“I’m sorry, I can’t.” She hands Anna back to Zoe, who seems surprised for a moment but accepts Anna in one fluid motion. “I’m sorry,” Lynell croaks again.

“It’s okay, I understand.”

Josh returns to the main room, holding three bags. Tonks crosses the room to stand next to Josh, who says, “Ready?”

Zoe turns, surveys the other bags that are already sitting on the floor, and says, “All right, then let’s get going.” She turns to Lynell and Daniel, who are watching them with their hands firmly clasped together. “Where are you two heading?”

Daniel and Lynell exchange looks. He looks like he’s about to fall asleep where he stands, eyes half-lidded and head nodding.

“Back to Dallas, I guess,” Lynell answers, turning back to the Raines. “We don’t have any money; lost it while running.”

“Back to Dallas?” Zoe says. “That’s a four-hour drive.”

“We have to keep moving,” Daniel says.

“Why don’t we all go to a hotel tonight? We really shouldn’t be traveling so late either,” Zoe says.

Lynell shakes her head. “You should go farther. And go in the opposite direction than us. I think putting as much distance between us is smartest.”

Zoe nods. “I won’t be sleeping any time soon. We could go north, Josh. To Michigan.” Her husband agrees and Zoe faces Lynell. “Let me give you some money, so you can stay somewhere tonight.”

“Zoe,” Josh says, but he stops talking when Zoe turns and glares at him.

“We really couldn’t,” Daniel says.

“Please,” she says. She readjusts Anna on her hip and takes a step forward. “I’ll forever be grateful for what you’ve done for our family. The least we can do is get you a hotel room for fifty bucks.”

“We . . .” Lynell starts, looking up at Daniel.

“I insist.”

Lynell nods. “Thank you.”

“Josh.” Zoe turns and holds out her hand. “Wallet.” Josh digs through a large black purse and pulls out a wallet. He hands it to Zoe, who opens it with one hand and fishes out a hundred-dollar bill.

“We don’t need—”

“I’m not sure how much the room will be, and you need food too. We aren’t strapped for cash.”

Daniel reaches out and takes it. “Thank you,” he says. “So much.”

“Of course. Thank you for warning us,” Zoe says.

“All right,” Josh says, picking up four of the bags, leaving two of them for Zoe to grab. Tonks jumps up, tail wagging. “Let’s get out of here.”

Lynell and Daniel watch the SUV drive away before they head in the opposite direction. They’re quiet for the first thirty minutes of the drive, both feeling the loss of their daughter all over again.

“Let’s stop soon,” Lynell finally breaks the heavy silence.

Daniel just nods. He pulls into the parking lot of an old hotel twenty minutes later.

The lobby is yellow and blue, with a busy rug sitting in the middle of three yellow chairs, each sprouting a frizzy red pillow. Lynell curls the silver chain connecting a pen to the desk around itself while Daniel checks them in. He gives the receptionist a tired nod and smiles before pushing away from the counter. Lynell follows him to the elevator, already yearning for a soft bed to sink into.