A flash of something glistened in her eyes. “Eternally.”
He smiled. “Yes. We vowed to love each other eternally.”
Her gaze turned to him, and he watched the glistening turn into tears. “You told me we may not be able to live long and fruitful lives, even though we travel far into the future. But as long as we both draw breath…”
“I breathe for you,” he finished and bent down to kiss her, sealing their vows the same way he had a hundred years ago.
Wishes
He was roused by a stinging slap to his left butt cheek. Cayn jerked awake to hear Juda snickering. “Tell me you fell asleep, too,” he playfully demanded.
“I did,” she replied. “Now I am really hungry. Can we go eat?”
“Want to shower first?”
“Shower?” She tilted her head slightly.
“Under the waterfall in the bathroom.”
“Oh! It can wait. Unless you would rather…”
He waved her off. “Eating must always take precedence.”
“For one may not know when their next meal will be,” she concluded.
“Aye,” he chuckled softly.
They quickly dressed, during which he caught a glimpse of the clock on the nightstand. “’Tis almost two. No wonder we are famished.”
“I would like to stop by the sheriff’s office after we finish to find out if there is anything more to learn about Goen’s fate,” she requested. He agreed. It was a good idea.
They casually strolled arm-in-arm from the motel back to the diner. Their previous booth was empty, since the place had slowed after the lunch crowd left. Cora was already gone for the day, having begun her shift at six a.m., but Eunice was happy to serve them as they took their seats.
“Coffee?”
“No. Water, please,” Cayn ordered.
“Same for me,” Juda added. “Today is Thursday, correct?”
“That’s correct,” Eunice said.
“And on Thursday, the special is meatloaf, yes?”
“Let me guess. Two orders of the meatloaf special?” The waitress looked at Cayn for verification.
He nodded. “I yield to my wife’s good taste.”
“Your wife?” A big smile came over the woman’s face as she turned to Juda. “You never told us you were married.”
“I was…waiting for his return,” Juda commented softly and handed her menu back.
“All righty, then. Two Thursday specials and two glasses of water, coming right up.” Giving them a wink, Eunice hurried off.
Cayn studied his wife’s profile for a moment as she stared out the window. She looked exhausted and older than her true age, but she never looked more beautiful to him than she did at that moment. He knew he also bore the signs, the marks that other Nomads wore. They appeared both young and old. Inexperienced and experienced simultaneously.
“I’m tired of running,” she suddenly blurted out, never taking her eyes away from the scene outside.
“As am I,” he admitted. Reaching across the table, he took one of her hands in his. “But you know—”
