A Mermaid Under The Mistletoe, Page 2

  Leilani considered the girl shivering in her threadbare coat. Common sense told her that taking in a strange girl who’d just stolen from her was foolhardy at best, downright stupid and dangerous at worst. She tried to harden herself against the girl’s tears. If she’d been on the street for that long, Jinx had probably learned how to put on a good act. But as she looked her over, Leilani wondered what she would want in Jinx’s position. “I’ll tell you what. I haven’t had breakfast yet. Why don’t you come with me? We can talk about what it is you really want and then we’ll see what we can come up with, okay?”

  Jinx offered a genuine smile. “Really?”

  “Come on.” Leilani unlocked the car doors. She watched Jinx look over her shoulder before getting in. “Anything I should know about?” she asked as she started the engine.

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. He’s probably not awake yet anyway,” Jinx added under her breath.

  Leilani raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything as she drove away from the rec center. While her apartment complex was only a few blocks away, she couldn’t bear the idea of walking in the cold. So unlike many of her fellow cast members, she’d rented a car soon after arriving in the city. Now she maneuvered the vehicle toward a small cafe her friend had recommended to her when she first arrived from Hawaii. The Mermaid’s Tail sat on the corner of a block which mostly housed apartment complexes and condos. An old wooden sign which badly needed paint proudly greeted them as Leilani stopped her car.

  “The Mermaid’s Tail? Seriously?” Jinx scoffed.

  “Hey, they’ve got the best lobster in town,” Leilani retorted.

  “You don’t get around much, do you?”

  Leilani shot her companion a sour look. “Considering today’s events, let’s try to keep things pleasant, shall we?”

  Jinx ducked her head, her cheeks going crimson. “Sorry,” she muttered.

  Smiling, Leilani said, “Don’t worry about it. Come on, I’m starved.” She walked into the restaurant, inhaling the tangy scent of seafood. A help wanted sign caught her eye. If Jinx was serious about making a change in her life, that sign could be a big step forward.

  “Be right with you. Just sit wherever you want,” a waitress called from the register.

  Leilani nodded and led the way to a table near the windows. She noticed Jinx looking around nervously. “Would you rather be away from the windows?”

  “Yeah. It’s just colder by them, you know?” Jinx said in an unconvincing attempt to hide her discomfort.

  “True,” Leilani said. “How about right there?” She pointed to a booth which would be less visible from outside. Jinx nodded and they walked to the booth. Leilani watched Jinx slide in as close to the wall as she could get. What, or who, was she so afraid of? She took her own seat in the middle of the opposite bench. She picked up the menu and skimmed over it, though she noticed Jinx hardly touched hers.

  “Sorry about the wait. I’m Yolanda and I’ll be your server this morning. What can I get you gals to drink?” the waitress asked as she sauntered over.

  “I’ll have the cocoa with a shot of caramel,” Leilani said.

  “Just water, please,” Jinx mumbled.

  “What was that, dear?” Yolanda asked.

  “She’ll have the same as me,” Leilani replied as Jinx glared at her.

  “All rightie then. Do you know what you want to order yet?”

  Leilani studied Jinx. “I think we’ll need a few more minutes.”

  “I’ll get those cocoas right out to you,” Yolanda said.

  When she had walked away, Leilani looked at Jinx seriously. “I know you’re probably not used to having much, but please order whatever you want. I’m covering the tab today and I want to be sure you leave here with a full belly.”

  “Why?” Jinx asked. “Why do you even care?”

  Leilani shrugged with a grin. “I’m Hawaiian. The one thing we don’t do is let people leave hungry.”

  A tiny grin pulled at Jinx’s lips. “There should be more Hawaiians in the world, then.”

