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“I understand more than you know.” Shay smiled at the girls.
They thanked her profusely, and when it seemed like the rest of the diner was standing to approach her, Graham immediately rose.
“Time to go.”
“Thank you, Shay!” the girls exclaimed.
“Let’s go,” Graham demanded again.
He urged her out of the diner leaving money of the table, but before Graham pushed her through the open doors, she caught Jenny’s eyes. They smiled.
5
They’d beenon the road for three more hours since leaving the diner in Phoenix.
Seeing Jenny brought back emotions she’d kept buried. There were moments where Shay would find herself filled with joy and immediately felt guilty. Did her joy drive out grief? Even when she felt relieved by her decision to get that abortion?
“We need to rest.” Shay looked around for any roadside motel they could stay at for the night.
“I’ll keep driving and you can sleep in the car.”
Shay frowned at Graham. “Me? Sleep in the car?”
“Too many nights in five-star hotels?” He laughed.
“I’ve grown accustomed to a…certain level of comfort.”
Graham raised a brow.
“What? It’s true.”
He pointed to the illuminated sign ahead of them.
“There’s a motel. We can stop there for the night.”
They couldnotstay there for the night. The first motel looked like a place Norman Bates would call home. The second looked like a front for a drug cartel. The third was filled to capacity.
By the time they arrived at the Rose Season Motel, Shay was praying this would be home for the night. The place was quaint but cute, in a Pueblo style and painted pink, and the walkway was adorned with desert flowers.
“Welcome to the Rose Season. I’m Mae. How can I help you folks?”
Graham and Shay inspected the older Black woman behind the counter. Flower tattoos covered her right arm. Half her hair was shaved and gray curls fell down the other side.
“We need rooms for the night.” Shay removed her sunglasses.
Mae’s eyes widened. “You’re Shay Baby!”
“You can just call me Shay.”
“You’re so beautiful in person. I love your song ‘Be My Angel.’It’s been playin’ all day.”
Shay glanced at Graham, who stayed behind her like a big, silent soldier with her bags.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“You must be goin’ to Dallas?”
“We would really love those rooms,” Graham interjected.
