Chapter 1: Fresh Ocean Air
A woman with curly, fiery-red hair stepped down off the rather small plane which had carried her from Pennsylvania to Key West. She inhaled deeply. The smell of the ocean was intoxicating. Smiling, she continued forward towards the small building Key West called an airport. Her black suitcase rolled behind her. She entered the building and tried to find her parents and her sister. Eventually she found them standing near the large entrance, searching for her as well.
"Over here!" she called, jumping up and waving to her parents.
Smiling, her sister ran over to her and jumped on her.
"I'm so glad you made it, Amber!" Amber could hear the happiness in her sisters voice.
"I'm so glad you threw out my back before the vacation even started," Amber joked, "How long have the three of you been waiting here?"
Amber's sister looked over at their parents then back at her sister,
"I'd say about a half-an-hour, but for them it's been a half-an-hour too long."
They both laughed.
"I'm so happy to see you, Nikki!"
They hugged,
"C'mon, let's get outta here, the beach is calling our names," Nikki smiled, dragging her sibling over to their parents.
A short cab ride later they were at their hotel facing the ocean.
"The Pier House," Amber read out loud to no one in particular, "gorgeous…"
A large tan building stood three stories tall in front of them which looked like something straight out of Mexico. Palm trees and small bushes surrounded the perimeter of the building, providing a cool place to stand or sit out of the blazing sun. As they stepped out of the cab, the sound of the ocean greeted the small family of four. Amber could hear Bob Marley playing in the distance. She smiled.
There was only one door leading into the small lobby with beautiful photographs of sunsets and ships. A large couch sat facing the window of the lobby. The family was greeted by a bellhop, who offered to take their bags. They happily accepted the offer, placing their suitcases on the cart the bellhop had brought over. Minutes later they had their keys and were on their way to their room on the second floor overlooking the ocean and other tiny islands.