  “Sounds perfect, right?” Leilani asked. “Truly, order whatever you want. The salmon hash is really good.” They were quiet for a while as they studied their menus. Leilani observed Jinx. The young woman’s eyes darted around, observing everything around her. She would bet that, if asked, Jinx could probably tell exactly how many people had come into the cafe since they arrived. A sobering thought reminded her that the young woman could probably also determine which were easy targets and which to avoid. Leilani frowned. How was she going to help this girl turn over a new leaf? Especially when she didn’t know who Jinx was trying to get away from. Yolanda returned with their cocoas and took their orders before walking away to the kitchen, shouting items as she went. Leilani chuckled. She then frowned as Jinx swore. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Nothing’s wrong. This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted! I’ve never had hot cocoa this creamy and good,” Jinx replied. “I’ve only ever had the nasty packet...”

  “Crud,” Leilani filled in. “Let’s lay out some ground rules, okay? No swearing.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because it’s unnecessary,” Leilani said firmly. “Call me old-fashioned, but I think one of the ugliest things a person can do is curse.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. New leaf, new you. No more swearing.”

  Jinx muttered something under her breath. “That’s going to be hard.”

  “Changing is never easy,” Leilani replied.

  They were quiet until Yolanda returned with their orders and placed the steaming plates in front of them. “Enjoy,” she said.

  Leilani folded her hands and bent her head in silent prayer.

  “You really think He’s listening to you?” Jinx asked.

  “I have no reason not to believe it,” Leilani said. “Maybe you should try it out sometime.” Jinx rolled her eyes before tucking into her salmon hash. Leilani held back a sigh. She began eating her shrimp crepes, but as delicious as the food was, she couldn’t enjoy it as she pondered her dilemma. How can I help her? she wondered.

  Chapter 4

  They had almost finished their meal when Leilani decided it was time to find some answers. “So, what kind of second chance are you looking for, Jinx?” she asked, getting the young woman’s attention. “I gather from what you said earlier, you need a place to stay. But I need to know who you’re running from.”

  “What makes you think I’m running from anyone?”

  “Let’s not play games here, Jinx,” Leilani replied. “I see you looking around. Every little noise makes you jump. I need some answers. Maybe not all of them, but at least a starting point. Are you in a gang?”

  “Not a recognizable one, no,” Jinx said. “But I’ve been with the wrong crowd for too long.”

  “How did that happen?”

  Jinx looked at her plate, pushing around bits of food. “How does it ever happen? I’ve always been told I was the trouble child. Guess that’s why no one adopted me after Mom overdosed.”

  Leilani’s heart broke. “How old were you?”

  “Ten maybe? I’d been in foster homes before because,” she allowed her voice to trail away with a sigh. “Well, I guess I don’t really need to explain it, do I? No one wants an addict’s child. Babies, sure. People think they can fix a baby. But a child? Apparently we’re beyond redemption.” Bitterness tainted her words as she said, “At eighteen, you age out of the system. I had no family, no real friends, and no hope. I needed food, and more than that I needed shelter. I was living on the streets and this man says he’ll help me.” Jinx shuddered. “I should have known better, I guess.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Jinx shrugged. “If I learned anything after years in the system it’s that people don’t actually care. They say they do. And some are really good at flowery speeches and other,” she paused at Leilani’s frown before
finishing, “stuff. But deep down, they’ve got an angle and you’re just a tool for them to use. That’s why I went to the gym today. You wouldn’t have been without your bag long.”

  “Why?”

  Jinx’s eyes swirled with pain and a sorrow so deep, Leilani wasn’t sure if it could ever be lifted. “I wanted to be caught. Prison would have been infinitely better than what he wanted from me.”

  Leilani kept a tight rein on her emotions as a single tear slid down Jinx’s cheek. What had this poor girl gone through? “Maybe we can help each other,” she said after a while. “How old are you now?”

  “Twenty-one next March,” Jinx replied.

  Surprise caused Leilani to raise an eyebrow. Jinx didn’t look anywhere near twenty. When was the last time she’d had a good, filling meal? How had she survived so long without the love of another person? Leilani couldn’t imagine life without her parents or goofball brothers. It’s what made living on the mainland so challenging. Part of her couldn’t wait to get back to Hawaii. “Well, that’s good news,” Leilani said.

