuringly over Elizabeth’s shoulders.

Elizabeth and Zara Jane made their way through the crowded terminal building, having to dodge strewn luggage, stretched out legs, and running children. It was a strange human obstacle course, and Elizabeth did not enjoy the walk. She had had knee surgery a few weeks before, and this meant that she was not very stable on her legs.

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“It is far?”

“No, dear, it is just up ahead. Look can you see the white paneled glass over there?” Zara Jane pointed a well-manicured hand up ahead.

Elizabeth tried to stare and look ahead, but she did not have her distance glasses on and did not want to have to scratch to find them in her purse, which she clutched to her chest under the blanket.

Finally they found themselves in front of the white glass paneled door which had carved into the glass a relief of a large jetliner, and “Commodore Airlines VIP Lounge.” The doors slid open breathlessly upon their arrival.

“You never told me who telephoned me?”

“Oh, I thought I wrote it down on a piece of paper,” Zara Jane pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, and held it in front of her, “Sorry, there was no name. It’s a long-distance call we know that.”

“From Hawaii?”

“No, he did not say where he was calling from. But he did say he had to talk to you before you took off. He was pretty insistent that he speak to you!” Zara Jane smiled, and her eyes flashed brighter.

“Here is the phone, luv.” She pushed a red phone receiver into Elizabeth’s clammy hand.

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Elizabeth was already unsteady on her feet, and the phone call threw her into total confusion. She felt her heart begin to pound with a fury and intensity that she had not felt in a long time. Years in fact.

Elizabeth could not reach for the phone. She was too stunned to know what to do. Her hand would not follow the command of her brain.

“Here my dear, he said it was an important call,” Zara Jane said, but Elizabeth was admiring how flawless Zara Jane’s skin was. It seemed like it was carved out of marble, Elizabeth would say later, polished marble in fact.

Elizabeth did not know what to do. Take the receiver. Or not. She was stunned. She felt a reassuring arm around her shoulders. “He said everything will be all right. He did I swear,” and Zara Jane flashed a flawless smile. “Let me know if you need me. I will be at the Commodore Airlines counter.”

“Hello?” Elizabeth said timidly, taking the receiver, then realized she had held it upside down.

“Hello?” she righted the phone, and asked again in barely a whisper, her heart pounding louder in her chest.

Elizabeth strained to hear the voice on the other line. “Hello, Liz. Liz?”

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“Who is this?”

There was a muffled crackling sound at the other end of the phone line, but nothing that she could make out or understand.

Zara Jane was tall, so Elizabeth was sure that would be able to spot her in the crowded room. She looked to her left, then to her right, but her beautiful flight attendant was no-where to be seen. She could not spot her anywhere, and began to get worried.

“It’s Frederick. Liz, listen to me!” The voice said.

“Hello? Who? Frederick? Is this some kind of sick joke? Who the hell are you?”

“It’s Frederick, honey – listen to me!”

Elizabeth tried again to hear clearly what she thought the person at the other end of the line was saying. It cannot be, she thought.

“What did you say your name was again?”

“Honey, its Frederick, please you must listen-“

“Drew, is that you playing a joke?”

“Liz, its Frederick – its imperative you listen to me!”

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“You are sick. Just sick. Leave me alone!”

“Liz. Listen, Liz, please. I have to talk to you!”

Oh God, she suddenly thought, I hope I don’t miss my plane on account of this hoax!

Panicked, Elizabeth dropped the red handset, leaving it dangling. In a complete panic, Elizabeth rushed clutching her purse out of the VIP Lounge.

She left her blanket behind.

“Liz?” came the voice at the other end. “Liz. I have to talk to you!”

The voice crackled in the receiver. “Liz!”

One passenger had left his laptop briefcase in the walkway, and Elizabeth was oblivious to anything other than making her way to her gate, if she could even find it now. This briefcase obstructed her way forward, and in an uncommonly aggressive move, especially as a lady reared with proper manners, Elizabeth kicked the case out of her path, and hurried along.

