Page 99 of Cavern of Silence

The airport is less than two hours away. There's a small motel close by and Ryker parks outside. "Go see if they have any vacancy. We'll stay with Vanessa."

Hunter goes inside.

"Guess you get a mini-vacay," I joke.

"Are you sure we should split up?" Vanessa asks.

"Yes," Ryker states.

Her eyes are full of nerves, and I assume mine are as well. All I feel is jittery.

How could I have not thought about this?

I don't know how I'm going to get past any airport security, not to mention the employees who work at the desk or on the planes. I've been a flight attendant and in and out of these airports since I was eighteen. I know a lot of people.

Silence.

"Maybe you can get a blonde wig. You'd look good in it," Vanessa tells me.

I turn to Ryker. "What do you think? Want to have a blonde on your arm?"

His face falls.

That's strange.

"Sorry. Do you have something against blondes?" I tease.

He smiles, but it looks forced, and he quietly replies, "No. You'd look hot as a blonde or with any hair color." He taps his fingers on the wheel and stares out the front window.

Why is he...oh no. I bet Maureen had blonde hair.

I put my hand on his thigh.

He clenches his jaw but doesn't say anything.

Hunter comes back out. "What did I miss?"

Vanessa says, "Nothing. Were you able to get us a room?"

"Yep. Part of the hotel is under construction, so they had a lot of cancellations. There aren't a lot of people here. The woman at the front desk is Canadian and spoke English, thank goodness."

Ryker holds his fist out to Hunter. "See you on the other side, then."

Hunter fist-bumps him. "Stay safe, bro."

They get out, we hug, and they go inside.

Ryker holds my door open for me.

I step in front of him. "Hey."

"Hey."

"Are you okay?"

He nods and smiles, but it seems forced. "Yeah. I get you all to myself now."

I meant about your deceased wife.