The drive back home was undertaken mostly in silence.  Neither of them bothered to switch on the car stereo.  The only sounds to be heard were from the rain steadily pelting down on the vehicle and the wipers swishing away accumulated water on the windshield.  Leave it to Charlette to break the idyllic setting with not just any ol’ question, but a loaded one at that.<br/><br/>"How are things with Jemma?" she asked.<br/><br/>Paul sighed heavily as well as audibly.  As if he didn’t have enough on his troubled mind.  “I dunno, Charlette,” he replied.  “Guess she’s been texting and calling me while we were, uh, at the trailhead.  Kinda got other things on my mind at present though.”  He offered her a wan smile while coasting into the driveway.<br/><br/>The rain hadn’t let up at all.