Ryder smiled warmly. "Grandma, I wasn't alone .. my best friend,John was with me."
A look of recognition slowly spread across Grandma Grace's face. "Oh dear, I remember now! Thea did mention that John was traveling with you. Forgive me, my memory isn't as sharp as it used to be."
Ryder's attention stayed on the road, his eyes scanning the distance. Thea glanced out the window, watching the sky grow heavy with clouds.
"It's going to rain soon," she whispered, her words almost lost in the quiet of the car.
Ryder asked Thea softly, breaking the silence, "So..where did you go today?" But Thea's mind was a thousand miles away, lost in thought. She didn't flinch, her gaze fixed blankly out the window as the scenery drifted by.
Noticing Thea's distraction, Grandma Grace gently reminded her, "Thea, Ryder's talking to you."
Thea's gaze snapped back into focus, her eyes locking onto Ryder's. "Oh, sorry... what was the question again?I zoned out for a sec."
