Chapter 6:The Long Road Home
The audible drag of the windshield wipers along the wet glass pulled Cami out of a light sleep. She blinked her eyes and raised her head from its resting place against the window. The balled-up jacket she'd been using as a pillow tumbled into her lap and she caught it, folding it sloppily and placing it next to her in the seat. It was completely dark outside and, judging by the silence, the children were sleeping. She turned, checking on them.
"They've been out cold for an hour or so."
She looked over at Klaus. His profile was illuminated by the green glow of the dashboard lights. "How long have I been asleep?" she questioned.
"You've been in and out for the past couple of hours."
"Sorry," she offered, apologetically.
"No worries. You're entitled to a bit of rest now and then," he replied. "Besides, the children were quiet…no harm done."
She sat up straighter in her seat. "Where are we?"
"Just North of Philadelphia."
She nodded. "Do you want me to drive for awhile?"
He smiled, handsomely, and chuckled, replying, "No, that's alright."
She was charmed by his smile. And annoyed that he found her offer amusing. "What's wrong with my driving? You don't even know how I drive," she defended.
"I'm sure you're an exceptional driver, love. No need to get defensive," he assured her. "I'm planning to stop soon for the night, though…no point in stopping to switch drivers now."
"Oh," she replied, somewhat placated by his explanation, but feeling a bit guilty for not doing some of the driving.
"You can drive in the morning, if you like," he offered, seeming to sense her discomfort.
"Yeah, okay."
Lightning flashed across the sky, followed distantly by the low rumble of thunder. Cami looked out the window, noting the inclement weather. "Looks like we're stopping just in time."
Klaus nodded. "Hey, what about that?" he asked, gesturing to a sign advertising a Marriot ten miles away.
"Anywhere is fine with me. Just somewhere we can be comfortable and get a good night's sleep." Despite her dozing for the past couple of hours, Cami felt exhausted. She thought maybe all of the emotional upheaval of the last two days was getting to her. It'd be nice to get a good night's rest tonight and get a fresh start in the morning.
Klaus watched Camille out of the corner of his eye, noting the stiff way she held herself. She was a far cry from the young woman he'd met at a French Quarter bar five years ago. He searched for something to say that would put her mind at ease.
He could think of nothing. So, in the end he remained silent.
They continued on that way for the next ten miles, both lost in their own thoughts.
When they pulled up to the hotel, Klaus put the van in park and said, "Stay here, I'll be right back."
Cami remained in the van with the children, listening to the steady downpour.
A few minutes later, Klaus returned, looking glum.
"Don't tell me they don't have any rooms," she asked, dreading his answer. "The vacancy sign is lit up!" she pointed, emphatically, just in time to watch the neon light flicker and turn off. "No," she groaned.
"Actually," he corrected, "I got us the last room."
"Room?" she asked. "As in singular?"
He shrugged, apologetically. "It would seem that with the weather being what it is, everyone has decided to stop for the night."
"Seriously?" she asked, exasperated. Perfect.That's just perfect, she thought to herself.
He nodded. "I can go cancel the room and we can look for something else, but…" he trailed off, gesturing to the weather outside the confines of the van's warm interior. As if to emphasize his point, a streak of lightning zig-zagged to the ground in the distance, its glow lighting up the darkness for a full second before disappearing. It was followed immediately by a clap of ground-shaking thunder.
They were not driving any further tonight.
"Can't you just compel them to give us another room?" she asked, hopefully.
He sighed, reaching for the door handle.
"No, wait…" she said, reaching out and placing a hand on his arm to stop him from leaving the vehicle. She could just picture some poor guy being kicked out of his room and into the middle of this nasty storm. "It's fine. We'll make due with one room. Let's just go get unloaded and get some sleep. It'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. Really, it's fine."
"Okay," he replied, putting the van in drive and maneuvering it into a nearby parking spot.
Once they were parked, he killed the engine, and they both unbuckled their seat belts and hopped out into the heavy rainfall.
Cami pulled open the rear passenger door and began unbuckling Nik from his carseat. She'd take the kids in first and then come back for their bags. She knew both kids would sleep through getting carried inside as long as another big clap of thunder didn't come along while they were outside. She lifted her sleeping son's weight into her arms and shifted him to one side, covering him with the same jacket she'd been using as a pillow earlier. Now, if she could just get Klaus to unbuckle Hope from her booster seat and hand the girl to her, she could carry them both inside in one trip.
She heard the click of the opposite door opening and looked up to find Klaus unbuckling the seatbelt and lifting Hope into his arms. He settled the girl against his chest and placed his large hand against her back, holding her securely against him.
Cami's heart lurched at the sight, and for a moment, she froze.
Recovering quickly, she smiled at him. "Thanks," she said, softly.
"Of course," he replied.
"Here," she said, lifting a small, purple blanket from the floorboard and passing it to him across the open space.
He placed the blanket over Hope's head and stepped back, reaching for the door handle. "Let's get you all up to the room. I'll come back for our things."
She nodded, closing the van door and heading toward the front of the hotel. The rain was coming down hard now, and she was quickly becoming drenched.
It only took them a couple of minutes to cross the parking lot and make it upstairs to their room. Once they stood outside the door, she waited as Klaus shifted Hope's sleeping form to one arm and dug in his pocket for the room key. There was an audible click as the key card unlocked the door, and she sighed in relief, already imagining a hot shower and a warm, dry bed.
But as they stepped inside the room, all thought of a peaceful night's sleep flew out the window.
There, in the center of the room, stood a single king-sized bed.
"Klaus-," she started.
"I'll call downstairs," he said, nodding.