“Hey, fuck you lady!” came the response from an American traveler from across the pond, “You kicked my briefcase. There’s an expensive laptop in there!”

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Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, and in an equally un-culturally aggressive move said to the traveler, “Then you should have moved it in time, buddy!” placing a special sarcastic emphasis on the word “Buddy.”

The overweight tourist tried to get up, but struggled to get out of his comfortable red-leather chair. He was livid and wanted to come after her to no doubt impart a few choice words, but decided to retrieve his laptop first.

Elizabeth hobbled to the door. Thankfully, it whooshed open to let her out, and she escaped back into the main terminal.

Elizabeth looked left, then right. It seemed that the lobby was even more crowded than it had been before Zara Jane came to get her on what she considered her wild and unhelpful phone call trip. Elizabeth felt scared, and quite frankly, just plain agitated. She faced the same labyrinth of people’s legs, children’s toys and the children themselves, and strewn about luggage.

God, let me make my flight! Drew will be so disappointed, she thought, redoubling her efforts to get to her gate, and then she realized she really could not move at a pace much beyond a wobbly walk. Oh God, my knee is really starting to hurt, I have to stop, Oh my, it really hurts, she thought. She stopped, rubbing her left knee.

When she turned back and looked around she saw her pursuing American traveler had exited the VIP Lounge, and was looking around to find her. It seemed that he was livid over her kicking his briefcase, and the “buddy” comment, and was determined to seek some kind of confrontation in the crowded terminal. I hope he does not want some kind of showdown, 18

she thought, I might have kicked his case with more force that I realized. I must have kicked his case with my good leg! She smiled to herself, and panicked, continued her wobbly quest to find her gate.

“Oh, young man,” she asked hurriedly, “can you felt me find my gate number?” She pushed her boarding pass in front of a man, who walked around her, pretending not to hear what she asked.

Finally, she saw a Commodore Airlines employee, who stopped, and looked at her boarding pass. “It is flight 315; it leaves from gate 85, just up ahead and to the right. But I think they boarded already ten minutes ago.”

Elizabeth felt her chest tighten, “Oh, God, no!”

Elizabeth finally reached the gate in a panic. There was no queue of people, and this Elizabeth felt was not a good sign. Not a good sign at all.

“Here is my boarding pass,” she screeched, “I was told I had a telephone call. I went there to the VIP Lounge,” she said breathlessly, “and then when I got there, there was no phone call. She made me miss my flight.”

Elizabeth tried to catch her breath. “It was one of your Commodore Airlines flight attendants.”

Amanda, the flight attendant on duty nodded, signaling understanding, but shrugged. “I am so sorry, my dear, your plane has already taxied to the runway. You missed your flight!”

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The flight attendant pointed out into the blackness, “Look,” she pointed a well-manicured hand, “There it is, it will be airborne in about three minutes. I am so sorry. Who did you say the flight attendant was?”

“Um, her name was unusual, so I remembered it. It was ‘Zara,’ and something like ‘James’ I think, yes, something like that. ‘Zara James’ I think. She said I got a call and that I had to take it in the VIP Lounge. If I did not leave when I did,” Elizabeth said, fighting back tears, “I would not have missed my flight! This makes me so mad!”

Amanda was apologetic, “No,” she shook her head, “we don’t have anyone by that name working tonight. Are you sure that was her name?”

“Yes, of course I am sure! I would not have missed my flight had it not been for her dragging me off on some hoax phone call.” Elizabeth struggled to regain her breath, and her composure. “Damnation!” Elizabeth was surprised at the depth of her emotions elicited by the turn of events.

“Drew will be so disappointed. Plus my suitcase is on the plane. Oh my God what am I to do now?” she asked the flight attendant.

“Don’t worry,” Amanda said, “this was the last flight for today. We will put you up at a hotel overnight. You can catch a flight tomorrow. After you have enjoyed an English breakfast, or course. Everything will be all right!” the flight attendant said with genuine feeling and emotion, “There is no need to be so upset.”

