Nineteen: When Bitches Discover (part 2)

Subject: day four!

10pm Page, AZ

I'm going to stay in the neighborhood two or three more days. I need to get some rest. Today I visited Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide, it really is amazing and such colors! Especially where the light filters into the slot canyon, you'll see the pictures! Have you had your jambalaya yet? Have a good rest! Kisses!

—

«Good morning, no jambalaya for now! We were served delicious gumbo last night though! The atmosphere is really warm here, but I can't wait to move to Baton Rouge! Have you been to Lake Powell yet? Are you planning on taking a trip to Zion as well? It's in Utah, but it's not far from there. We're leaving super early in the morning, not sure if I'll be able to get in touch, but I'm thinking of you! Always... Hugs to you, and thanks again for yesterday morning. It was really magic»

Subject: day five!

9:30 p.m. Page, AZ

Lake Powell was my relaxing destination today! I needed it! And such an amazing view! The water was so still it didn't even look liquid, and the red rocks of the canyon reflected in it... Breathtaking! I wanted to take a boat ride! But I felt like being on my own! I checked into Zion, I'm going tomorrow, equipped to do the water hike, in the little tunnel shaped canyon, they have flyers here and it looks pretty challenging, but from the pictures I'd say it's totally worth it! So if you don't hear from me by tomorrow night, alert the rangers! Haha!

Subject: day six!

8pm Page, AZ

Okay! The Narrows is amazing, beautiful, fun, and... WET AND TIRING! Good thing the day was warm and out of the water I didn't get cold. It's a good thing that the clerk at the sports store I went to yesterday recommended the right clothes and shoes. Anyway... I'm still exhausted! I think I'll be resting all day tomorrow! I hope to hear from you, because then I'll be forced offline for several days, as I understand the Navajo territories don't get much coverage, it will be an adventure and a pleasure to isolate myself from the rest of the world for a few days. But I'll be thinking of you too! Call me tomorrow if you can! Kisses and night!

—

"What a sad voice!", Elaine amusedly observes from Baton Rouge. "It's not a sad voice, it's a tired voice, I think I've discovered the presence of at least a dozen muscles in my body that I had no clue existed!", the reporter complains in a pained tone. "I'm shattered!", the Secretary can't contain a laugh. "Haha, very funny!", Berg chants pretending to be offended.

"And how are you? Are you tired?", she then asks in a serious tone, "Well... I'm starting to get tired, yes... anyway I'm almost in the home stretch. I guess we'll be back around the same time", she informs her hoping that the next few days will pass quickly. "Really? When are you leaving Las Vegas?", the young woman asks animatedly, "I'm not sure, but I'll let you know, maybe you can come back with me!", the politician replies participating. "That would be nice! It won't be a problem to leave the car at McCarran instead of Sky Harbor", Susan tells her with the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Fine! Then let's see if we can match our schedules!", Barrish proposes confidently, before reluctantly moving on to greetings. The fact that her friend is going to disappear for a few days makes her uncomfortable, and although neither she nor the other mentions it, she feels it's a mutual feeling, so she decides to mask the feeling, "Hey... Don't stop writing me... It doesn't matter if you won't be able to email me every day, just keep doing it", she encourages her in a sweet tone. "I have no intention of stopping, Madam Secretary!", the other reassures her.

After a few moments of heavy silence, it is Susan again who speaks, "The time for goodbyes is always...", "Hard... Yeah...", Elaine suggests to her, she hears a resounding sigh from Arizona, "Now get out of there and go for a walk! You've had enough rest for today! Go buy me a souvenir! Come on!", she urges her in a joking tone, relieved by the sound of laughter.

Subject: days eight, nine and ten.

Day eight!

9:30 p.m. Monument Valley, UT

I'm in the middle of Monument Valley, Elaine! No! I'm not at the edge, I'm right in it! We left Oljato on horseback, we are a group of five, plus Navajo guides, a family with two beautiful children, we rode through the whole valley, you can't even imagine the spectacle at sunset! It is beyond description! We were treated to a traditional meal of tamales, right at the foot of Elephant Butte, and now we are going to spend the night in a hogan. It's awfully cold compared to the day! Elephant Butte, what a coincidence huh? Like I'd need a giant, beautiful, thousand-year-old red sandstone formation to remind me of you!

Day Nine!

11:30 PM Chinle, AZ

I wanted to stay until late afternoon, in roder to drive across the Painted Desert at sunset, to see it at its best, I know, I repeat myself, but the colors of this country are beyond words, they are pure emotion, they are wonder, commotion, life! I just arrived in Chinle, it's late and I'm tired, the hotel is the worst I've ever stayed in, but there's not much choice here. Tomorrow I will go into the Canyon de Chelly, I hope to be able to visit both forks.

