“Pull off on the next ramp,” Ellie said, adopting the tone that every librarian, bartender, and security staff had to learn. The everything-will-be-fine voice, the no-sudden-movements voice. “We need to get a bite to eat, and I need to pee. And you need to get something in your body other than caffeine and sugar.”
As Ellie watched Maggie’s hands tighten harder on the wheel, she added, “If you want to rescue your kid, you need to think clearly.”
Without a word, Maggie exited the highway.
They were in a stretch of Virginia where the amenities were not immediately off the exit. Roads like the I-95 were financial lifesavers fordying towns. Speeding tickets brought in revenue, as did convenience stores and diners.
“We should go back. It looks like there’s nothing for several miles,” Maggie complained.
“So this won’t be busy.” Ellie folded her arms. “Seriously, I just woke up in a car that I modified with magic after watching your kid punch you. Can I get five minutes to think and eat?”
Maggie sighed, but she kept going. “You could pee beside the road. No one would see.”
“Call me old fashioned, but I’d like to wash my hands, too, especially if I’m going to eat.”
“I have bottled water, energy drinks, pretzels—”
“How long did you drive?” Ellie asked pointedly.
“We’re in Virginia. Craig is in North Carolina.”
“Exactly.” Ellie saw the shining silver of what looked like it was vying for the tackiest diner in the South. “Over there.”
Maggie slid into the lot with a spray of gravel. “I should’ve asked you to make this a sports car or an SUV. I’ve had the pedal down as far as it goes the last few hours.”
Ellie shook her head and got out of the car. When she looked back, Maggie was shoving a thick envelope into a canvas bag. She paused.
“Three fifty and ID. I’m not leaving it in the car.”
“Three fifty?” Ellie echoed.
“Three hundred fifty thousand. New life money.” Maggie straightened, one hand clutching the bag tightly to her side as Ellie gawped at her.
They went inside, and once they were past the door, it looked like a cute diner that was filled with what looked like homemade patterned tablecloths, a bar with ’50s style barstools, and the smell of fresh pie. Berries and cinnamon announced at least two flavors of pie, and somewhere a stereo system pumped out Appalachian music that might have been early 1900s or modern. A television mounted in the corner had a football game playing as part of the noon news. There was a timelessness to it that made Ellie think of Crenshaw.
“Sit anywhere you want,” a curvy woman in a blue dress and quirky patterned apron called out. Aside from three customers—an older couple and a young man with a book—the only other person in sight was a cook. He was an older man who had made the unfortunate decision to comb the remaining straggling hairs over a shiny bald head.
Maggie picked a booth that was surprisingly not sticky. More importantly, it had a clear line of sight to the car. She was, seemingly, better at this whole life of crime thing than Ellie was.
“Where did you get that?” Ellie asked, glancing pointedly at the bag.
“My cousin is a hacker and an entrepreneur of somewhat dubious nature,” Maggie whispered. Then louder she said, “It was good to see family.”
When Ellie stared at her, Maggie whispered, “Act normal.”
Ellie wasn’t convinced Maggie’s mimicry of normal was believable, but she did have a valid point. They’d escaped a magical world, bought a car from a stranger, and met with what sounded like a minor crime lord in the last day. Honestly, Ellie had no real compass for normal anymore.
“I wonder if the badgers were guilty of escaping,” she asked as the waitress walked up.
“Badgers?” the waitress echoed.
“My friend had a strange dream,” Maggie said too quickly, smiling broadly at the woman. “She fell asleep while I was at the wheel.”
“Coffee?” The waitress smiled at Ellie, who noticed that the apron was covered in assorted fruit that all had speech bubbles saying things like, “I’m berry good!” and “Have a sweet day!”
“Tea,” Maggie said.
Once they ordered, the waitress went off to get their omelets, breakfast potatoes, and pie. There was something to be said for all-day-breakfast spots, especially those that had fresh-baked pies.