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Elizabeth seemed momentarily comforted, but she still felt outrage at this sudden and unexpected turn of events. This was not the way that she imagined that she would be celebrating Drew’s graduation.

Finally, she was bundled into a taxi, which brought her to Chelsea Hotel close to the airport. Toiletries had been provided for her, and Amanda even provided her with a Commodore Airlines flight attendant’s uniform, since that was all she had as a change of clothing and they were approximately the same size. Elizabeth’s suitcase was already on the departed plane. The flight attendant uniform was small comfort to Elizabeth, but what else could she do she thought, under these circumstances, better a fresh set of clothes than none at all.

Elizabeth could not fall asleep. She was worried, her mind racing a million miles a minute. Why did he say “Frederick” on the phone?

She wondered, and who would play so cruel a joke on her? Was this some college prank that Drew thought up? After all she did for him? No, could not be Drew, she thought, he would never do anything like that to me, never in a million lifetimes, after all I have done for him.

Elizabeth tossed and turned all night long, her room was icy cold.

There was no heat as the pipes in the heating system had frozen over. God, when I find that Zara Jane, she thought, I will give her a piece of my mind!

Tell her what she did and caused -- that stupid prank cost me my flight!

Elizabeth realized her fear of flying caused her to ask Drew to book a flight that would land in Honolulu the same day as his graduation. She 21

should have arranged to arrive a few days before, but her fear of flying made her not want to be on a plane for a minute longer than she thought necessary.

Now she would be missing his graduation ceremony completely.

In the morning, Elizabeth took her usual bath, although she grumbled that the water was not hot enough. She put on the flight attendant uniform, the only clothing available to her, and when she went down to breakfast felt certain that everyone in the dining room was staring at her. This adds insult to injury, she thought.

When she made her way to a table to have breakfast, she heard an American tourist say to his wife, “We must be in the bed and breakfast that all the pilots and flight attendants stay in.”

“Yes dear,” was the response.

Elizabeth ordered hot tea, sausages and eggs extra runny, and looked around the room. She saw her reflection in the mirror, acknowledging to herself that she looked pretty good in the uniform. She looked like a flight attendant! Oh, God, she thought, what if they ask me for flight or airport information?

She looked at the couple behind her. The man was reading the morning “Sun” newspaper. Elizabeth read the banner headline, and dropped her tea cup. The cup dropped onto the saucer, then to the floor, shattering with a crash.

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“JET LINER GOES DOWN IN OCEAN. LONDON TO HONALULU FLIGHT ENDS IN TRAGEDY,” read the banner headline.

“Oh, dear God,” she shrieked.

Elizabeth jumped up and grabbed the newspaper out of the man’s chubby hands, only then realizing it was the same man whose briefcase she had kicked the previous evening. There was a look of instant recognition on both of their faces, but not one of mutual respect.

“What the fuck lady? First my briefcase. Now my paper? What’s up with you aggressive English dames?” He yelled.

Elizabeth did not care. She had plucked the newspaper away, and was scouring the article for details.

“Hey lady, I will make sure that you get a reprimand from Commodore Airlines!” The American traveler bellowed indignantly. “In fact, I will get you fired! In fact I will guarantee it! You don’t know who you are fucking with! I’m a major shareholder, lady!”

“Easy Harvey, your blood pressure!” the tourist’s wife looked at him with some concern, “Easy does it!” His wife tried to place a reassuring hand on his arm, but he pulled his arm away.

Elizabeth read the story in a blur, “Flight 315 en-route to Hawaii went down in the Ocean . . . survivors have been found . . . exact casualties 23

are presently unknown . . . ice on the wings suspected . . .” Elizabeth dropped the newspaper, and ran out of the dining room.

When she ran into the hallway, she caught a glimpse of a flight attendant with shoulder length black hair walk out of the front doors of the hotel. She was walking fast. In fact, it was all Elizabeth could do to catch up to her. “Zara! Wait, Wait! I have to talk to you! Wait!” Elizabeth called out to the fast-moving figure.

Zara Jane turned to her and smiled a half smile. She was immaculately dressed in her uniform, pulling a black wheeled suitcase behind her, its handle clutched in her well-manicured and dainty hand.

