“Hey! How’s it going? I hope my arrival isn’t an issue. I can just ride along on whatever you’re doing for the next couple of days. If I can get a room to sleep in, that is!”

I waved her off, genuinely happy to see her. “Of course it’s not an issue. Glad to have you with us. Is there a problem with your room?”

She looked over her shoulder at the disgruntled front desk clerk, then back at me. She was decked out in one of her many tunic and jeans combos, but this time she was wearing heavy-duty hiking boots instead of Birkens, her white hair in its usual messy topknot.

She spared another look for the man at the front desk, who was tapping helplessly on the keyboard. “I knew it would be ill-advised to head down here early, but I figured they could make it work for a couple of nights. Unfortunately, it seems they’re not only full for the next few days, but they double-booked the room I was supposed to have when I arrived on Sunday. They won’t have a room for me until Wednesday.”

“Is there another place in town you could go until then?”

She made me a face at my question. “Oh no, this is not my first rodeo.” With that she turned back to the front desk, obviously ready for another round. I was about to offer to share my room, I only had one bed though. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but I knew Bonnie needed her space.

She was in a heated discussion with the clerk when I put my hand on her shoulder, interrupting the exchange. “Hey Bonnie, why don’t you just take my room? I can ask one of the other guys if I can crash with them. No big.”

The thought of having to room with Sam made a shiver of apprehension run down my spine, but I was willing to suffer for a few days.

Bonnie perked up at my suggestion and glanced at the clerk, who was looking at me like I had just rescued a small village. “Are you sure? Because I’ll take it. I’m not gonna do the ‘Oh, you shouldn’t, I don’t want to put you out’ bullshit. I will take the damn room and leave you to your own devices.”

I really liked this woman. “Yes, I’m sure,” I said with a laugh.

At that moment Elias walked in. Bonnie’s face lit up and she greeted him with the Ethiopian double kiss and double embrace. “As always, Elias, you’re right on time. I did it again!” She threw her hands in the air while Elias grinned at her antics. “I decided to come early, and now I don’t have a place to sleep.”

He smiled at her with affection while she waved her hand in my direction.