“Hey Sweetie.” she smiled and kissed her.

“Morning baby. Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I figured those dreams must’ve been good because you were smiling and you didn’t even budge when I offered you…”

“I get it.” she said interrupting her as she read the mischievous smile on Bette’s face.

“I put your breakfast in the oven. I know how those pills make me hungry so I figured you’d be starving.”

Bette sat down with Tina as she ate her food and she busied herself reading through some songs she’d put together in the past weeks. Bette looked up at Tina and asked, “So who’s this friend?”

Tina smiled just thinking about Bobbi Lee, “She’s a… she’s a bright beam of light on cloudy day. She’s who I was with in El Paso.”

Bette looked at the smile that danced on Tina’s face and felt happy that she could see it again but also jealous that someone else could invoke that kind of warmth from Tina. The rest of the morning was relatively quiet. Tina’s mother insisted that they stay for lunch, but they were adamant about getting on the road by at least 11 o’clock. So Tina’s mother stayed busy by cooking some more food for the young man that was taking care of the farm in Miah’s absence. When Bette and Tina were ready and about to hit the road, her mother came out with four large grocery bags full of Tupperware.

“Momma what’s all that?”

“Food. I already told you not to eat at those nasty rest stops.”

“We are not eating in the car.”

“I don’t care where you eat it, just as long as you do. Now here take this, that one’s Bette’s she likes her yams with extra vanilla and your has extra nutmeg and cinnamon just the way you like it.” she said almost tripping over her emotions. As much as she was used to seeing her children leave it was never an easy thing for her, especially not with her baby.

After all the hugs and kisses were exchanged they hit the road. And with Tina behind the wheel they were sure to cover some good ground before they both needed to rest again.