Elizabeth struggled to run, hobbling to the doorway, “Wait! Zara! I have to thank you.” Zara Jane was not waiting around. Elizabeth reached the Hotel entrance huffing and puffing. Her bad knee reminded her just how fragile she still was after her operation.

She stepped outside. Zara Jane was standing on the street corner, about to cross at the light.

“I have to thank you,” she said apologetically, reaching her out of breath, “I thought you made me miss my flight.” She puffed and wheezed.

“I did,” Zara Jane smiled and said, “I had to.”

“Why? I don’t understand?”

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“Never ask ‘Why’ or ‘How’ things happen in life, luv! They just do the way they are meant to.”

“I don’t understand, please explain to me what you mean?”

“OK, I will try. I don’t normally do this ‘explanation thing,’ but I think you are ready for the message.”

“You are not a flight attendant?”

“Only when I have to be. For you I am one, because it was the only way that I could get there to stop you from flying last night.”

“What about the others on the plane?”

“There was nothing I could do for them, I am afraid. Their dice were already cast. For you, you have someone on the other side. He loves you very much, and was watching over you. It is your husband Frederick,” she held a reassuring hand on Elizabeth’s cheek, “He requested an interception on your behalf.”

“Oh, dear God.”

“Yes. He said he has been watching you in your flat, and how you have wasted away years pining for his return. He wants you to find happiness again!”

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Elizabeth shook her head vehemently, “I am sorry. I cannot.”

“No my dear,” she insisted, “don’t be so stubborn. You can, and you must! There is still happiness to be found, and it is with another man who will remind you of Frederick in so many ways.”

“I can’t even look at another man, my dear.”

“I understand you’re feeling that way in the past – but remember that you were spared for a reason. Don’t you think?”

“To tell you the truth,” Elizabeth fought back the tears, “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“You life was spared so that you can live again. So that love can find you again. Don’t fight destiny, remember you could have ended up as fish food!”

“Tsk. That’s macabre,” Elizabeth balked at the thought, more tears ran down her cheeks.

“Sorry, I need to make an impression upon you. If you keep an open mind, you will find your heart begin to open again. Frederick wanted me to come and save you -- he did not want you to die in a fiery plane crash. But he wanted a fire to burn again -- in your heart. You deserve it.”

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“I don’t understand. How did he know?”

“There is much people do not know about the paranormal. You were spared so that you can begin to live again. Your life stopped being lived a long time ago. Friends stopped visiting, Frederick said, as your flat became a tomb. His tomb. Will you make me a promise?”

Elizabeth nodded, “I will try.”

“No, trying is not good enough. I am going to ask you to make a firm commitment to me. Will you do this for me?”

“Well,” Elizabeth said, holding out her hand, “I will do my best. That will have to suffice for now,” then she brushed the tears away with the shirt sleeve of her uniform, “OK, what the hell, OK!”

“Good, when you get home, every day, open all the curtains in your flat. Let the sun shine in, and open the windows, catch the breeze. Let it fill your apartment. Then let it fill and refresh your mind.”

Elizabeth nodded, “I can do that, I can try.”

“And take Frederick’s picture down, and place that at the bottom of your dresser drawer, face down, will you do that?”

Elizabeth was shocked, “How do you know about his picture?”

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“He told us!”

“And face down too?”

“Yes. Frederick told me he has been watching over your shoulder for years now. He sees you kiss his picture every night. He wants you to stop this. He wants you to actually let him go. This is for two reasons.”

“Let him go? Why?”

“As I said, two reasons.”

“What are they?”

“One, it will allow you to find love in your life again.”

“And the other?”

“Oh, the other reason,” Zara Jane smiled, “Is that it will allow Frederick to move on too. I promise you the new man you will meet in your life will take care of you just like Frederick did. And when Frederick sees this, he will be able to move on too. He wants you should be happy, and with a good man.”

“You sure? You are not just saying this?”

