Chapter 2 Modern Day Mayberry

         I made it to the interstate and turned going west. Once my brain started thinking clearly again worry of where the kids and I would stay kicked in. The measly two grand I took from the safe wouldn't get us very far staying in hotel rooms and fast food.
       My mom still lived in Little Rock, and even though I hadn't spoken to her in nearly eight years, I was hoping she wouldn't turn me away if I showed up on her doorstep with her grandkids. It was a twelve hour drive to her house if she still lived in the same place as last time. I could only hope.
      The kids and I stopped for lunch around Birmingham. I was surprised there hadn't been any melt downs between the kids with both of them cramped in the back seat together for four hours so far. We stopped at a small Chick-fil-A then found a small park right down the road to have a small picnic and let Alex run off his excess energy before we even started to get back on the road.
      The park was busy with vendors selling roses and balloons for the holiday. Bree asked if she could have a balloon and Alex wouldn't be left out. They played silly games together with their dollar Valentine's for the next hour before I wrangled them back toward the car.
       We got back on the interstate and headed west on Hwy 82 into Mississippi. If I was lucky I could get a few hours out of Alex before he needed a break again. With his ADHD and Anxiety I learned early on breaks on long car rides were a must for his sanity and mine.
      We made it to Memphis before he couldn't take it anymore. Construction on the interstate had us sitting in traffic on the express way for forty five minutes slowly inching our way forward. Alex started complaining he had to go to the restroom, Bree started complaining about his increasing noise while she was trying to sleep. The lanes were merging, my turn was somewhere in the midst of this madness and my sanity was slowly flying out the window.
      An hour later I realized in the crazy express way bathroom break I'd somehow missed my turn. We'd left Memphis and gone through countryside before we came to this small town called Bolton. There was a small motel and a diner right beside it with a few cars in front of it.
    It was already eight at night and both of the kids were complaining they were hungry. I pulled into the motel first. Might as well stop here for the night and start fresh in the morning to Little Rock. I left the kids in the car and ran in to pay for a room for the night.
     I told the sweet old lady behind the counter I didn't have my ID, but was desperate for a room for the kids and I for the night. The sign out front said the rooms were only fifty four dollars a night but I put a hundred dollar bill on the counter and told her she could keep the change if she could please help me out. She gave me a wink as she held a key out to me, "Mrs. Jones I hope you and your family have a great night."
     I grabbed the key and gave her a grateful smile, "Thank You so much." I ran back to the car and parked in the first spot right by the office. Our room was the first one on the bottom. I grabbed my bag while the kids gathered their things and climbed out. The room was small but clean with two full beds, a TV, small fridge, and microwave. Bree came straight in and laid out on the bed closet to the door. Her face had been getting darker and darker all day. The swelling had stopped, but she'd been complaining of a headache for most of the ride. Alex ran to the other bed and started jumping up and down.
     I got him down as quick as I could and sent him to the bathroom to clean up before we headed to the diner next door. While Alex was inside I went over to Bree on the bed and moved her face toward the light where I could see the damage. It takes a special man to hit a woman, let alone your daughter the way Dewayne had. "How ya doing buttercup? Your head feeling any better?" I asked her as I ran my fingers along the worst of the bruise. "I'll be ok Momma, you ain't gotta worry about me.", Bree whispered. "I'll never stop worrying about you love. That's my job. You up for getting something to eat?" "Sure." She got up just as Alex walked out of the bathroom ready to go.
      We walked across the parking lot to the diner. As we made it to the door Bree pressed the injured side of her face into my shoulder hiding it as much as possible. Inside there was one lone gentleman sitting at the bar eating. The kids ran to a booth in the back of the row. Alex chose the seat with his back to proclaiming he was big enough now he could sit by himself. Bree scooted in across from him and quickly pulled me down beside her. A plump woman in her mid-fifties headed toward us with menus and silverware right as we settled in.
