December 1984
John has been here before. About a month ago, he stopped at this same motel for a few hours of sleep.
He remembers waking Dean again before first light, hustling the groggy five year old and the sleeping baby into the car with a few hurried words. Then he'd knocked back some coffee and been in Nantucket before noon.
He remembers driving in darkness, when they came and when they left, and it will be the same this time.
He squirms on the lumpy mattress, trying to get comfortable. Maybe in a few hours, he won't feel so bone weary.