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“Frederick is sure of this, and so am I. One day you and he will see each other again, I promise, but you have many years left to go before this happens.” Zara Jane took her left thumb and dried the streaked tears on Elizabeth’s cheeks, “And there is someone else that you are supposed to meet, all right luv?”

Elizabeth was confused, “Frederick sent you to tell me this?”

“Yes, he did.”

“God!” she sobbed, “I miss him so much.”

“And he you. But he doesn’t want you to be closed to loving again in your life, and to start living it again!” She looked deep into Elizabeth’s eyes, “You will remember you promised me, and him . . . today . . . we have such an agreement, don’t we?”

Elizabeth nodded, mouthed the word, “yes,” and started crying again.

She searched the jacket pockets of the uniform for a handkerchief to dry her eyes and blow her nose, but there was none.

When she looked up, Zara Jane was gone. She looked around her. The magical flight attendant was no-where to be seen.

Elizabeth then realized that while she was standing on the street corner, the sun had come out from behind the clouds, and was shining brightly above.

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She suddenly realized she could not find her familiar dark clouds, no matter how hard she looked. Somehow, they were no longer hovering over her head. Strange, she thought.

She walked unsteadily back into the hotel lobby.

On the coffee table in the lobby was a book, whose title caught her off guard. “Trapping Angels with Dreams,” it read. She picked up the book. The author wrote in the introduction that there are many doors to perception, and that Angels could enter, and leave, through the dream state, through one or other of these doors.

“Take it with you,” the hotel clerk said, smiling and waving, “read it on the plane.” She nodded, and thanked the man. He must have thought she was one of the usual flight attendants staying at his hotel.

Elizabeth realized she was still in uniform when she made it back to Heathrow Airport. The storm of the previous day was over, and the sun was shining brightly.

She made a call to Drew from the Commodore Airlines courtesy phone. He had been frantic, but she reassured him she was fine, that fate intervened, and that even though she missed her flight and his graduation, her life was spared, and that was all that mattered. He was weeping on the phone. She told him not to cry, that she would take the next available flight out, and that a new chapter was about to begin in both of their lives.

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What Elizabeth did not know was at the same time as she was talking to Drew, a flight attendant was booking a wealthy developer a seat at the back of the plane, next to the window seat number A-9. It was Zara Jane.

He was tall, dressed in a light green suit, with a yellow tie. He had a head of silver-gray neatly cropped hair. He sported a thin pencil moustache, and rimless glasses.

“I am sorry, sir!” she told him apologetically, “You are on stand-by.

Sorry we don’t have a single first class seat available.”

“Dear God, please see what you can do,” he pleaded.

“Yes, I will try, First class is fully booked, I am sorry. Oh, wait . . .”

“What?”

“I might have one left. In economy. Is that all right, luv?”

“I don’t care, I have to be there! That’s fine with me!”

“I am sure you will have a great flight! Are you going to Hawaii for business or pleasure?”

“No, just business. I own a high-rise time-share cooperative on the main island. We are having a grand opening.” He turned to her and 31

whispered, “My wife died about five years ago before our project completed.

She designed all the building décor, you know. A sad loss. But what can we do, life goes on, right?”

“Right! We never know its twists or turns, now do we?”

“No, we sure don’t,” he mused. “Anyway, I hope there is someone interesting to talk to on the flight!”

“Oh,” Zara Jane smiled, “I think interesting is hardly the word!”

The man raised his eyebrow momentarily. What a strange comment, he thought. “Anyway, thank you for your helpfulness,” the man peered at her name badge, “Ms. ‘Jane.’ Nice name. I am sure I will remember it,” he said with cordial warmth.

“I am sure you will,” she said warmly too.

He placed his reading glasses in a case, and put on his green aviator sunglasses, “From my days as a pilot,” he laughed.

He turned to Zara Jane, and waved. She smiled and waved back.

The wheels of fate were turning, exactly as she planned it!

The developer showed his boarding pass for seat number A-8, and walked to the waiting plane.

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Elizabeth Potter was now sitting in seat A-9, looking out of the window, and for some inexplicable reason, was actually smiling.

