Clara gave a tight, practiced nod, managing a hollow smile to excuse herself. She left her grocery cart behind in the aisle and walked out to the parking lot in a total daze. Sitting inside her quiet car, the weight of Sarah’s casual observation finally crushed her chest. Her hands visibly trembled as she gripped the steering wheel. Desperate to clear up what had to be a massive misunderstanding, she dialed Tom’s number.
The phone rang several times, each tone echoing loudly in the enclosed space, before his voice finally cut through the static. He sounded completely out of breath, his tone frantic and hurried.“Hey, Clara,” Tom said, his voice clipped over a backdrop of absolute silence. “Look, the network is incredibly spotty up here in the high country. The guys and I are actually right in the middle of a heavy trek up the trail. I shouldn’t even be on the phone. I’ll call you back whenever we hit a base camp with better reception, okay? Love you.” Before she could even utter a single syllable, the line went dead.