I blinked. “Not going to work out? What are you talking about, dear? The reunion?”

Brenda finally spoke, her voice low and devoid of all emotion. “We’re not going to the reunion, Eleanor. And you’re not going anywhere with us.“

A bizarre joke. It had to be. “Oh, you two,” I chuckled, trying to puncture the tension. “Trying to scare an old woman. Very funny. Now, let’s get going, we’re losing daylight.”

No one laughed. Khloe reached over and unbuckled her seat belt. Brenda did the same.

“This is it, Eleanor,” Khloe said, her voice chillingly calm. “This is where you get out.”

My breath hitched. “Get out? Khloe, where are we?” I looked around frantically. The highway stretched into the shimmering heat in both directions. Nothing. No houses, no signs, no life.