She had told Drew that everything from this point forward would really be all right.

And this time, even though she could not really explain it, she actually meant it.

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Allan Jon Kretzmar Š2011. All rights reserved.

All characters in this mini-book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons living or dead, is coincidental. No part of this mini-book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.

First printing.

Images by Kane!

Poetry by Chris Steven Young.

Follow further stories at www.unexpectedANGEL.com Check out the other Mini-books series on Kindle.

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Forbidden/unexpected Angel The Series: Luck, Love . . . and a Twist of Fate!

Other book titles

1. unexpected Angel The novella. A modern-urban love story with a supernatural twist. Angels show up in our lives when we least expect them. Jake Morrison is a bright, young and ambitious attorney hell-bent on achieving his vision of success.

But his vision is about to become a nightmare. Zara Jane is a real-live Angel, sent from Heaven above to guide Jake through these pivotal changes in Jake’s life. She ends up working at Jake’s firm and dating him, so that she can watch over him. They fall in love. But Jake rejects the message and her love and his life spirals out of control. As an Angel Zara Jane imparts wisdom and insight for his life and world, and expresses her insight on the road that lies ahead, not only for Jake, but also for humankind as a whole.

When Jake takes her words to heart his life goes through a metamorphosis, and he finds himself living his life in a manner that he could not have dreamed of before. KINDLE: unexpected ANGEL. Luck, love . . . and a Twist of Fate! (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EET3M8 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/unexpected-ANGEL/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013028821

2. CUPID’S ARROWS A mini-romance mythological fable, where Zara Jane, Angel, creates a love connection between Mahmoud and Genevieve-Marie at the Palace of Versailles. This is part of her job as an Angel, and one of the more satisfying of her tasks. She takes special care and attention in the pursuit of these activities, and explains in a hilarious interchange with the Love Cherubs the state of affairs connected with helping humans find True Love.

This caper involves a tinge of Cupid’s Love Potion #5, 2 cherubs, one Angel, and 2 Cupid’s arrows. KINDLE: Cupid's Arrows (Forbiddem/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDIC1W

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NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cupids-Arrows/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013095267

3. WILD HORSE TALE$ A mini-paranormal-action adventure set in Santa Barbara, California. Zara Jane, Angel, and Jake Morrison, erstwhile-lawyer, form Paradise Paranormal Investigations, Inc. This is the first case for their fledgling company, and they are called in to solve the mystery of racehorses that are dying, almost daily. What they uncover are some unexpected twists and turns. KINDLE: WILD HORSE TALE$ (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDICY4 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/WILD-HORSE-TALE/AllanJon-Kretzmar/e/2940013109575

4. WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD A mini-paranormal-action adventure, that takes Zara Jane, Angel, and Jake Morrison, erstwhile-lawyer, on their second caper under their company, Paradise Paranormal Investigations, Inc., on a worldwide dash to stop the Holy Grail and the Golden Calf falling into the wrong hands, in this case, Gustavo, who is not your ordinary villain. He is a fallen Angel himself, with superpowers too. The CIA and the US government call in the two sleuths to provide investigative help. KINDLE: Where Angels Fear To Tread (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EGQYJG NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/WHERE-ANGELS-FEAR-TOTREAD/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013122901

5. set the world on fire! (CONTINUATION OF “WHERE ANGEL’S FEAR TO TREAD!”) A mini-paranormal-action adventure, that takes Zara Jane, Angel, and Jake Morrison, erstwhile-lawyer, continue on their second caper under their company, Paradise Paranormal Investigations, Inc., on a worldwide dash to stop Gustavo in his tracks. Subject matter includes the Holy Grail, the Golden Calf, and the Knights Templar. KINDLE: Set The World On Fire!

(Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDKPE4

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6. ying-yang love A mini-romance. Vickie Ying lives in New York, Christian Yang lives in Hong Kong. They are worlds apart, yes each night respectively in their dreams they connect on a deep soul level that is turning their lives upside down. Their dreams are becoming an obsession, and when they dream they begin to see the other with increasing clarity. The chemistry and tension builds as they wonder if they will ever meet in person. Enter an Angel (Zara Jane) who tries to guide them both, but her message is not immediately recognized or followed.

