***
Tim and Tina departed the next day around noon, both of them moving without purpose, thanks to the previous evening's drinking. After stopping for food and making their way onto the highway heading south, Tina's curiosity was getting the best of her, and Tim just driving and grinning made it that much worse. “So, tell me about your little lottery win,” Tina said, glancing in his direction.
He smiled proudly and started with, “You know I collect and sell fossils right? Well, it looks like I found something really valuable. Really, really valuable.” Tim glanced over at her for a brief moment, then continued, “I found a piece of the meteorite that blew up over Kansas City. The only piece, apparently, and it was pretty big too, so all in all, it is worth quite a bit,” he told her.
“Are they that valuable, meteorites, I mean?” Tina asked.
“They can be, it all depends on size and composition. Some are made entirely of rock, some are nearly all metal and others are composed of both. This one looks like it may be pretty rare, and as far amateur finds go, it's huge,” he affirmed, purposely avoiding what made it so rare. He couldn't begin to fathom the repercussions or the significance of being the one who discovered extraterrestrial life, by accident, and chose not to weigh down his mind with those aspects.
“So how much is it worth, if you don't mind me asking?” Tina probed.
“Not sure yet, well not completely, but it should be a lot. The most I've ever been paid. I can tell you that for sure,” he said, looking in her direction.
“What, like a million dollars?”
Tim just smiled.
“No way! You've got to be kidding... for a rock?” she nearly yelled.
Laughing, Tim told her, “It's not just a rock, it's a rock from space... and it is more than just rock, it is made up of metals and other materials.”
“But don't we have that stuff here already?” she reasoned.
No, apparently we don't have stuff like that here already... he thought, but answered with, “Yeah, but these are from the beginning of the solar system, from when it first started forming. Not only is it rare, but it is also really valuable for science too,” Tim informed her.
“Cool, then let's go spend some of your money, rich guy,” Tina said triumphantly.
“I can't think of anything I'd rather do,” he confirmed.
They drove on for the next two days, stopping a few times to eat, sight-see and shop for things they needed, and quite a few things that they didn't but were just plain fun. Tim inquired about directions and the best locations to stop along the way, and they stayed in the nicest hotels they could find right off of the highways, while staying close to recreational areas and fishing spots.
Tim was driving again, and it was nearly two in the morning. Tina was curled up in the back seat and sleeping peacefully as they approached the exit for their next stop, which would be their last before crossing the Florida state line. Then, it was just a few more miles to their final destination. Tina's phone began to buzz in the front passenger seat, and Tim dismissed it, concentrating on his driving. As they pulled into the hotel parking lot, her phone buzzed again, then again in a different tone. He went inside and took care of the payment, retrieved the room key and gathered their overnight essentials. He shuttled what they would need up to the room, then woke Tina and led her half asleep to the room and onto one of the two king size beds.