She throws the card key on the table as we walk back into the hotel room; discarding her jacket and shoes on the way to the couch.

"Mom, can I call," the phone rings before the last word travels out of my mouth.

I stand with a bottle of water in my hand waiting to see who is on the other end.

"Hello," she answers.

I see the stress from the day slip away.

"Hey," Mom sighs, "so good to hear your voice right now."

Mom leans back against the cushions closing her eyes. I don’t bother asking who it is because I know it’s her. Mom’s other half. I quietly slip into the bedroom taking her laptop with me.

*****

"BEEEEEEEEEEEPPPP."

"Ugh! What the?"

I raise myself on my elbows and face the 17in. Screen. The woman from yesterday is staring back at me.

*****

I look across the table at my daughter playing with her eggs.

"Angel, stop playing with your food and eat. We have to leave in ten minutes."

No response. She’s been quiet all morning and that’s not like her.

"Darnell?"

"Huh?"

She looks up at me.

"Eat your eggs. We have to leave soon."

"Do I have to go with you? Why can’t I stay here like I did yesterday?"

"You mean leave the hotel like you did yesterday," I answer taking a sip of coffee.

"I promise I won’t leave," she says focusing on me.

"You’re coming with me."

The tone of my voice tells her it’s my final decision. She pushes back from the table and goes into the bedroom.

"Another exciting teenage day to look forward to," I say finishing off my coffee.