Page 40 of Two Tickets to Paradise

He felt his heart pounding in his chest as she squeezed his hand gently. "I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else in this world than right here beside you."

"I think there's something to be said for the magic of the islands," she leaned against his shoulder, turning her face up to the sky, "and the way we can see so many stars since there's hardly any light. You can't do this in Chicago."

"No, we can't." He smiled and leaned his head down so that his cheek touched her hair. "I'm going to have to store away this memory for when I'm back home in Chicago."

"Yeah. Huh..." A silence passed between them and Cora's fingers slipped away from him.

"Cora-"

She straightened away from him and sat up in her chair. "You know, I should go in. I bet there are a ton of dishes that need washing."

"Cora?"

Before he could sit up in his seat, she was up on her feet.

Vince took a few steps to follow her and had to turn back. He couldn't leave the fire burning in the pit. Old camping and scout habits were tough to shake, so he put out the fire and made sure that there weren't any embers burning under the ash before he could head inside.

The kitchen was clean, practically spotless and yet the sink was dry. Someone had likely done the dishes when they'd left the party or before they'd gone to sleep. That only left the bedroom as a place where Cora would be.

He crossed through the game room with its well-worn couch and saw that the bedroom door was cracked open. It was not even an inch away from the frame, but he knew to respect that boundary. Lifting his hand he knocked on the door, softly at first, but a little louder the second time.

"Go ahead," he heard Cora's voice. "Come in."

Her tone was flat, almost sad.

Oh boy.

He'd stepped in it.

He just didn't know what 'it' was.

Using just the tips of his fingers, he pushed the door inward until he could see where she was.

Sitting on the far side of the bed, he couldn't see her face.

When the door was open far enough for him to step inside, he did, but she didn't turn around or say another word.

"I feel... like an idiot," he began, lifting a hand to rub at the back of his head, "I don't know what I said to upset you, but I want to know."

When she didn't respond, he shook his head.

"I want to apologize, and I don't want to mess up again. I just-"

"It's not you."

He caught a breath in his lungs and let it out slowly, relaxing a little.

He watched as her shoulders lifted and lowered along with a sigh.

"I don't know why what you said hit me like- No, I do know why."

She lifted a leg onto the bed and turned in his direction. That's when he could see that her eyes were brimming with tears.

"Hey," he reached into the back pocket of his slacks and pulled out his handkerchief, "you don't have to say a word if you don't want to."

Moving to her side, he offered her the handkerchief, but she tried to wave it away.

"I don't want to get it dirty."

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