That sounds like a perfect springboard for a chapter that never ends. Picture the highway as a long, straight line that suddenly spikes—like a cliff in a movie. The detour could be a diner on a deserted road, a stranger’s laugh, or a sudden storm that forces everyone to share a story. Then, halfway through, the road splits into two choices: one that leads to an abandoned lighthouse full of memories, the other to a hidden beach where the sun paints the sky pink. The key is to keep the tension high while letting the characters' kindness and humor shine through. I love the idea, and I’ll make sure the ending warms the heart even as it keeps the reader guessing.