Ying-Yang Love (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDMEBG NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ying-Yang-Love/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013122598

7. ONLY LOVE MATTERS: INTERCEPTION A sweet mini-romance. Katherine Potter lives in London, for years entombed waiting for her husband to return after his military mission failed.

She is invited by her nephew Drew to Hawaii. Enter an Angel that intercedes on behalf of Frederick, her husband to save her life, and allow her the chance to find love again. KINDLE: Only Love Matters (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNF28 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ONLY-LOVEMATTERS/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013122734

8. what yA gonna do when the angel comes?

A mini-travel-adventure-romance. Jake Morrison, erstwhile lawyer, is convinced by his friend Dr. Robert Powell to try regression analysis to isolate when and where he and Zara Jane, Angel, really met to better explain their attraction. As the regression continues, Jake discovers that the answers come not only from this lifetime, but to ones that took place well hidden in the past. Jake unlocks the doors to open up new vistas of adventure, and understanding. KINDLE: WHAT YA GONNA DO WHEN THE ANGEL COMES? (Forbidden/unexpected ANGEL) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EOTKOE

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NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/WHAT-YA-GONNA-DOWHEN-THE-ANGELS-COMES/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013122864

9. WHEN ANGELS COME HOME TO ROOST (Continuation of “What ya gonna do when the angel comes?”

A mini-travel-adventure-romance. A continuation of the regression analysis that Jake is undergoing with his friend, Dr. Robert Powell. Jake finds himself married in this past life to Zara Jane, when a violent storm blows their spice ship off course. Will they survive, and what secrets will be revealed? Stranded on an as-yet-uncharted island they meet Hoppy, a genie, who promises them a way out, with a surprising twist.

10. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (Continuation of “WHEN ANGELS COME HOME TO ROOST”) A mini-travel-adventure-romance. A continuation of the regression analysis that Jake is undergoing with his friend, Dr. Robert Powell. Jake finds himself married in this past life to Zara Jane, still stranded on an as-yetuncharted island with Hoppy, the genie who has promised them a way off the island. But is this really what Jake wants? Find out the surprising twist as Jake’s mind plays the devil’s advocate.

KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HB9URG NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/DEVILS-ADVOCATE/AllanJon-Kretzmar/e/2940013134041

11. ROBBER BARON (PART ONE) Jake is encouraged by his friend Baron to take up the practice of law again and head up the Loss Mitigation Department at the mighty Trust Bank, headquartered in San Francisco. Jake feels that his name and reputation are about to be misused to further some dark motive that he as yet is unaware of, and he has his misgivings. John Wiley is an attorney representing sympathetic clients as the battle-lines start to get drawn in this modern-day “David and Goliath” zero-sum contest. Jake trusts that whatever the motive behind Baron’s offer, it will somehow be revealed in time to him before damage can be done. Jake realizes this is all a puzzle -- this interplay between light and dark forces -- and that he would need almost a clairvoyant’s skill to separate them in time.

KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IDOYQK

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NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/ROBBER-BARON/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013032323

12. FORBIDDEN ANGEL: THE POETRY COLLECTION Modern-urban poems.

BLOG: http://ForbiddenAngelGirlz.blogspot.com KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HILH16 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/FORBIDDEN-ANGEL/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940012990969

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LovEntwined The Series: Finders, Keepers, Losers, Weepers Other book titles 13. THE KINGMAKER An undocumented historical mini-romance fable set in 15th Century Great Britain. The throne of King Henry is about to be passed on to one of his three sons, but war with France looms. Enter Princess Isabella, an armorclad messenger, who meets Prince Richard, and guides him in the greatest adventure of his life. THE KINGMAKER (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNGAO 14. GOING IN FOR THE KILL (CONTINUATION OF “THE KINGMAKER” PART ONE) A 15th Century mini-action-romance adventure fable, where Leopold, the French naval commander, seeks revenge and kidnaps Princess Isabella.

