Page 38 of Mr. B

“Basically, yeah.”

“Oh, I forgot the snacks.”

“Snacks?”

“Can’t take a road trip without snacks.”

As she went back into the house, Bailey came out carrying a backpack, a large satchel with a flamingo on it, and a furry pillow. “Don’t let Mom’s cool demeanor fool you; she’s been running around like a crazy person all morning.”

Wes smiled. “She’s pretty good at covering things up.” Bailey cocked her head, and he held up a hand. “That’s not…” He took her bags. “Do you want to keep the pillow out?”

“Yes.” After he set her backpack down, she dug through it and pulled out a tablet. “Good to go.” She got into the backseat.

Wes leaned against the Wagoneer to wait for Cassandra. When she came out, she had a shopping bag and a small ice chest.

“Are you sure that’s it?”

“Yes.” She locked the door, then opened the back door and set the snacks next to Bailey. “Do you have everything, honey?”

“I’ve been ready for an hour, Mom.”

Cassandra closed the door and opened the passenger door. She looked at Wes over the roof, then got in.

Wes got behind the wheel and glanced back at Bailey. “Seatbelt?”

“Not my first time in a car, Mr. B.” He raised his eyebrows, and she sighed. “Sorry. It’s not you I’m frustrated with.”

Cassandra clicked her seatbelt. “That would be me.”

Okay. Three hours of mother-daughter passive-aggressive conversation. He turned to Cassandra. “Are you ready to go?”

“All ready.” She took two twenties from her purse and held them out to him.

“What’s that for?”

“To help with the gas.”

Wes started the engine. “That’s not necessary.”

“I insist.”

“Well, I insist more. Besides, you brought snacks.”

Bailey sighed. “You might as well take it, Mr. B. She’ll just keep insisting until you do.”

Wes took one of the twenties and tucked it into his pocket. “Happy?”

Cassandra nodded. “For now.”

He pulled into the street. “Here we go, then.”

Bailey was absorbed in her laptop, and Cassandra sat quietly, looking out the window at the passing scenery. Just when Wes thought it would be a quiet three hours, she turned to him.

“I heard it’s going to rain tonight.”

“That’s what they say.”

“So, how will that affect things?”