    "Goodness you folks must be starved with it being so late, but we can fix that in a jiffy. My names Mabel, now what can I get y'all folks?" "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" Alex always the one for dramatics was the first to give his order. "I'm sorry little man, I'm all out of horses, but I do got a nice cheeseburger how's that sound?" "That sounds good, but no French fries. Momma knows how much I don't like'em."  "Ha-ha you got it little man, and what can I get for you sweet angel hiding behind momma?" Bree moved her face slightly away from my shoulder and barley spoke loud enough for her to hear the requested cheeseburger and fries.
    Bree hurried to cover her face back up but the waitress noticed right away. To Mabel credit she didn't make a sound, but the saucer-sized eyeballs gave her away. Mabel shook her head ok then turned to me, "And you ma'am?" "We'll stick together on this as well, huh guys. I'll have a cheeseburger and fries as well please  Ms. Mabel, and can we get some sweet tea as well please?." I ended with a smile toward Ms. Mabel and gave her our menus. Thankfully she didn't question the bruise on Bree's face and turned around and went back toward the kitchen.
    With it being February it was easy to hide the finger sized bruised on Alex's neck with a turtle neck and jacket, but Bree's hair could only cover so much and she was way too young to layer makeup on it to try and hide the mark. Bree started to tap on my shoulder to get my attention as I slid my phone over to Alex as soon as Ms. Mabel left.
     "What's up buttercup?" "I'm scared Momma." "What's got you scared Bree?" "Ms. Mabel saw my face." The disappointment on her face baffled me, "Why does Ms. Mabel seeing your face scare you baby?" "What if she calls the cops?" My girl thinks just like me. The same thought was on repeat in my head, "Then we will tell them what happen. That's all we can do baby." "I just don't want you to get in trouble, and I really don't want to have to go back to daddy."
      I turned to face Bree in the seat. I wanted her to see how serious I was, "I promise you, no matter what, your father will never lay a hand on you again. No matter what I have to do I'll do it to make sure of it. You got me buttercup?" Before Bree could give me her answer Ms. Mabel was back with our drinks. I didn't even know how long she had been there or how much she had heard. One look at her face told me she'd heard enough. "Here you lovelies go, and I'll be right back with y'alls burgers." She set the glasses down in front of us then headed back toward the kitchen.
    Bree and I were both silent after that, no doubt worried about the same thing though. Ms. Mabel came back a few minutes later with our cheeseburgers as promised "Here ya go love, no fries just a cheeseburger, and you two angels burgers and fries. Can I get y'all anything else?" She looked at me for a reply, "No ma'am this is great thanks." The kids dug in right away. I leant over for the ketchup to put on my plate. I thought Ms. Mabel would leave since she'd finished her job, but she just stood by the end of the table watching. "Do you folks mind if I sit and chat with y'all for a little bit? I'm not as young as I use to be and these old dogs of mine are barking after working on'em all day. It ok if I sit by you little man?"
    Alex just scooted over and slid his plate with him not saying a word. Ms. Mabel smiled at Alex like I'd imagine a grandmother would, "Thank you my friend." She took the seat directly in front of me and gave each of us a grandmotherly smile. She checked all three of us out discretely with her eyes from head down while she did it.
     "Is this y'alls first time in Tennessee?" Ms. Mabel looked directly at me. 'Oh God, Please No!' I didn't want to answer her questions. I didn't want the chance that she could call the cops, and then Dewayne would have a record of where we were, but I couldn't lie to her either.
     I decided to keep my answers as short as I possibly could, "Yes ma'am for the kids it is." "Ain't that something? I was born and raised right here in Bolton, and ain't never left. Got the best of both world really. Just an hour away from Memphis and all the busy streets. Bolton is just big enough for the small amount of locals we got around here." I just shook my head ok not really paying attention to what was coming out of her mouth. Instead I was too worried about what more was to come. "Are y'all from Memphis?"
     Before I could stop him Alex corrected her, "Nope we're from Free State Alabama", in his best Forrest Gump impression. It had been a running joke of sorts between Bree and Alex since they had seen the movie a few years ago. "Goodness I don't even know where that is!" Ms. Mabel played right into his excitement. "It's ways far. We've been in the car for forever!"