  “Why?” Jinx asked.

  “It means I don’t have to worry about filling out a bunch of paperwork and stuff to bring you to live with me.”

  “You seriously want to take me in? Even after everything I’ve told you?”

  “That’s going to depend on you,” Leilani said seriously. “If you want to live with me and make a turn in your life, the first thing you’re going to do is apply for a job. The cafe is hiring.” She pointed to the sign in the window. “Before we leave, I want you to talk to the waitress about getting an application. After that, we’re going to do some shopping and get you set up with a new wardrobe and anything you might need. We’ll get groceries and then back to my place it is.”

  “How’m I going to get to work?” Jinx asked. “I can’t drive.”

  “I’ll teach you, and in the meantime, the cafe is just two buildings down from my apartment. You’ll easily be able to get here when you need to.”

  Jinx studied her through narrowed eyes. “What’s in it for you?”

  “Nothing material. I miss my family, so this will be sort of like having a little sister. And if you’re serious about wanting to better your life, I want to make sure it happens.” When Jinx didn’t look convinced, Leilani continued, “Not everyone has an agenda, Jinx. May be hard for you to believe after all you’ve been through, but it’s true.”

  The young woman pursed her lips and Leilani waited patiently for her to respond. At length, Jinx said, “What are you going to do if he comes looking for me?”

  “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it. For now, let’s start getting you taken care of.” Yolanda appeared with the check, which Leilani took. She gave Jinx a pointed glance and nodded in the waitress’s direction.

  “Um,” Jinx began.

  “Yes, sugar, do you need something?” Yolanda asked.

  Jinx took a deep breath. “We noticed you have a help wanted sign. I’m looking for a job.”

  Yolanda smiled. “Have any experience in the kitchen?”

  “No.”

  “Waitressing?”

  “No.”

  “Ever used a cash register before?”

  Pink infused Jinx’s cheeks. “Well, not exactly.” She started to sink in her seat and Leilani gave her an encouraging smile. “But, maybe I could learn?”

  Yolanda chuckled. “Of course you can. Let me bring you an application so we can be official.”

  Jinx stared as Yolanda wandered away from their table. “That was surprisingly easy.”

  “Don’t expect it to always be that way,” Leilani replied, leaving enough cash to cover their bill, plus a generous tip, in the small folder. “And just so we’re clear, I’m not going to be a pawn or a puppet in some game. If you don’t uphold your side, I’ll take you to the station myself. Are we clear on that?”

  Jinx nodded. “Yeah, we’re clear. I promise, you won’t regret this.”

  Yolanda returned with an application. “Just fill this out and bring it back to me as soon as you can. How soon can you start?”

  “Uh, today?” Jinx replied.

  Chuckling, Yolanda said, “Enthusiasm. We like that around here. What’s your name, hon?”

  “Jinx.”

  If it surprised Yolanda as it had Leilani, she didn’t show it. She simply said, “Well, Jinx, bring in that application tomorrow morning and we’ll get you started.”

  “What time?” Leilani asked.

  “Oh, I think about nine should do it. That gives us a bit of a lull between the breakfast crowd and lunch rush.”

  “Thank you,” Leilani said as they got up from their table.

  Yolanda smiled. “No, thank you. We’ve been in desperate need of a helping hand around here for ages. I’m glad you stopped in.”

  “Me too,” Jinx replied.

  Leilani led the way to her car. They’d almost reached it when a voice behind them said, “Bit far from home, aren’t ya Jinx?”

  Chapter 5

  Butch had nearly reached his apartment when he saw Leilani coming out of the corner cafe. He was about to turn away when he realized with a shock that the girl who’d stolen her bag was with her. What was she thinking spending time with a criminal? Much less one who had not even an hour earlier stolen her bag? He stalked toward her, ready to give her a piece of his mind when a man stepped out from the shadows of the building. Butch watched Leilani stand protectively in front of the girl, what was her name, Jinx? The blood thundered in his ears as he saw the man reach for her.

