An "Affordable" Hotel

Laura drove in silence toward Motel 9. The run-down hotel was off one of the main roads near the highway. It didn't have the best reputation, but she knew the price would be within their budget. They'd discussed their options as she drove toward the airport.

"How did your interview go?" Dan asked, breaking into her thoughts about how she'd provide basic needs for them now.

Laura gave him a strained smile. "Not as well as I'd hoped, but it wasn't a complete waste of time," she answered as she glanced at the rear-view mirror. She wished that she'd just left her accursed bra on. Her nipples were rubbing against her blouse, and it was distracting her.

"I hope they cleaned recently," he muttered as they pulled into the parking lot.

Laura dodged a large pothole in the middle of the lot as she found a parking spot near the main building. Three cars and one truck were in the parking lot. "We'll... well... we'll need to stop by the store tonight. We have nothing," she said in a soft voice. All she had was whatever was in her purse and what was on her body.

"Yeah," Dan muttered with a grimace.

"Let's get this over with," Laura sighed as she got out of the car.

Entering the sketchy motel lobby. It reminded her of the bailbondsman office. A balding, obese man sat back in an oversized chair, reading a book. On the cover had a nude female crouched down beside a standing man. The blonde, buxom woman looked up at the standing man with adoration. "Can I help 'u?" the clerk drawled. He looked up over his book. His eyes went wide as he looked up. He oggled her body, taking a slow, appraising look over her chest. "How can I be of service?" he asked in a politer voice. She wanted to curse her eraser-hard nipples. She felt goosebumps rise over her skin as the air conditioning in the lobby hit her.

"We wish to rent a room," Laura stated. She hoped the man would just help them without causing a scene.

The balding man blinked and looked over at Dan. His expression changed as he looked between the mother and son. "For the night or an hour?" he bluntly asked as his eyes fell on Laura's breasts.

Dan started to open his mouth, but she placed a gentle hand on his arm. "For the night, thank you," she answered without inflection in her voice.

The clerk grunted and flipped open a booklet on the counter. "Forty for the night," he growled and eyed Laura again. "A little less if you can..."

"Forty it is," Laura interrupted. The clerk grunted but didn't say anything. She dug around in her purse and produced two notes. She placed them on the counter. "Could we get a room with two beds?"

"Only have one bed in each room," the clerk answered with a huff. "Room twenty-nine, second floor, near the back. Names?"

"Palm," Dan answered with a glance at her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Palm. Wonderful," the man grunted and scribbled something down on the paper in front of him. "Here," he spat and slapped a key on the counter. "Checkout is at twelve. If you don't check in your key, I'll call the cops."

Dan shook his head as they left the lobby. "What a sleaze bag," he grumbled.

Laura gave him a pained smile as she got back in the car. "We'll drive over to Dollar Shop to get a couple of things. Then head back. I've had... a rough day," she admitted. She wanted a changing room so she could put her bra back on as soon as possible.

"So have I," Dan agreed. His phone vibrated a moment later. "Auntie sent me the place," he announced as he read the text. "Hey, I know this place. It's over off of Lincon Street."

"That isn't the best part of town," Laura hedged. She knew the area a little too well.

"No, but it isn't in the worst either. A lot of factories over there, I think."

Laura pursed her lips. "Maybe we should look around first. Call that hotline or something," she tried.

"Auntie said she was going to buy it at one point. Before... whatever happened. I think she's in debt if I read between the lines correctly."

"Your aunt... well, I'm not going to say more than I have to. I need to grab a few things. You should too. Do... you think we'll have enough for now to get fast food? I'm honestly starving."

Dan smiled at his mother. "We're okay for now," he lied. She could always tell. "The insurance will pay for what was damaged. We just need to get through this rough patch."