Page 86 of Bombshell

“I’ll get the bags.” She holds out a key. “You’re already checked in.”

I turn the plastic keyring over in my palm and read 113. At least we’re on the ground floor.

The inside of the motel isn’t much better than the outside. I ignore a dark stain on the purple carpet by the door and carry Ellie to the bed. One look at the worn coverlet sends me searching in my diaper bag for a blanket. I spread it over the bed with one hand as best I can and lay her down to change her. Ginny drags my suitcases in and looks around. Even after the door closes behind her, I can hear the roar of the highway. The loud whoosh of a truck rattles the room’s cheap windows.

Our gazes lock like we’re playing chicken, before Ginny finally asks, “Where do you want these?”

At the Eaton. I bite back that response and tip my head toward a table shoved into the corner. Getting them away from the disturbing stain near the door is my first order of business. I carry the dirty diaper to the bathroom trash and discover a roach crawling across the bathtub. The skittering movement of its legs raises the hair on the back of my neck, and I rush back in to pick Ellie up from the bed terrified I’ll find something crawling on her.

I’d told myself up until now that I’d take a few days, get over my jet lag, get Ellie settled, and then reach out to Poppy. I can already see that timeline shortening to a few hours. There’s no way I can stay here with Ellie and feel safe. But Ginny’s already done enough. It’s not like she can afford to do more without making Malcolm suspicious about what’s draining her account.

“Do you want to grab some dinner?” she asks once she’s plopped both bags down on the table.

“I think I’m going to call Poppy.”

“Are you ready?”

I am now. I can’t explain to her that I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter. I’m avoiding my friends to protect my pride. But I can’t do that at the cost of endangering Ellie. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready, but I can’t put it off—for Ellie’s sake.”

“I’m sorry. I should have checked this place out better. I found it on the internet and it’s so close to Nashville and Valmont.” She shakes her head. “We need to find you both some place better.”

I’m sure that Ginny didn’t know there were hotels in the world where there were no mints on your pillowcase or turndown service. “You’ve done so much for us already,” I say, voicing my earlier thoughts. “After everything I put you through, you didn’t have to help me—help us.”

“Of course, I do. We’re family. Family looks out for each other.”

“Is that how it’s supposed to work?” I ask dryly. Someone should tell my father. “I thought family cleaned up messes and kept secrets and made threats.”

“Some MacLaines operate that way, but I’m not a MacLaine by birth. I guess where some see messes, I see opportunities.” She forces a smile, but it fizzles quickly like she’s only got so much more energy to give to righting all the wrongs committed by my bloodline. “Are you tired? You could lay down. I’ll keep an eye on Ellie.”

“Actually, I’m not. I just want to call Poppy.” If there’s one person in the world who will make me feel like everything might turn out okay, it’s her. The truth is I know she won’t be disappointed or judgmental. I think that’s the reason I’ve avoided telling her for so long. Part of me feels like I should be punished. I might love Ellie, but there’s no way around it: getting pregnant with her was a mistake. It’s going to be a lot harder to stay mad at myself when someone forgives me.

“You call her. I’ll hold the baby,” Ginny urges me.

I hand her Ellie gratefully and step out the door for a little privacy. Poppy answers on the second ring.

“It’s the prodigal daughter!” she cries on the other end. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been busy.” There’s no lie there.

“So busy you couldn’t do more than respond to a text once a week? Did you meet someone?” she asks.

“I wouldn’t say I met someone exactly. There’s definitely someone new in my life, though.”

“Spill. I want all the details,” she gushes.

“I was thinking we could meet actually.” I take a deep breath. “I’m home for a bit.”

“Wait? What? You’re here? In Valmont?”

“I just got in.” But a giddy scream drowns out my response.

Poppy seems torn between elation and accusation. “I can’t believe you just showed up...I’m supposed to go out with Cyrus to Christmas shop but I can skip it. I can’t believe you’re here! I wasn’t sure you’d ever come back from London.”

“Neither was I.”

“I can meet you somewhere. Are you at home?”

“No,” I say quickly. I glance at a tall weed growing through a crack in the sidewalk. “Let’s meet somewhere for dinner. I’ll text you.”