Day 10!

9 p.m. Holbrook, AZ

The canyon is just like you see in the old western movies! The road that runs along it is very poorly maintained, but by having to proceed at a walking pace, I had a chance to appreciate every conformation. The car is really filthy! It was black when I picked it up, now it has taken on the same color as this land, fire red! In the evening I arrived in Holbrook. Tomorrow I'm going to visit the Petrified Forest! I decided to visit it on foot, I have all day.

I can finally send you the report of the last few days. Call me tomorrow, I want to know where you are and how you are doing! And I want to hear your voice! Hugs! And good night!

—

Elaine takes off her glasses, tired, but happy to have read her friend's adventures, she would like to call her now, but the email is from a couple of hours before and she is afraid to wake her up, so reluctantly, she turns off the light and covers herself up to the chin, hoping to fall asleep better than the last few nights.

—

"This place is incredible, Elaine! It seems impossible that these stones, millions of years ago, were trees! Yet, if you look at them, it's clear as light, you can make out the rings, the knots, the bark, everything! It looks like a lumberjack had fun cutting up a forest and placing the wood logs here and there... and then... I don't know... magically turned them into wonderful stones... I don't know it's so weird and beautiful! I'm taking amazing pictures!", she tells her in an elated voice. Elaine laughs into the phone, "You sound like a little girl in a candy store!", she tells her, "Ah, you're just envious!", the young woman chants at her, "No, not envious! But sure I wish I was there too! For the show huh, don't get any ideas!" the Secretary jokes, hearing her snort.

"Tonight we're headed to Houston and then Dallas, Garcetti is very encouraged by the latest projections, he's bursting with energy from every pore, in spite of the pain he's complaining about in his legs!", she informs her gesturing to her boss, to warn him that she needs a few more moments. "Hey my mother told me she got the postcard from Hopi Point, she was very happy", she continues smiling.

"Well did you think I would forget about them?" the reporter pokes her. "I have to go now, have fun, as always!", "And you try not to get too tired! Have a good day!", Susan crouches down to take more photos, with an extra burst of energy.

—

Subject: day eleven!

8pm Holbrook, AZ

Hey hope you made it to Texas without a hiccup! My trip was... Wow! I'm on the fence about stopping in Winslow tomorrow, I'm told Meteor Crater isn't that great. Anyway, I'm going to take it easy and do Route 66 instead of I40, I'll see how I turn when I get to the fork! Good night friend! Kisses!

Subject: weird dream

03:56 Holbrook, AZ

I woke up suddenly, from a somewhat bizarre dream, I was at the Horseshoe Bend, sitting on a rock, looking at the river at the bottom of the canyon, on the flat on the other side, there was you, I could see you as you were only a few steps away from me, you were smiling at me, but not talking. Then a raptor flew by and distracted me, when I went back to look, you were gone. But, while I was still looking for you, I felt your presence behind me, I felt you approaching me, I had the impression that you were sitting behind me, and when your arms surrounded my shoulders, I woke up! I didn't want to wake up, you know?

Susan rereads what she wrote, undecided, huffing a deep sigh, shaking her head. She selects the text within the email, cuts and pastes it into a new text document, saves the document, and deletes the email. She closes the iPad's magnetic case and lies back down, hoping to get back to sleep. She curls up in a fetal position, pulls the blankets up over her head, and closes her eyes in an attempt to recall the dreamlike sensations from just before, hoping to pick up where she left off.

—

Subject: Day twelve

7:30 p.m. Flagstaff, AZ

Well... I'll tell you, Meteor Crater is just a huge hole in the desert! But I'm still glad I didn't skip a short visit. Tomorrow I'm going to walk around the area and not get too tired, for the next few days I plan to go back to Phoenix to visit the city and then I'd like to go down to Tucson! I've been recommended to visit Benson Caverns and Saguaro National Park. Let me know when you have a release date from Vegas, I hope to catch up with you in time! Kisses!"

—

«Good morning, Miss Berg! You better get some rest today! You're putting on more miles in the car than I am in the plane! I just landed in Albuquerque! We are close, all things considered! Your photos are sure to be stunning, but the view of the Sangre de Cristo isn't bad either, you know? Hugs to you, have a great day!»

«Hey, you! But couldn't we run into each other in Phoenix in a couple of days? Maybe you can free up a few hours for dinner? I found a place... I'd love to take you there...»

«Which place?»

«Come and you'll find out!»

Elaine stows her phone in her purse, undecided whether to actually take a couple of hours to spend with her friend, she's almost done with her assignment in the country, the urge to spend a few hours with her seems like an unmissable opportunity. She decides she'll try to make arrangements.

