Chapter 26: Chapter 26

When Ross struggled to consciousness, he opened one eye and saw the fresh stream of sunlight peeking out from the corner of the curtain. He moved and turned on his back before he realized she was no longer a part of him. He felt the bed, the depression where Allie had been last night, an extension of his own body, warm, soft and comforting.

Rising, he padded to the bathroom and found it empty. Figuring she had gone into the sitting room, he donned one of the hotel's complimentary robes and opened the double doors. The room stared back at him, almost perfect, except for the scattering of ceramic pieces on one of the silk rugs. Ross went over, bent down, and realized Allie had opened the vases again, only this time without regard for seams or precision. She had simply smashed them in key places. Of course, the statuettes were gone; and when he went to look in the closet, where they had stashed their supplies, he found the bowling bags gone too.