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The day was disappearing quickly, and I was thankful. Having a job interview tomorrow gave me something to look forward to and a sliver of hope that I wouldn’t be bound to park benches, an occasional night in a cheap motel or fearful of when my next meal would be.
I walked as much as I physically could, and the sun was setting. I knew I’d have to call a car, but I only had a twenty left. Looking around, I stood by the side of the road and stuck my thumb out.
Did this really work to hitch hike? It was worth a try, considering I didn’t want to spend the last dollars I had on a bus ride.
An hour flew by, and no one stopped. Some idiot guys hollered at me with their heads hanging out of the window, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and hum the lyrics to “No Scrub” by TLC. That made me smile—something I rarely did. It was the first song I had ever heard in America. The entire time I thought the singer was talking about a dish sponge.
Finally, a car did stop, and it was a woman. That didn’t put me at ease, considering it was a woman with a trusting face that ultimately aided in wrecking my life.
“Hey, are you okay?” She had her emergency lights on, and when I cautiously walked closer, I got a better look at her.
She couldn’t be more than thirty, and when I peeked in the backseat, I saw a toddler in a car seat, giggling at their tablet.
“I lost my wallet and phone, and really need to get back to east Charlotte… I’m staying at the Super 7 Motel.” I looked down at my worn-out dollar Old Navy flip-flops.
The cold air conditioning blasting in her car provided a moment of solace as the summer heat still beat down, even though the sun had already set.
“It’s a little out of my way, but I’d feel terrible if I didn’t help. Come on in.” She looked slightly uneasy and glanced back at the sleepy child in the backseat.
“Thank you.” I quickly opened the door and slid in. The soft beige leather interior was stunning, and the scent of jasmine floated inside.
“I’m Raina, and that’s my son, Kai.” She offered a small smile at me.
“I’m Demi.” I nodded and wiggled my fingers at the uninterested toddler. She didn’t begin to drive and just sat there looking at me. Furrowing my brows, I opened my hands and asked, “Is something wrong?” I tried to conceal the irritation churning through me. Here this young mom was, wearing her expensive Lululemon athleisure, probably second-guessing why she let me in her luxury car.
“Buckle up, please.” She pointed at my seatbelt. I couldn’t help but laugh.
I shook my head and bit back the overly large grin that was surfacing on my face.
She let out a loud laugh and nodded. “I am such a mom. I’m only twenty-nine, but once I had this little guy… it’s like I aged a few decades, and now being a mom is all I know. Well, that, and I’m a pretty good dermatologist.” She brushed her hand against her smooth cheek.
“Isn’t that like a skin doctor?” I asked curiously as I clipped my buckle.
“Sure is.” She looked over her shoulder, checked her mirrors, and carefully pulled back into traffic.
“I have a job interview tomorrow. Any tips of how I can magically look less like, oh, I dunno, a girl who stays at Motel 7 and more like… well, you?” I asked softly while I fidgeted my fingers, feeling embarrassed.
She took a quick look at me but kept her hands at ten and two while driving.
“You know what…? Do you want to come over to our place for dinner?” She rolled her lips together and kept driving.
“Hot food?” I asked excitedly.
She smiled. “Yes, hot food.”
And just like that, she turned her car onto the highway and headed in the opposite direction of the shitty motel I was staying at and back toward the richer side of Charlotte.
“You’re not like a suburban serial killer mommy, right?” I let out a small, nervous laugh.
Once we took the exit and got to a stoplight, she reached into the side pocket of her door and tugged out her wallet. Opening it, she showed me her driver’s license and a business card.
Raina Kumar, M.D.
South Charlotte Dermatology
“I promise, I’m not a suburban serial killer mommy.” She patted my hand and I looked back at her before looking over my shoulder over at Kai, the little boy who was drifting to sleep.
“Sorry, I’m just…” I started to speak as she made another turn.
