minute?” I asked. I wasn’t about to assume it would be cool for me to just plop down at his table, but I wasn’t shy about asking for what I wanted, either. In this world you had to stick your foot out there or you’d never get anywhere.
Plus, if there was anyone who could help me, it would be him.
The smile he gave me could’ve blinded women. But I knew better than to believe he was interested in anything I had to offer.
“Of course. What’s on your mind?” He put down his paper, folding it neatly, and motioned for me to have a seat.
“I need some work,” I told him after I sat down. When he raised an eyebrow, I quickly added, “nothing illegal, just some extra job to give me a bit of a cushion. Business is slow.”
He was quiet for a few moments as he turned his face away from me and looked out across the street. “There’s something about you that reminds me of innocence, chica. You don’t belong here. You should go back home.” He faced me again, and I felt my cheeks grow hot at the look of pity he was giving me.
There was no home to go to, I wanted to tell him, and I was anything but innocent. I didn’t need his goddamn pity. First Kay’s lecture, now Jose’s concern?
As if he’d read my mind, his expression softened. “But that’s not my place to say, is it? So you are in need of a job or two.” He scratched his neck as he thought it over. “Ah. I heard from a little bird that someone’s hiring for some odd jobs. Would be right up your alley. Go see Tina at Magdalene House. She’ll put you in contact with who you’d need to speak to.”
“Magdalene House. That homeless shelter out there on the skirts?” Not that I was overly familiar with it, just had heard it in passing here and there.
I made a face. If I didn’t know better I’d think Jose was pulling one over on me.
“That’s the one. A safe house. If it’s a dead end, come back and see me next Sunday.” He picked up his paper and winked at me. I had been dismissed.
“I appreciate it, Jose.”
He waved me away. “Just be careful. You’re like a dove among the vultures right now.”
“Well, at least I have wings.” My tone was childish and bratty, but fuck it. I stood up, and with as much dignity as I could, I tucked in my chair. “But uh… thanks, Jose. Really.”
“Hope it pans out for you, kid.” He lightly snapped his paper and leaned back in his chair, crossing his leg over his knee.
I sighed, heading down the sidewalk, hoping I hadn’t disrespected him too much.
“Devon?” he called.
I turned around, surprised he remembered my name. He’d never called me anything other than pet names. “Yeah?”
“It was good seeing you. You need to eat more.”
I rolled my eyes and saluted him. “Yes, sir.”
Guess he wasn’t insulted after all.
With his laughter behind me, I stood at the corner and waved for a cab. I felt like treating myself. Screw it.
Magdalene House was on the other side of town, known as the “skirts” and far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I was thankful I had the money on me for the cab ride. There was no way I was going to walk the mile or so from the closest bus stop out there.
I paid the cabby after we arrived, and I looked around. All the trees surrounding the two-story building looked like they were on fire, with their red and orange leaves in full autumn swing. The place didn’t look anything like a homeless shelter, not any I’d been to, anyway. Probably owned by some rich people who lived miles away, a side-project that made them feel less guilty about being wealthy.
Yeah, I was jaded.
The girl at the front desk told me to wait for Tina, the lady Jose had told me to speak to. I looked around while I sat waiting, twiddling my thumbs, feeling dumb and dirty in this fancy place. Everything was clean and smelled like wealth. The people walking past as they went about their day, all women in nice clothes, threw smiles at me like candy.
There was no way this was a homeless shelter. Maybe the head office?
“Hi, I’m Tina,” the woman in the red pant suit said, walking out of one of the rooms in front