Minutes later, annoyed, Xavier walked around to the side of the motel and found the payphone the man at the desk had directed him to. The jerk hadn’t let him use the office phone, even after he’d offered to give him ten dollars for the short long-distance call he was about to make.
With his eyes on their room’s door, Xavier stuffed some quarters in the slot and dialed his aunt’s number. He decided that he’d be cheerful and calm. He’d tell her everything was all rainbows and puppy dogs out here. This was nothing but a courtesy call. That was all he owed her.
“Hello?” Audrey answered, shocking him.
He hadn’t prepared for that. Then he remembered that Audrey didn’t work on Mondays. Only his aunt did. “Hey, there,” he said, his heart jumping. “It’s me. It’s Xavier.”
She was silent.
“Hello
