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.

was still no word on

Carl,

to change and head out when his phone rang.

was a close friend of Clayton's father. Clayton

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

gone missing, I'm trying to find her. Can

your mother's

Clayton paused, "Recently? Today?"

talk when

call ended,

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

since she last left the

would she suddenly go to

quickly changed into fresh clothes

hour later, Clayton arrived at the Watson

was there, but Florian Miller was

friend of Clayton's father, Randal Hawkins. Though they had no business dealings with the Hawkins Group,

help him. After Randal passed, Clayton continued to look out for them. Though the

Florian were advanced in age, with

elderly gentlemen,

motioning for Clayton to