Page 69 of Rewind

Amina sighed. “Just give me the information and I’ll contact her.”

“Oh, well she’s only going to be in town for one more night. She’s staying at this hotel just outside of town. I can give you her room number. You can meet her right now. I’ll tell her that you’re on your way.”

“She’s leaving town tonight?”

“Yes, she’s been here all week. I left that note a few days ago but you haven’t been home. Why don’t you go see her now, or are you up under that new man of yours.”

“Ethan is still at work.”

“Ethan huh? He’s cute for an Asian guy. Is it true what they say about them in bed? You know what I mean?”

“First of all, Ethan is a good-looking man for any race. And second, that’s none of your damn business.” Amina wanted to shout to the top of the roof that Ethan satisfied her in every possible way but Candace didn’t need to know that. Besides, she was secure enough to not care what anyone thought about her relationship.

“Hey, I meant no offense. Things must be serious. Anyway, do you want that information to meet your mom or not?”

One of the things Amina vowed to herself when she was reborn was that she’d live without regret. If she wanted to see her mother, this might be her last opportunity.

She sighed. “Fine. Give me the information.”

Amina trembledas she got of her car in the hotel parking lot. As she drove here, she almost turned back around. What would she and her mother actually talk about? What could be said after all this time? But she decided to continue on. If nothing else she could ask her mother why she’d left.

She pulled her phone out to call Ethan but the call went straight to his voicemail.

“Hey, sweetie, I’m going to be meeting my mother who’s in town apparently. It’s a surprise to me too. I’m at the Blue Flower Inn. I just want to talk to her. But if you get home before I arrive I should be there later. Love you.”

She took a deep breath and entered the hotel lobby. It was an old hotel in a neighborhood not many people visited. There was debris on the carpet and a heavy odor of urine and cigarette smoke filled the air. The once white walls were covered in nicotine stains. The furniture was old and cracked.

It was a relic of the past, the kind of place where the front desk workers didn’t ask any questions beyond what form of payment would be in use.

Why would her mother come to a place like this? Something didn’t feel right about this situation.

She turned on her heel and headed to the door.

“Hey Cous! Where are you going?”

Amina turned to see Candace racing toward her.

Amina took a step backward, her frown deepening. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see Auntie before she left out of town. I came downstairs to meet you because I knew you were coming. Were you about to leave?”

“Yes. I can’t believe she’s in a place like this. It’s really sketchy.”

Candace placed her hand on her hip. “Oh and you’re too good to be in a place like this? Well smell you, little Miss Stuck Up. And here I thought meeting your mother would be more important than the location.”

When put like that, it made her sound like a snob. Maybe her mom had fallen on hard times and this was the best place she could afford.

No regrets.

Amina’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I’d like to see her.”

“That’s what I thought. We have to take the stairs because the elevator is out of order.”

“Of course it is,” Amina mumbled under her breath.

She followed Candace up three flights of steps and she was thankful for her workouts with Ethan that had increased her stamina.

The hallway that led to her mother’s room was dark, dank and desolate. When they made it to room 401 Candace knocked.

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