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Lorenzo's might be right around the corner.

          By the time Mike and Lily got back to Luminous, Lorenzo’s was closed for the night. So, since he slept at the ranch house he rode on back there. Maria had taken to closing at 6:00 PM instead of 8:00 PM. Maybe she did need some help running the place.

 
            I woke with a start! I was a little cold. The AC had run all night. I had, apparently, slept like the dead. It was 8:00 AM. Time to get moving. I really wanted some coffee, but there was no coffee in this motel room. If I stayed here more than a few days I had better get a coffee machine of some sort.
            I got up and peeked out of my door again. Another sunny day. There was no one out there. All of the cars which had been parked there last night were gone now. I supposed I should say hi to Toni and talk about tidying up my room. I thought I would ask her to let it go for a few days. I missed the rain and coolness of up north. A gray morning was always a gentle start to the day. This was a different world altogether. Brash and sudden.
            After a quick shower, I fished a short sleeved top out of my big bag, and a clean pair of lightweight pants. I put my long hair into a serious looking bun and did a quick makeup, easy on the glam eyes. I wore my only shoes, the tennies. I figured I looked about right for a country waitress.
            I thought about checking my laptop but decided against it. I stuffed my small bag under the bed, from some atavistic instinct of concealment. If I had dared, I would have brought my phone with it’s load of photos with me. It was hard to decide which was safer.
            Thoughts of Levi and my children tore my heart. Somehow I had to get back to them, but I didn’t know how yet. My job didn’t concern me. That was over for sure.
            I drank some water and ate a handful of almonds. I was ready.
            At the motel office, I tried not to startle Toni again.
            “Oh, hello, Mrs. Renton,” she said with a little smile, laying her phone down. “How was everything?”’           
            “Good morning, Toni. Everything was clean and nice. You do a good job around here. I just wanted to say you don’t need to do my room this week.  I won’t make a big mess, and I don’t need you to make up my bed for me.
            “I’ll be at Lorenzo’s. Maria said she could use some help, so I’m going to be there helping, unless I’m a total failure!”
            “Whatever you say, Mrs. Renton!” said Toni.
            “Call me Jenae, if you like,” I said, while exiting out into that morning light. I wondered why I had gone to Texas without my sunglasses. Another thing to buy.
            Through the window, I saw that she was already busy with her phone again.
            I walked the already familiar three blocks, one over and two up. There were two cars at the gas station. First signs of life besides Toni.
            It was 9:00 AM.
            In Lorenzo’s four of the six tables were occupied. More ranchers, and a couple, who looked like their version of townies. No one seemed to be very interested in my alien self. Good. I must have dressed about right.
            Maria popped out of the kitchen and called me back. She was happy to see me arrive early. She showed me where everything was and handed me my own white apron.
            “Like some breakfast first?” said Maria, and I agreed on eggs, scrambled, toast and coffee thankfully. I stood around in the kitchen eating and talking with her. By the time the second cup of not very special coffee was gone, it was 10:00 AM. I headed out to the dining area with some apprehension. The fact of the matter was that I had never been a waitress in my whole life. But I thought I could pull it off.
            Everyone had eaten and gone.  I carried in their dishes and wiped down the tables. So far, OK. If it stayed like this, I thought that I would end up washing dishes also.
            The doorbell rang, and Lucy Phillips walked into the room, alone this time. John must be in school I thought. She was in jeans this time. She didn’t look nearly so cheerful without the child. She looked at me with amazement.
            “Jenae?” she said. “You look completely different. Are you in disguise?” she laughed.
            “A girl’s gotta bring in some money somehow, Lucy,” I offered. “What can we get you?”
            She wanted pancakes and sausages and coffee. I wondered if her kitchen was being remodeled, or if she was just bored. Why did a professional rancher’s wife need to be in town so much. I was overthinking Lucy too.  Maybe she was here to pick up the kid after school, after visiting her brother.  Who knew?
            She said, “Thanks, Jenae,” when she was done and left me a two dollar tip. My first money earned in Texas! Amazing. I cleaned off her table.  Maria seemed content. The morning and afternoon passed calmly. No big rush, but never empty either. I got a few more tips. Most people walked up and paid Maria, as they were accustomed to.
            I saw a dark green Land Rover park on the street. That stood out. It didn’t look like it belonged here to me. A long legged character in a black western hat unwound himself from the driver’s seat. It was Flores. Great. I wondered if he had phoned in another order like yesterday.
            The bell rang and he stepped into the room. He stood there for a minute, then smiled!
            “Hello, Ma’am,” he said, perfectly nicely.
            My head was spinning a little. What did it mean?
            “Hello,” I said. “Picking up or staying?”
            “I’ll be staying. Need a burger and a Coke. Real bad!” he said as he took a seat. “I’ll buy you a Coke and whatever, wouldn’t mind somebody to talk to during lunch?” He put his hat on one of the empty chairs, next to him.
            So, what could I do? I went back to the kitchen and told Maria to make two of their burgers and collected two glasses of their best Coca Cola like the agreeable girl I am. I brought the Cokes out and took a seat across from Flores and looked at him sitting there smiling. I didn’t know what I had done wrong the day before, but it seemed to be gone.
             Maria carried our burgers out. She didn’t say one word.
            “Sorry I scowled at you yesterday. I was in a foul mood,” he said as an introduction.
            “Forgiven,” I said. “My name is Jenae. Maria is letting me try to be a waitress.”
            “I’m Mike. Funny name for a vaquero, but there it is. Mama is Anglo.”
            “How do you like Luminous, Jenae?” he asked, as if it really mattered.
            “It’s a strangely beautiful place. I’ve never been in Texas before. But I got here as quick as I could, like the song says,” said I. “I’m from the dim and moist north.”
            Mike laughed. “Yeah, you don’t have a tan,” he said.
            He looked around the room as if thinking of what to say next. He worked on his burger for a couple of minutes, so I nibbled at mine too.
            “Are you running from something, Jenae”” he asked very quietly.
            I stared into those dark eyes for a second, wondering how to judge this question. I decided to take a chance.
            Then, “Yes,” I said just as quietly. “How did you know?”
            “Mostly a matter of timing,” he said. “We were expecting a woman to show up here, possibly, if she had the sense to.”
            “Who is ‘we’,” I countered.
            “Someone you need to meet,” Mike answered.
            I prayed that this was right.
            Whispering again,  he said, “How about I come by No. 7 when you’re done here tonight? We can grab your stuff, just in case you like where we’re going and decide to stay.”
            I nodded. “Okay.”
            We finished eating. I cleaned off our table, taking the plates and glasses back into the kitchen.
            Maria looked at me seriously and kindly. She said, “You did fine. But I’m not stupid, Jenae. I think you have other business in Luminous than working for me at Lorenzo’s. If this is not so, come back tomorrow more like 8:00 AM. Your call.”
            I thanked her, and gave her a quick hug, and ran so she couldn’t see me crying.
 
            As arranged, the green Land Rover appeared at about 7:00 PM. Mike had given me time to gather my stuff and my wits. I didn’t mention moving out to Toni, because I didn’t know what I was facing. I could be back.
            He put my bags in the back seat. I hopped into the passenger seat and we pulled out onto the highway and headed out of town.