I smiled up at him, and pulled him toward me for another kiss. His mouth tasted cool, refreshing, like a shot of Scope. “Mmmm, yum. Come snuggle with me.” I pushed the sheet back so he could slip in, but he stayed put.
“I’ve got the coffee going.” He sat up straighter. “I think I figured out a way you could help Melody without getting involved.”
“How’s that?” I said, rubbing my eyes sleepily.
“After a good breakfast, we could take her down to the Y, and get her settled in. I’ll pay for her stay. Give her a week or two to get started.”
“Then what? She’d be back on the street in no time flat.”
“Not necessarily. You could check up on her during the week, and we could take her out for a couple of meals. Maybe help her get a job.”
“I don’t think so, Brett. Dumping her off at the Y won’t give her the mentoring she needs.”
“Susie, how did she support herself before you met her? Prostitution and drugs, right?”
I nodded. “Probably. But she wasn’t on anything last night. Maybe she’s gone straight.”
“I doubt it, but regardless, it’s too risky keeping her here.” He stroked my bare arm, and I pretended not to know what he was doing. “If we pay her rent for a few weeks and offer her a helping hand, it might encourage her to stay straight. And if she doesn’t, it’ll be her own darn fault. You can’t be responsible for her.”
I knew that, but there was something about the girl that reached out to me. She was lost and had nowhere to turn, and needed someone to help her find her way. I knew how she felt and I wanted…oh, hell, I’m not sure what I wanted, but it wasn’t to drop her off at the Y.
“I have to try.” I slipped out of bed, and ignored Brett’s ill-tempered cursing.
“You’re being unreasonable,” he said to my back. “You don’t know anything about her. She could be dangerous.”
“You’re right. I don’t know anything about her, but before I turn my back on her, I intend to find out.” I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. “Stay for breakfast, Brett. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“No. I don’t think I will.” Before I could stop him, he turned and walked out. I heard the door slam behind him. I marched out of the bedroom, determined to go after him, but Melody stood in the hall. I stopped, wondering, what did I really know about this girl?
Was it safe for me to shower and leave her alone in the apartment? Would she try to steal from me? Or hurt me?
Damn, Brett. Now, he had me thinking the worst.
“Good morning, Melody.” I offered her a smile. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. It was good sleeping in a bed again. Thanks.”
“I’m glad,” I said, with more warmth in my voice. “There’s coffee if you’d like some, or orange juice. I’m just going to take a quick shower and then I’ll be out to make us some breakfast.”
“Take your time.” She stretched and yawned. “I’m not a real morning person.”
“Okay. Whatever. Turn on the TV if you like.” Merrybell had come out to greet this new person. Rubbing her whiskers against Melody’s legs, she purred with contentment.
“What’s her name? I’ve never had a cat.” She bent to pick her up, and held her in her arms like a baby.
“Merrybell.” I showed her how she liked to be held. “If you want, you can feed her. She eats a tin of the canned food. I keep it in the pantry.” I walked back into the bedroom, and left the door open to prove to myself that I wasn’t afraid. The steam rose from the bathroom and I adjusted the hot water tap to make the water a little more tepid. Before stepping in, I dashed back, shut the bedroom door and quietly turned the lock.
* * *
After I’d showered and dressed, I returned to the kitchen and found Melody watching cartoons with a contented Merrybell in her lap.
“Want some French toast for breakfast?” I asked with a smile.
She looked up, her eyes bright with surprise. “Sounds great, but you don’t have to go to all that trouble for me. Cereal or a piece of toast will do.”
“No, it’s no trouble.” I used the frying pan from the night before, and took out a carton of Egg Beaters from the fridge, and some milk with an old expiration date. After a quick sniff, I decided it would do. I took a fresh loaf of whole wheat toast out of the freezer, and used a sharp knife to break four slices free from the frozen block. After mixing the milk and eggs, I let the butter melt in the pan, then forked a frozen slice of bread, dipped it into the mixture and dropped it into the sizzling pan. When I had all four slices browning in butter, I got the plates and cutlery out to set the table.
