Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Clayton groggily woke to the sound of his phone ringing. "What's going on?"

"Betty's gone!"

Clayton's eyes snapped open, instantly alert. He sat up in shock. "Gone? But wasn't she at the cabin in the woods? How could she just vanish?!"

"Late last night, a wildfire broke out. It wasn't until dawn that they managed to put it out, and that's when they realized Betty was missing."

Clayton's breathing grew heavy. "Missing, or...?"

"She's missing. They got her out of there when the fire started. She wasn't hurt."

Clayton let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good she's not hurt. First, let's call the authorities, then organize a search party!"

After hanging up, Clayton carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake Pamela who was still asleep.

He took his phone to the bathroom to continue making calls.

He called his mother's personal assistant, the local church, and the security guard he had stationed at the cabin.

calls, there was

tried calling Carl, but

uneasy, Clayton was about to change and head out when his phone rang.

close friend of Clayton's father.

I need to talk to you about something. Could you come

trying to find her. Can we talk over the phone, or can it

you because of your mother's situation. She

Clayton paused, "Recently? Today?"

when you

ended, leaving

turning her back on worldly matters and devoting herself to prayer and meditation for

had been years since

would she suddenly

changed into fresh clothes and rushed out the

Clayton arrived at

only Albert was there, but Florian Miller

Albert, Florian was a close friend of Clayton's father, Randal Hawkins. Though they had no

After Randal passed, Clayton continued to look out for them. Though the Watson and Miller

advanced in age, with

elderly

motioning for Clayton