—

«Ms. Berg, have you had enough rest? So, I'll see you tomorrow night?»

A huge smile lights up her sleep-rested face. She pulls herself up in her seat and answers as quickly as she can, afraid her friend will be busy and miss her reply.

«Really?! I am so happy! I'll make a reservation tonight then, if you let me know your free hours! I'm going to take my time getting ready and then head down to Phoenix! Ps, don't you dare change your mind!»

"I don't even think about it!", Barrish whispers to herself, replying briefly.

—

Subject: Day Fourteen

8pm Phoenix, AZ

Got it! Reservation made! Just in case, I'll text your phone in the morning to confirm time and address

—

Susan Berg arrived in front of the restaurant a good 15 minutes early. She walked around town a bit, there are signs with Garcetti and his team, including Elaine, scattered all over the place. It's strange to see her portrayed on every corner as if she's just another politician and not someone so special to her.

Finally a black limousine slows down and pulls up right in front of her, for a moment she forgets to breathe. She is undecided whether to approach or not, the rear door opens wide and Elaine looks at her smiling, getting out of the car. Then she walks towards her, returning the joy of seeing each other and embraces her warmly.

"There she is, my little wanderer!", Elaine exclaims, laughing partly in contentment, partly to mask a strange embarrassment. She can't help but hold her close with relief, thinking without wonder how much she's missed her! After a while she unwillingly lets go of her, unaware that even Susan struggles to loosen the contact. They look into each other's eyes for a long moment, still with their hands laced together, and finally see each other relax their shoulders at the same time. "I'm soooo glad you're here", Susan tells her, stepping to the side and taking her under her arm.

The waiter shows them the table, depositing the menus on it, before walking away. It's not a fancy establishment, no one seems to mind them. The large room, almost entirely made of wood, is illuminated by a long glass window that covers two sides of the entire building, the sunset colors the Superstition Mountains in the distance with a soft pink, the Saguaros on the roadside are gigantic and green.

"You're tan!", the politician points out to her with an affectionate smile. "It's not a tan, it's the desert dust!", the other jokes, snatching a laugh from her. "So... why did you want to bring me here?", asks Elaine curiously. "Look at the menu!", her interlocutor suggests, winking playfully. Barrish amusedly raises an eyebrow and feigns an annoyed sigh, obeying.

With extreme enjoyment, the reporter watches her open her mouth in wonder, the politician closes the paper with a sudden movement, producing a dry noise, and lays it on the table. "Are you serious?", she asks feigning shock. "Of course I am, Madam Secretary!", she replies confidently, nodding to the waiter.

"We are here for the restaurant's specialty", the young woman announces with a smile."Perfect…", the waiter comments "What can I get you to drink?", "Prickly Pear Margarita for me!", they announce in unison. "Two margaritas, and some sparkling water", Elaine announces. Susan pulls a small package out of her purse and slides it across the table in front of her friend. "One of the many souvenirs I got you here and there", Barrish smiles curiously.

Inside the small box is a pendant made from copper wire in the shape of three small, angled spirals, reminding her of the decorations on the freeway surrounding Phoenix that she was admiring just one hour earlier. In the center of the jewel, a small harlequin opal exhibits its unique qualities within the cabochon cut. "This is from Jerome", she tells her with a fond smile. "It's very beautiful, thank you!", Elaine says, covering her hand with her palm. "It's a pleasure!", the other smiles fondly.

The waiter comes with the drinks and the main dishes, they are curious, amused and afraid, neither of them has the courage to taste first, after a fake bickering, they agree to proceed in unison. They raise their margaritas for a quick toast to Arizona and, still prejudiced, they take their first bite. After a few moments of taste analysis, pleasantly surprised, they smile. "It's good...", Elaine agrees, "It's fried!", Susan whispers to her, "Even the soles of your shoes are good if fried!", "Never heard of it?", the Secretary asks. Susan shrugs, "My grandmother used to say that all the time!", she smiles, "Anyway, I'll give you credit... it is good! I wonder what Doug and TJ will say when we'll tell them you ate rattlesnake!", she jokes. "It will be a hoot to see their faces! They'll blame you, just know!", she warns her jokingly again.

The few hours at their disposal pass too quickly, and they find themselves exchanging desserts while thinking about how to organize their return trip, "I don't think it's necessary to let you drive all the way to Vegas, you've already covered who knows how much ground, I'll ask if it's possible to make a stopover in Tucson. I'll let you know tomorrow, okay?", Barrish informs her, "Sure… thanks for coming, I'm really glad we made it do", the young woman smiles at her with the knowledge that they are about to say goodbye.