     Ms. Mabel looked at me closely for the first time. It scared the living shit out of me what she would see. The kids weren't the only one with bruises. I had several in all different stages of healing. I was tired from the drive and exhausted from all the fighting. I was at my emotional bottom, only going for my kids. "You poor dears." Ms. Mabel reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "Where ya headed sweetheart?" The genuine concern in her face for our wellbeing floored me. Something that I hadn't felt in years from the people who claimed to love us and this total stranger cared. I broke down and told her the truth that I didn't even want to face myself.
     "I don't really know. We just left this morning after he went to work. Ran as soon as he was out the driveway really. Got a little cash and some clothes and just drove. Last time I talked to my mom eight years ago she was still in Little Rock so I figured we'd head there. Then I missed my turn coming through Memphis and ended up here. I got us a room next door and figured we would try again in the morning. Other than that I don't know."
     Ms. Mabel squeezed my hand, "Your here now, that's all that matters. And there is always a reason. Will you come back in the morning before y'all head out? I want y'all to meet my sister Winnie and she won't be back till in the morning. What do ya say? I'll even buy breakfast." She had the kids immediately, and she knew it.
     "Oh please momma"
     "I'll be super good during breakfast I promise momma"
    "Ok, ok we will come back I promise." Both started a chorus of thank yous. We finished our food and I asked Ms. Mabel for the check. She just shook her head at me "Don't you worry about this, I'll take care of it. I know the owner", she winked. I still tried to give her a tip but she just put it right back in the palm of my hand.
     The kids and I got ready to walk back to the motel. Alex gave Ms. Mabel a hug before we left the diner "See you for breakfast." "See ya in the morning little man."
     We walked back to the motel hand in hand. Both the kids slept in the bed with me that night to help keep away the bad dreams.
     The next morning Alex made sure to wake Bree and I up at six o'clock on the dot. "Breakfast momma! Get up we got to go see Ms. Mabel!" "Ok I'm getting up." We dragged ourselves out of the bed and dressed in a decent amount of time for it being so early. Alex has always been an early riser though.
     We walked hand in hand back over the diner. There were only three people in the diner. One man at the bar drinking coffee, and two older men that looked like the all-America farmers. Ms. Mabel came out of the kitchen door as we walked in, "Good y'all came early. Come on back this way I got a special place just for you." She waved us back threw the kitchen door. Alex started pulling us toward her with all his strength putting a smile on her face. "You must be hungry little man?" "Starved!" Ms. Mabel just laughed and walked further in the kitchen. She went around a corner and up a flight of stairs. At the top was a door with a plaque that read 'Manager'.
    Ms. Mabel went right in "They're here girls the family I was telling you about. This is my sister Winnie and this is my sister Pearl that I think you meet last night." The room was set up like a studio apartment with a kitchen and a table with a desk to the side where a bed normally would be. At the table was the lady from the motel last night the clerk who gave me the room. I'm guessing that's Ms. Pearl. At the stove was a woman who looked like both woman but younger. She was pulling biscuits out of the oven. That must be Ms. Winnie.
     Ms. Mabel went on with her introductions, "This is my little man ain't he the cutest?" "My names Alex"
He gave both ladies a wave. Ms. Mabel turned to me next. Bree had her face hid behind my shoulder just as she did last night. "And this little angel right here is?" Bree was louder today but didn't move from her hiding spot, "I'm Bree" "Oh Bree! That's such a pretty name for a pretty girl." I couldn't thank her enough for that comment.
    Ms. Mabel grabbed my hand and started moving me toward the table, "And this is Mom everybody." "Ha-ha or better known as Marie." We took the closest seats around the table. Bree on my right with Alex between me and Ms. Mabel. Ms. Winnie made her way to the only open seat at the table with the fresh tray of biscuits. "I'm so glad you guys could make it. When Mabel called us last night and told us about the nice little family that desperately needed our help we couldn't wait to meet y'all." Ms. Winnie sent me a reassuring smile when she finished that really didn't do what it was meant to. I tried to return her smile, but it felt awkward and forced.
