Christopher and Fleur had been planning their getaway for some time now. Their busy lives and jobs had at last relented and given them a whole week off. Their plan was no plan, a drive out of the city, find a nice Inn or Bed and Breakfast, put away their phones, de-stress, and just enjoy the simple things for a few days.
Fleur looked stunning, her dark long hair tied in a ponytail under a baseball cap, sun glasses hiding her alluring bedroom eyes, tight jeans, running shoes, a tight t shirt and one of Christopher's flannel shirts. It gave her that "I'm on vacation" look.
They were on their way to a large Flea Market they had read about in a local paper, when stopping for gas.
On the road, Chris started a good natured verbal sparring match. A favourite pastime of the couple when times like this allowed it.
"Oh yes, the flea market, I bet you, ten big ones ,we see a Norman Bates type guy selling badly stuffed squirrels within five minutes of walking in there!"
"That's way too easy," she laughed.
"OK," Chris thought for a moment, "We see at least three guys selling cheap white tube socks by the time we leave!"
"You're on, if you had said two, I wouldn't take that bet," she smiled.
They spotted the sign for the Flea Market. Chris slowed and turned down the road and into the parking lot.
He parked the car. The couple walked through the main gates and began to look around. They made their way by the usual stands you would expect to see selling cheap tools, second hand clothing, cheap white tube socks and badly stuffed squirrels! Chris nudged Fleur to look at the socks and squirrels and smiled.
Fleur pointed to a large hanger with a sign "ANTIQUES" and grabbed Chris's hand. They walked into the massive building.
Fleur grinned "Look at this stuff," squeezing Chris's hand, "See, I knew we would find some cool stuff."
They wandered up and down the aisles looking with interest at the items on sale. They spotted one nice piece after another, but the price tags were shocking!
There were table displays of jewellery set up near the back that caught the couple's eye. They wandered over to tables of pocket watches, old lockets and cameos that attracted Fleur's attention and she pulled Chris along with her.
She scanned the table and saw nothing of particular interest at first, then suddenly she saw it and pointed it out to Chris.
A slender silver pocket watch with an engraved cover showing a wooded scene, and an elegant braided chain and right next to it a matching woman's locket.
"That's different," she whispered to Chris.
"A silver anniversary gift," the soft voice of the Merchant behind the table said "Turn of the century, in excellent condition, a fine piece, sold as a set only"
The Merchant stepped back to give the couple time to talk.
With a gleam in her eye, she said to Chris, "We have to get those, if the price is right."
Chris smiled and said, "See what you can do."
Fleur was a born haggler and was very good at it. She looked at the merchant, "Ok how much for the set?"
The Merchant offered a price, Fleur offered half of what he is asking. The Merchant surprisingly agreed.
Puzzled Fleur asked, "Does the watch work?"
"All my watches work," he said quietly, "Well, we have a deal then?"
Chris got out his wallet and paid the odd looking man. He fastened the chain to his belt and slipped the watch into the watch pocket of his Levis.
"Looks good," Fleur smiled. She opened the locket. It was empty.
The quiet voice of the Merchant addressed the couple again, "For a small fee I can take your picture for the locket, it will only take a few minutes"
They both agreed and posed for the miniature picture to be taken.
Satisfied, their shopping was done for the day, they walked back to the car. Fleur admired the small photograph of the both of them placed inside the locket.
"A lovely memento of a "getaway weekend" together." She thought.
At the car, Chris helped clasp the locket on Fleur's lithe neck and the couple shared a romantic kiss. He unlocked the car and handed Fleur his wallet, a custom of the couple when he drove. She put it her purse and hopped in the car.
Sometime later, with a light rain falling and nearly dark the couple were lost.
"Hey baby, turn on the GPS. I have no idea where we are," Chris instructed Fleur. She turned on the unit. The screen lit up but a message said, "Cannot link to satellite".
"Great," Chris sighed, "Well, this road has to go somewhere, so keep your eyes open." The rain started to grow harder.
Chris spotted a sign "THE PINE CREST INN" with an arrow pointing to a gravel side road. They took the turning onto the road and a short time later, they saw another sign "PINE CREST INN ¾ MILES". The road was bumpy so Chris carefully crept down the narrow road. The fog began to thicken, the further they drove. They were soon in a thick fog bank.
Chris could barely see a foot in front of the car. An eye on the odometer told Chris, they had gone about a ½ mile and the fog was getting even thicker by the second.
"Rain and fog? How great is this?" Fleur said a little uneasy. As her words trailed off, the car spluttered and died.
Chris tries to start it... Nothing!
Chris reached for his cell phone but there was no signal. He checked Fleur's phone but it was also saying the same.
"Must be the mountains," Chris finally said, "Looks like we have to walk to that inn, it's not far"