  He heard Leilani’s angry voice as she pushed the man’s arm away. “You’re not taking her.”

  Butch swore. Had no one taught this woman when to pick her battles? He didn’t know who Leilani was dealing with, but experience told him this wasn’t going to end well. Darla Good would tell him to call the police and let them deal with the situation. But right now there wasn’t time. If the man threatening them pulled a gun, none of Leilani’s words would make a difference. He pushed himself to a jog and said loudly, “Minneapolis Police. Is there a problem here?”

  Just as he’d expected, the man ran before even looking his way. Coward.

  He slowed his pace as he neared. “Are you okay?”

  Leilani’s eyes rounded then narrowed when she saw him. “Stalking me, are you?” she asked.

  “Good thing for you,” Butch retorted. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

  “I had everything under control,” Leilani spat.

  Butch laughed. “You wish you did. Do you realize you could have been shot?”

  “But I wasn’t.”

  “But you could have been. For cryin’ out loud, you don’t make empty threats to the criminals. And what’s she doing here?”

  Something sparked in Leilani’s eyes. “Her name is Jinx and she’s coming to stay with me.”

  Butch would have sworn his eyes popped out of his head. “She’s what?”

  “She’s coming to stay with me. You saw that man. Obviously she needs somewhere safe to go.”

  “She can speak for herself, thank you very much,” Jinx said, crossing her arms over her chest with a huff. “What’s it to you anyway?”

  “You stole from her.” Butch turned to Leilani. “She stole from you and you’re just going to open your home to her? Are you insane?”

  Leilani smirked. “I think you’ve already established that I’m crazy. Thank you for stepping in, just now, but I think Jinx and I can take it from here.”

  She started to walk away and Butch took her arm. It must have been rougher than he’d intended, or maybe he just had a really crummy way with women, because the next thing he knew Leilani’s fist connected with his jaw. He had to hand it to her, she had a mean left hook. “What the...”

  “Next time you lay a hand on me I’ll break your nose,” Leilani snarled. “Good day.”

  Butch watched her walk to a nearby car. She and Jinx got in and soon drove away. He cursed again. What was wrong with
her? He looked around. The footprints from the man leaving were still fresh enough to follow. Officer Good would want you to call her, not start investigating yourself, his conscience reminded him.

  “Shut up,” he muttered. He followed the footprints to a nearby alley. Smart move. There were enough prints here to make it difficult to determine who had left them behind. He scanned the area, but saw no hint of life. “I hope that creep leaves her alone.” Even as the words left his lips, he knew the truth. Whoever that was would be back.

  He walked back to the main street and then down to the apartment complexes. “No,” he breathed. Parked in the communal parking lot was Leilani’s car. He could even hear her laughter floating down to him. Butch looked up to see Leilani and Jinx walking into an apartment two doors down from his own. He cursed again. “She is never going to believe that’s just a coincidence. But I’m sure not moving just to ease her crazy mind.” He walked up the stairs to the upstairs apartments. As he passed Leilani’s apartment, he paused. Hoping he wouldn’t get decked again, Butch gave a tentative knock. When she opened the door he said quickly, “I know I’m probably the last person you wanted to see, but there’s one more thing I wanted to tell you.”

  “You’re not last on the list, but pretty close,” Leilani replied. “What do you want?”

  “Well, this is a crazy small world and I just happen to live two doors down from here.”

  She quirked an eyebrow. “You do?”

  Butch held up his hands. “It’s the truth and I promise I didn’t just rent it out. I’ve been here for years.”

  “Okay, and you feel the need to tell me this why?”

  “Well, first, I didn’t want you to think I’m actually stalking you if we happen to be out at the same time. And second, if you need anything, you know, chasing off bad guys or whatever, I’m here.”

  Leilani’s expression softened and that faint dimple showed as she smiled. “Thanks, Butch, I appreciate it.”