26
The drive west was uneventful, both physically and intellectually, meaning I had none of my hoped for great revelations or insights. I drove my own Cecil rather than taking a rental. Perhaps I needed the comfort of the familiar, including the same motel I’d stayed in before. Mrs. Waters was glad to see that I was well and that I’d returned to her humble business despite my bad experience with those hooligans. Being a big believer in the restorative powers of chocolate, I assured her that I owed my recovery entirely to her luscious brownies.
Mike and Richard picked me up for a working dinner after I got settled. We ate at a Mexican place where everything was drenched with cheese and the iced tea tasted slightly of sulfur. It was no Rosalia’s by any means, but when I switched my beverag