Melody stopped me. “Hey, let me do that.” She took the knives and forks out of my hand and placed them on the rattan placemats I kept on the table.
“So, Melody, what happened with your grandparents? What happened to make you leave?”
“I honestly don’t know. I guess they kicked me out because I started cutting myself.”
“Oh, Melody, why would you do a thing like that?” I served up the French toast. “How’s your mom? Did she get out yet?”
“No, and I don’t want to see her when she does.”
“So, what are your immediate plans?”
“Well, number one, I’ve got to find a place to live.”
“Yeah, I know.” While we ate, I asked if she had any skills so she could earn some money.
“I’ve waitressed, and worked as a cashier once, but most people don’t let me be around money. They think I’m going to steal it.” She drank her juice. “I guess I’ll just move on and see what comes up.”
I played with my knife and fork, not meeting her eyes. “Brett said he’d pay for the Y for a week or two. It’s a pretty nice offer.”
“No way. I’m not going to any stupid Y.”
“Why not? It makes sense until you can get a job and enough money put together for a room somewhere.”
Her dark brown eyes looked like a deer’s caught in headlights—full of fright and confusion. “Can’t I just stay here? I mean, until I get work. I won’t get in your way. I could buy a plastic blow-up air mattress and sleep on your balcony, so you can have your studio back.”
Oh, God. A plastic air mattress. Sleeping on my balcony. It was kinda sweet of her—sweet and desperate. Poor thing. If it were up to me, I’d say sure, but I had promised Brett she could stay for one night only.
“Look, I’m not sure how this will work, but you can stay for a couple of days, I suppose. The thing is—we have to figure out some ground rules. First and foremost, is that you are clean. I’d like to check your backpack, if you don’t mind. I won’t tolerate drugs around here.”
“That’s fine. I’ve got nothing to hide.” She ran off to get the backpack and dumped it upside down on my living room floor. “See for yourself.”
Double darn—no out there. “Okay, that’s good then, but I want it understood there will be no drugs, no booze, as long as you are under my roof. I don’t want you selling it, using it, sniffing it, or doing anything that might be construed as illegal. Not inside my home, or outside either. Is that clear?”
“Not even crack?” she said with a grin.
“This is not a joking matter. I’m offering to help you, but I have to be able to trust you. Can I trust you, Melody?” I looked at her dark brooding eyes, the stud in her chin, the leather dog collar, and wondered what in the world I was thinking, but I stood my ground. My instincts were telling me to help her, and when did my instincts ever let me down?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
My decision to let Melody stay led to Brett’s and my first fight. The more he insisted I was making a mistake, the more I dug in my heels. Obstinate was my middle name. Besides, it was my home and if I got stung I only had myself to blame.
“Look, I know you feel somewhat obligated to this girl since you befriended her at the shelter, but it doesn’t mean you have to give her a home.”
“No, of course it doesn’t, bu
t, Brett, honey, she has no one to care about her. She wouldn’t have come to me if she had anywhere else to go.” I clasped my hands around his neck and nuzzled up to him. “Come on, you can’t expect me to turn my back.”
He kissed my forehead. “No, not you.” He stepped away from me, and ran his fingers through his thick hair, looking totally frustrated. “I wish I could understand this need in you to please the entire world.”
I saw a muscle in his jaw start to tick.
“When do you ever get what you want? You’re always helping people—myself included. When are you going to put your own interests first?”
My chin rose. “I am. I’m doing this for her and for me. If I was trying to make everyone happy, I would get rid of her for you, but I’m not.”
“Susie. This isn’t about me. Sure, I have selfish reasons for not wanting her here. Like right now I’d like to tear off your clothes and ravish every inch of you, but that’s not the point. I don’t think you can help her by giving her a place to stay. Legally, she’s an adult, and she needs to learn to take care of herself.”
