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“Cheers to that,” Tracy clinked Maye’s wine glass.

- 17 -

Road Trip

On the morning of their road trip, Maye and Tracy had her car packed and were ready to leave by 8:00 a.m. “Right on schedu—” Maye caught Tracy narrowing her eyelids. “I mean, just as I hoped.” She slammed down the rear hatch of her Rav4 and hopped into the driver’s seat.

“So,” Tracy said, “should we get breakfast sandwiches or donuts?”

“Tracy! We haven’t even pulled out of the driveway yet!”

“Boo! Well at least stop at a gas station before we get on the highway so I can get a few things,” Tracy said.

“Why didn’t you get what you needed before we left? I kinda just want to go, you know?”

“I didn’t get a chance to have breakfast. Just swing in. I’ll be quick!”

Maye pulled into a spot in front of Cumberland Farms and Tracy shuffled into the store. While she waited, Maye double-checked her route, the traffic, and confirmed her hotel check-in details. Thankfully, Jayce had put them in one of the hotels she would have considered for herself anyway, so other than this unexpected detour, everything was in order. After a few minutes, they were back on the road and Tracy was rummaging through her plastic bag.

“Here, I got you an energy drink,” Tracy held up an offensively bright can littered with lightning bolts and neon text.

Maye bit her tongue. “Oh, thanks. I’m good for now. Maybe I’ll have that later.”

While Maye was checking her side mirror to merge onto the highway, she heard the familiar sound of a thin plastic package sleeve tearing open.

“Tracy, no! I don’t want powdered sugar all over my car!”

“Maye, I told you I haven’t had breakfast yet,” Tracy said, already chewing on a mini donut.

The next thirty minutes were nearly perfect. Light traffic, a banger playlist, and not a worry in the world. And then Maye noticed Tracy starting to squirm in her seat.

“Maye…?” Tracy said delicately. “I think I drank too much too fast…”

“We haven’t even been driving an hour!” Maye protested.

“I thought the Slim Jims would absorb more of the liquid! I miscalculated. I’m a History teacher, not a Biology teacher.” Tracy squeezed her legs together.

“I don’t think that’s how biology works,” Maye said as she changed lanes and prepared for an unexpected pit stop. She glanced at the gas gauge, which was only barely below Full. “I guess I’ll just top off the tank while you run in. This is just a quick bio pitstop, Tracy.”

“I know, I know,” Tracy said, tapping her feet impatiently.

While Maye waited for Tracy, she had time to top-off her nearly full tank, wash her windshields, and throw out a surprising amount of trash for the forty-five minutes she and Tracy had been in the car—which turned out to be good because when Tracy returned, she had a brand new bag full of snacks.

“It’s just a few things!” Tracy said before Maye could say anything.

As they drove, Tracy assigned herself to roadside attractions research so they could make the most of their stops. Maye didn’t intend to stop for anything that wasn’t gas or food, but she welcomed the distraction to keep Tracy entertained.

“Oooh, there’s a Blacksmith Shop Museum. Nevermind, they’re only open on Thursdays. There’s a Whoopie Pie Festival! Oh, we missed it this year. But we could visit the grounds, I guess. Let’s see what else…Oh. My. Gosh.”

“What?” Maye was concerned.

“Orca Rock,” Tracy said. “It’s a rock that looks like an orca.”

“Don’t scare me like that, Tracy. I thought something was wrong.”

“Sorry, but Orca Rock looks like a must-see. 4.1 stars from reviewers. Connor Price says ‘Not even an Orca. More like a Humpback.’ Sam Davis said. ‘Thought it may be bigger…’

“Only 4.1 stars?” Maye said skeptically. “I think we’ll have to skip it.”