The Zephyr. 12.

All the doubts came back in the tiny Ladies' washroom. She looked at her face in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Morning in the mirror always showed the small wrinkles starting in her face, the smile lines her children called them. Looking at herself, she wondered why in the world Ben would have even come up to tell her who he was.

And why?! That was the question she had been searching for. Why had he come? Once the thought had popped into her brain, it wouldn't leave. Why would a thirty-something man come hundreds of miles to catch a train on the chance of meeting? Especially meeting a forty-something lady?

The face in the mirror was frowning now. Caramel absently stowed the toothbrush and paste back in the tiny travel bag. She combed her hair and then turned from the mirror. The "Why?" was running in circles through her thoughts. She wasn't rich. She wasn't beautiful like those Hollywood actresses her age. She was a widow, with concerns and children spread out over two states. Why would he have come?

Worrying happens fast, and so did the moments it took to climb back up to the seating area. She was back in her window seat stowing her bag away in her backpack long before he returned with the coffee. The smile on his face caught her by surprise once more.