“I’m just giving her a place to stay until she gets work.”
“You need to determine exactly how long she can stay. A few days? A week? You can’t let her take advantage of you and just move in. And let’s be honest. Who would hire a girl like that? What is she qualified to do?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s gone for a walk. I gave her some money to pick up a few groceries. I wanted an hour alone with you.”
His hand reached out and he touched my hair. “I know I can’t talk you out of this, so I’ll back off. Maybe Kara can use her at Gorilla Gram or in her daycare center.”
“Geez. That’d be awesome. She could easily do either, and I have some clothes that would fit her. Make her look a little more respectable.”
“I’ll talk to Kara, but I can’t promise anything.”
“I know. I appreciate it.” We heard Melody knock softly at the door. I unlocked the door and she burst in, telling us she had a job.
“I was in the lobby and overheard these ladies talking. One of them is going on a trip and needs someone to feed and walk her dog.” She kicked off her black boots, and plopped down on the couch. “I told her I could do it. Said I was your niece visiting you for a while. She’s gonna pay me fifty bucks a day.”
I looked at Brett, and shrugged. “That’s great, really great.”
Brett’s eyes narrowed. “How long is she going to be away?”
“Not sure. A week. Maybe two.”
“Fucking hell.”
“Brett! Don’t swear. She doesn’t know how long it’ll be and it doesn’t matter. She has something to do. It’s a start.”
He glowered at us both. “Walking a dog, and that’s going to give you free room and board here for a week or two. Pretty good arrangement, isn’t it?”
Melody gave him an insolent look. “Yeah. Whatever.”
I spoke up, “You could still ask Kara, Brett. That would get things moving a little quicker.”
“Ask who, what?” Melody glanced at the two of us. “It’s about me, right?”
“His sister has a daycare center and an entertainment company. Brett was going to mention you and see if she had anything you could do.”
“Yeah? Why would he do that?”
“So you don’t have to live off Susie,” Brett snapped. “You can be independent. That’s what you want, isn’t it? A chance to prove your worth?”
She didn’t answer. I spoke for her. “Brett, don’t be so hard on her. She just got here yesterday. I’m sure she wants to get her own place as soon as possible.”
Melody shrugged. “I won’t outstay my welcome. When you’ve had enough of me, say the word. I’ll be gone.”
Brett started to say something, but changed his mind when I caught his eye. His face reflected his feelings for the girl, and it was a huge disappointment for me.
He didn’t know a damn thing about her, but had already made his opinions known. I had thought he was so much better than that. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Give her a chance, Brett.”
“Sure. Whatever,” he said, mimicking Melody. “Enjoy your dog walking, kid.”
He headed for the door, and I followed.
“It’s just temporary, Brett. She’ll be leaving soon.”
“Right. Call me when she does.” I let him walk out, because we both needed time to cool down. I was seeing a different side of Brett, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it.
* * *
A few days passed and I didn’t see Brett. Melody was keeping herself out of trouble, and even though her presence created tension between Brett and me, I still liked having her around and was genuinely fond of her.
Without Brett around to distract me, I used the free time to work on the mural for the Candy Bar, and within a week the project was completed. Candy arranged to have an “unveiling” party, and the curtain we’d resurrected to hide the work-in-progress would be removed at five o’clock sharp, and for two hours the bar would be a private party. Then the doors would open to the public, and the mural revealed.
I wasn’t nervous like I had been at the art show when I’d had suffered the allergic reaction. I knew my talent had grown, and I was ready to step up to the plate and take my bows.
My family would be here, as well as my friends. And Candy had Hank at her side. Apparently he had decided to leave his wife, and I’ve never seen her look happier.
Tonight, there would be no Botox, no miniature quiche, and no screw up. I was not going to disappear. I had so many wonderful people in my life and I refused to disappoint them.
