We're jogging around the building, heading for the guest parking lot in the back.
"She didn't want to sleep in a haunted hotel."
He makes a sound that could be a laugh in the right context, but in this moment, it's more like sharp worry.
The motor home is at the back of the parking lot, where it takes up multiple spaces. I arrive first, prepared to pound on the door and endure my grandma's teasing later. But just as I raise a hand, the door flies open.
Rainbow stands there, eyes wide, face stricken. Her phone is in her hand.
"Ophelia," she says, looking from me to my dad. "She's unresponsive."
I don't know how it happens, but suddenly I'm in my dad's arms. He's stroking my hair and I'm crying, and his chest moves with an odd breathing pattern. He's sobbing.
Rainbow speaks with emergency services while we stand there, the rays of early morning sun gripping our skin. Snow huddles in the corners of the parking lot, stubbornly hanging on.
An ambulance screams into the parking lot within minutes, and people jump out, rushing into the RV.
I want to go in with them, yell at Grandma to wake up. She'd open her eyes and look at everyone, demanding to know what all the fuss is about.
But, no. I'm here, facing an eventuality I pretended did not exist.
And my dad is holding me while I cry.
CHAPTER 54
Dominic
Ophelia's heartstopped working at 6:47 a.m. on a Thursday.
I was the first to join Cecily and Glenn in the parking lot, after waking up and finding Cecily gone. I was followed closely by the rest of the Hampton family. Shock reverberated through them all, rendering them unable to make plans for what to do next. Even Duke, with his leadership skills, was at a loss.
I stepped in, arranging transport for Ophelia to a funeral home in Phoenix. I called the RV company, informing them we would be returning the RV early. Glenn drove us home, and I paged through the second half ofWe're Going To Have Fun, DAMMIT, calling the remaining destinations and canceling our bookings.
Cecily sat beside me, tucked up against my side while I dialed with one hand. I was unwilling to release her, even for a second. She was hollow, bereft, and I wanted her to feel the warmth of my palm.
We returned to the same parking lot we departed from just under two weeks ago. The same man waited for us, murmuring his condolences as Glenn handed him all three keys to the Road Kraken.
Now here we are, standing in a circle, our bags at our feet, unsure what to say next.
Cecily speaks first. "Well, um. I guess we'll call a car." She glances at me, and I nod. She digs in her purse for her phone.
Glenn asks, "Has anybody eaten today?"
Collectively, the group shakes their heads.
"There's a lunch spot over there." He inclines his head at the shops across the parking lot. "I don't know if it's any good, but it probably doesn't matter. Everyone needs to eat. Besides, uh…" He sniffs, hands going into his pockets. "I'm not sick of you yet, so, yeah."
It's Glenn's way of saying he'd like more time with his family.
"Sure," everyone murmurs.
Rainbow breaks off, walking toward the coffee shop where we all caffeinated before hitting the road.
"Rainbow," Kerrigan calls. "Where are you going?"
Rainbow's eyes are teary as she says, "My job is done."
"Sorry, no," Kerrigan replies. Her nose is red, her eyes puffy. "I have questions about moonstones. And vortexes. And sound bowl techniques."
