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.

several calls, there was still no word on

tried calling Carl, but got

Clayton was about to change and head

friend of Clayton's father. Clayton quickly answered, "Hello,

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

find her. Can we talk over

to you because of your

Clayton paused, "Recently? Today?"

Let's talk when you

ended,

moved into the cabin in the woods not long after Irene disappeared, turning her back on worldly matters and devoting herself to prayer and meditation for her

been years since she last left

she suddenly

fresh clothes and rushed

hour later, Clayton arrived at the

only Albert was there, but

a close friend of Clayton's father, Randal Hawkins. Though they had no business dealings with the Hawkins Group, their relationship was

passed, Clayton continued to look out for them. Though the Watson and Miller families hadn't been able to assist

in

elderly gentlemen,

for Clayton to