“Elana, you don’t need this many pairs of pants, and you won’t be needing any of these nice clothes. Jeans and T-shirts only. And you didn’t even pack a coat.”
Elana shook her head. “It’s ninety degrees.”
Hergrandmothersmirked. “It’s ninety degrees here. But once we hit the mountains, the temps dropdrastically. I have an extra coat you can wear.”Grandma Cecilia stood and looked at her. “And you can’t take a suitcase. There won’t be enough room.”She shoved a plastic trash bag into Elana’s arms. “Put your clothes in here.”
Elana frowned but didn’t argue. Instead, she knelt in front of the meager clothes she could take and shoved them in the bag.
Grandma Cecilia glanced at her watch. “We’re behind schedule. We need to get on the other side of Atlanta today. I have a meeting inMississippitomorrow.”She opened the doors to the VW van and put her bag of clothes on the bench seat and a bag of what appeared to be snacks on the floor.
Elana shook her head. “We’re not going throughMississippi. That’s out of our way.”
Grandma Cecilia poked her head out of the van and motioned for Elana to hand her the bag of clothes. “I don’t care that it’s out of our way. This is a road trip, Elana. You go with the flow. Besides, I have to meet someone in Mississippi.”
Elana sighed. Grandma Cecilia gave her a look.
“So, who are you meeting with inMississippi? An old friend?”
Grandma Cecilia stepped out of the van and shut the door before grabbing hersunglassesand shoving them over her eyes. “No. A new friend.”She opened thepassengerdoor and clambered inside.
Elana cut her eyes at Anna, who was standing in the driveway to see them off. “Are you going to be okay?”
Anna smiled and nodded. “Of course. I’ll come by every day and check on the house. I packed a small cooler ofsandwichesand fruit. It’s in the back. Call and give me an update when you can.”
Anna pulled Elana into a hug, and Elana squeezed her tight. “I will. Thanks foreverything, Anna.”
She walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in.
Hergrandmotherdangled the keys in front of her. “Ready for an adventure?”
Elana snorted. “One’s person’s adventure is another person’s ordeal.”
Grandma Cecilia roared with laughter.
After seven hours of driving—plus ten bathroom breaks—they rolled into Atlanta.
“Which hotel do you want to stay in? Marriott or Hilton?”Traffic was at astandstill,and Elana was trying to search for places to stay on her phone.
“We are staying here. I already madereservations.”Grandma Cecilia shoved her cell phone in Elana’s direction.
Elana couldn’t find the name of the hotel but started following directions on Grandma Cecilia’s phone once the traffic started moving.
Thirty minutes later, they passed the city limits.
“I don’t think this is right,” Elana said. “There are no hotels out in thisdirection.”
Grandma shook her head. “We’re not staying at a hotel. We are staying here.”She pointed out the windshield.
Elana groaned when she saw an RV park out in the middle of nowhere.
CHAPTER5
Elana pulled up to the office of the RV park and glanced over at her grandmother. “Did you book a cabin?” She’d noticed the tiny wood structures when they came through the entrance.
Her grandmother snorted and handed her a sheet with the confirmation. “Here, just give them this. They’ll tell you where to go. It’s already paid for, so don’t let them try to upsell you for bigger accommodations.”
Elana took the confirmation of their reservation and slid out of the car. She stood and stretched her arms over her head. She couldn’t wait to get a hot shower and something to eat, then fall into bed.
As Elana opened the door to the office, an older woman wearing a bright-yellow shirt standing behind the counter greeted her. “Welcome!”