Now King, Richard faces dark days as he struggles with the loss of his Queen, and decides to extract revenge of his own with unanticipated consequences. KINDLE: GOING IN FOR THE KILL! Part Deux of THE KINGMAKER (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNICK NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/GOING-IN-THE-THE-KILLPart-Deux-of-THE-KINGMAKER/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013109568

15. THE WORLD’S YOUR OYSTER A mini-romance set in Italy. Francesca is a filmmaker and the daughter of a famed director who decides to enter her short film at the Venice Biennial.

Enter an Angel who encourages Justin to enter his paintings in the Biennial Art Festival. The bait has been set, and they are destined to meet. KINDLE: THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNL3Q NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Worlds-Your-Oyster/AllanJon-Kretzmar/e/2940013094802 41

16. MOMMY’S GONE! A bitter mini-romance. Brad and Mara have been married for fifteen years and have two children, Jamie and Mark. A poignant tale that explores keeping love alive in a marriage that goes through dramatic changes. Mara serves in the Navy, and completes a tour of duty in Iraq. Then Afghanistan follows. . . A story as current as our headlines.

KINDLE: MOMMY'S GONE! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNM76 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/MOMMYS-GONE/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013109537

17. FOLLOW THE FIRE! (alternative ending to mommy’s gone!)

A bitter-sweet mini-romance. Brad and Mara have been married for fifteen years and have two children, Jamie and Mark. A poignant tale that explores keeping love alive in a marriage that goes through dramatic changes. Mara serves in the Navy, and completes a tour of duty in Iraq. Then Afghanistan follows. . . A story as current as our headlines. This story is the alternative ending to “Mommy’s Gone!) KINDLE: Follow The Fire! (Alternative ending to "Mommy's Gone!) (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNM62 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/FOLLOW-THE-FIREAlternate-ending-to-Mommys-Gone/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013109544

18. (LOVE) ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS A mini-romance. Mary and Pete are destined to find each other, but their ability to meet gets stalled. Enter an eagle that brings about their chance meeting, that in that instant changes both of their lives from that point forward forever. Luck, love, and a twist of fate. KINDLE: (LOVE) ON THE WINGS OF EAGLES! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDNOGA NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/BookAllan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013094963

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19. WHEN LIGHTENING STRIKES TWICE! A mini-romance set in Mumbai, India. Ramish is a lawyer who is travelling on a train and is struck by lightening. In that instant the most beautiful woman in the world, his world, gets revealed to him. Ghita Raj is a Bollywood film star, wondering if she will ever find true love. She seeks answers from her astrologer and palmist, Mister Choksy, who tells her that a chance meeting with a man may be soon. Very soon. KINDLE: WHEN LIGHTENING STRIKES TWICE! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EE61Q4 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/WHEN-LIGHTENINGSTRIKES-TWICE/Allan-Jon-Kretzmar/e/2940013109476

20. COWgirl KATE A mini-romance. Kate is a student in Texas who receives an unexplained and untraceable email and text message on her cellphone to make sure she goes to her grandmother’s funeral. She is told that she needs to make sure she attends, for there is a fated meeting that has to take place there. Kate is given control of the family cattle ranch after her grandmother’s passage, but the email and text message concern affairs of the heart. KINDLE: COWGIRL KATE! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EE621S NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/COWGILR-KATE/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013109438

21. HOLY LAND: BLOOD BROTHERS A mini-romance set in the Holy Land. A metaphorical bridge is being built between Rami, an Israeli soldier, and Ghita, a beautiful young Palestinian girl. They begin to steal moments together, knowing that on both sides such encounters are forbidden. The story moves with dynamic intensity to its conclusion as Rami and Ghita struggle to find freedom to live and love. As topical as today’s headlines. KINDLE: HOLY LAND: BLOOD BROTHERS! (ENTWINED lovENTWINED) | http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EDQGB0 NOOK: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Holy-Land/Allan-JonKretzmar/e/2940013109513

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