     "That's right, Mabel told us we had to come meet the cuties little kids she'd ever meet, but I didn't know she was talking bout the same nice lady I rented a room to. I should have though. As soon as you walked through my door last night I felt you were sent there for our help, and I guess I was right." Ms. Pearl said as she reached across the table to the hot biscuits in the middle.
      All the talk of help was making my anxiety skyrocket. I was never one for attention, instead choosing to be invisible to avoid getting in trouble when I was younger. I had no idea what to say to them so I just smiled and helped Alex fix his plate of pancakes.
     "Oh hush Pearl! You may have seen'em first but that don't make you anymore special." Ms. Mabel said reminding me of a fight my own children might have. Bree and Alex dug into their breakfast while I waited for the ladies to finish their plates before fixing my own. "So that's why we're all here to come up with an answer for y'alls problem."
      "Yep."
      "Ditto sis."
       Both woman chorused together while they started to eat their own food. I hesitantly started to fix my plate. I was extremely uncomfortable and slowly regretted not leaving for Little Rock as soon as we woke up this morning. No one had offered me help or compassion in so long I had a hard time believing them.
      If the ladies noticed my discomfort they didn't say instead Ms. Mabel just continued, "After what you told me last night about your momma Marie we agreed we just can't let you go when you ain't got nowhere to go. We figured your running from something or someone and we can't have that."
      Ms. Mabel didn't know she was voicing my deepest fears since I made my mind up about where we were going. But I doubt these three older ladies could help us no matter how good intentions.
      "So Pearl came up with the first solution."
      "As the oldest and smartest did you have any doubts Mabel?" Ms. Pearl shot back sarcastically.
       "Can it Pearl, and take a step down from that pedestal. But yes, she had a place y'all can stay."
       "I sure do. My old trailer by my house. I ain't lived in it in years, but I've kept it up since." Ms. Pearl smiled with pride.
       "And Winnie over there is in desperate need of a waitress at the diner. It ain't hard work, just a few local folks every day, and it'll be daytime." Ms. Mabel was rushing at this point in excitement to tell me the sister's plan. "Pearl even said you and the kids can stay in the trailer rent free till you get back on your feet. And I'll even babysit my little man and angel girl whenever you need me to. What do you think?"
       Ms. Mabel's face was full of joy, while a ball of dread took up residence in the pit of my stomach. People don't just offer someone they don't know a job and a place to live out of the kindness of their hearts. Or, not to me at least. I was gonna have a panic attack at any moment! Wondering what these grandmas could possible want in return.
      The increasing panic must have finally registered on my face because all three ladies noticed. Ms. Pearl leaned over and gave me a side hug while Ms. Winnie jumped out of her chair headed toward me to do the same. Ms. Mabel reached across the tables and took the fork from my hand before it left an indention then brought them together in her own. "It's ok Marie. Just look in my eyes and try and breathe the same time as me. It'll help calm you down. That's it. Just like that. Just breathe. I promise everything is ok."
      With two sister around my back and Ms. Mabel's touch helped me snap out quick. When the dread subsided the questions flooded in, "What? How? Y'all don't even know us why in the world would you want to help us?" My subconscious kept asking what they wanted in return too.
      Ms. Mabel looked at both of her sisters in a silent questioning way. When they both shook their heads ok they took a step closer to me and strengthen their holds. "Because we were just like them, and dreamed of the day our momma would do the same thing as you. But she never did. Cuz just like you, I'm guessing, didn't have anyone to help her along the way. We are gonna be your help. We are gonna make sure you make it."
      When Ms. Mabel pointed at the kids and said her and her sisters were like them growing up I almost lost it. When she finished with her little speech the first tear fell. Maybe fate did bring me here to the three woman. Maybe she knew they would know right away what was going on. Maybe they were sincere when they said they only wanted to help. Maybe they were our fairy godmothers. Maybe I could trust them. 
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