Fran walked in wearing a flowing dress in bright colors, and looked more vivid than I’d ever seen her.
“Hi, honey. Don’t you look great,” I told her. “I’m so glad you’re here.” I kissed her cheek. “Can you believe this? All because I did that mural for you.”
Her eyes sparkled, as she said brightly, “I wouldn’t miss this party for the world. It’s time you were appreciated. You’ve worked hard for your success.”
I looked around the room, and whispered, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a little Candy Bar magic.” I winked at her. “Shush, not a word about it tonight. It’ll be our little secret.”
“Nonsense! You’ve always had the talent, only lacked the confidence. Now you have both,” she said with reverence. “But I do believe this is a magical place where dreams can come true.”
“It will for you too, Fran. One day when you least expect it, something will happen, and your life will be forever changed.”
“It has changed already. I had hoped to make friends, and I have. After John died I shut myself off from everybody, and of course I ended up alone.” She smiled gently. “In the past year, Lydia, Candy, and you have become so dear to me, and I think that is a bit of a miracle too.”
“It’s the best kind of miracle,” I agreed, squeezing her hand. “Have fun tonight, Fran. You deserve it.” I saw my family walk in and excused myself.
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“Dad, Mom.” They both kissed me. “It’s good to see you.”
Leanne pecked my cheek next, and I gave her a hug in excitement. My mother looked around her, and gasped when she saw a few of my paintings on the walls.
“These are yours? Susie, they are wonderful. You have really outdone yourself. I never knew…”
“Yes, I’ve been busy lately.”
Candy stopped in front of us carrying a tray of champagne. We all took a glass.
“Welcome everyone,” she lifted her hand in a toast. “To Susie Jensen, artist extraordinaire. Thank you all for coming here to celebrate this exciting event. You’ve all had plenty of time to see the other pieces of art that decorate our walls, so everyone here knows she’s a talented young painter. So, as not to keep you in suspense,” she whipped the curtain down. “Here it is.”
The oil pai
nting was rich in color and vivid in detail. Everything that had boiled inside of me lately had found its way onto the mural. It was a melting pot of Indian art and surrealism, with a whole lot of magic thrown in. It was the culmination of everything I was, I felt, I knew, and I was as proud of it as anything in my life.
I stood rock still as everyone burst into mad clapping, and whistles, and cheering. This was the moment I’d waited for all my life but something was missing. I looked around at all the smiling, congratulatory faces, searching for just one.
There it was. I blew Brett a kiss, and walked into the limelight. Later that night, I went back to his place so we could celebrate alone. He had a one bedroom and bath, with a tiny balcony that had a partial view of the ocean. For a bachelor apartment it was surprisingly neat. There was a small kitchen, a living room with a leather couch, an Easy Boy chair, a coffee table and big screen TV. Next to the TV was a built-in bookshelf where he had pictures of his family and an assorted collection of reading material. It was homey and nice.
He opened a bottle of chilled champagne, took two frosted flutes out of the freezer and popped the cork. “Quick! Take a sip,” I giggled. “It’s flowing over.” I probably didn’t need to drink. I was already on such a natural high, but I was in the mood to get totally sloshed, and make wild, passionate love.
The night had been a tremendous success, and it was such a relief for it to be over, and to know that I hadn’t screwed up. I wondered if that was a prelude of things to come. Maybe, just maybe, I’d finally become the person I’d always hoped to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Leanne had invited us for Thanksgiving dinner, and I knew she was dying to meet my new boyfriend, as was the rest of the family.
Dad saw us enter and hurried over. He kissed my cheek and shook hands with Brett. “What a surprise. I was going to call you to set up an appointment and here you are.” He looked at me. “I thought you were bringing a special guy over here for us to meet?”
“I am and I did.” I put my arm through Brett’s.
The Candy Bar Complete - 4 book box set: Candy Bar Series Page 40