Page 48 of Keeping Zita

“It’s probably under Obi-Wan,” he said.

“Oh! You’re right. My husband and I kind of chuckled when we got the list of names. Obi-Wan, like Elvis or Prince. Only one name, huh?”

Zita giggled.

“Something like that. Except I’m not a famous musician.”

“And you’re not dead,” Edna deadpanned, her gaze roaming up and down his body in appreciation.

Zita couldn’t hold back another chuckle. Edna had to be in her seventies, and the way she was eyeballing Sage was hilarious.

To his credit, he didn’t seem uncomfortable in the least.

“I’m going to put you in room twelve, it’s right next to the office,” the woman told Zita. “It’s nice and safe. If you need anything, you can come here. We’ve hired a trustworthy young man to work the overnight shift. He’s a gamer,” she added in a whisper. “Plays Dungeons and Dragons almost all night, says he’s thrilled that he gets paid to do what he loves.”

“Cool,” Zita said with a smile.

“And you, young man, are in room twenty-two.”

“That’s fine,” Sage said.

“It’s too bad it’s too early for the Bigfoot Expo or the Pickleport Festival. They both take place in the summer, and this place is packed with tourists. But then again, it’s probably for the best, as the motel would be all booked up. We’re happy for the revenue your movie is bringing to the area.

“There are little fridges in your rooms, and microwaves too. We don’t allow toasters or hot plates, as there was a small incident a few years ago where the entire motel almost burned down after a guest left the burner on and placed a few plastic bags too close to the thing.

“We have no restaurant here at the Mangree, but you can’t go wrong with Sunny Side Up in town. Or the Sweet Tooth, our local bakery. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Grinders has the best coffee and fancy coffee-flavored drinks on this side of the state. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Here are your keys.”

She handed over two real metal keys, not the plastic key cards that so many motels and hotels had moved to. Zita took it and smiled at the woman. The Mangree Motel might look like a typical low-budget place to stay from the outside, but the friendliness from the owner made it feel homey and comfortable. She just hoped the rooms were as nice as Edna.

“And we don’t tolerate any funny business here,” Edna said sternly. “Quiet hours are ten to six, and safety is our first priority. If you see anything hinky, let someone know and we’ll contact Simon, our police chief.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sage replied.

“Sounds perfect,” Zita told her.

Edna smiled. “You two have a good day now. I hear you have a meeting over at the high school gym this afternoon. Have fun exploring the area, but don’t be late to your meeting.”

Edna was as grandmotherly as Zita could imagine, and she wasn’t exactly surprised that she knew their schedule. Small towns were much like the sets she worked on…gossip thrived in places like this.

“We won’t. Thanks for the tips,” Sage told her.

“You’re welcome. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to come find me.”

“Thanks.”

They headed out of the office, and Zita found herself still smiling as she looked up at Sage. He also had a small grin on his face.

“I like her,” Zita blurted.

“Me too. What do you want to do before our meeting?”

“Go to the square. I want to see all the places I’ve been reading about online.”

“You got it. How about we check out our rooms, put our stuff away, then meet back here in about fifteen minutes? Is that enough time?”

“Perfect,” Zita said. And it was. She’d much rather spend her time exploring than hanging out in her motel room until it was time for the meeting.

After getting their bags from his Jeep, Sage walked her to her door, which was a nice thing to do. It wasn’t as if he wouldn’t be able to see her entering and exiting her room, since his door was down a straight pathway at the other end of the motel.