“They are good investments, which in turn, means a good profit in the future. That’s why they were purchased and added to our portfolio. Maybe with all you kids out of the house, we will be able to visit more than one a year.”
He’d offered that with a joking tone, but Lucia was still feeling heavier than normal in her chest. Even her shoulders seemed to slump a bit. Her parents went back to discussing the Maldives vacation home like she hadn’t even been talking to begin with. But right then, she didn’t mind.
She had other things to think about.
It was no wonder why Renzo—she’d learned a day after seeing him at the daycare from the shelter’s manager that his surname was Zulla—had looked at Lucia like she was something from another world. And not necessarily a world he wanted to know or visit, either.
She’d dropped him off at his place that night, and found herself concerned by the people loitering near the front of the worn down building. Mostly because they hadn’t exactly looked friendly, and she was concerned they might cause Renzo problems since he had a four-year-old in his arms.
Yes, she’d noticed the fact there was nowhere for Diego to play but a parking lot. Yes, she noticed the shape of the building. And yes, it made her take a second look.
She hadn’t meant to offend him, but that’s what his scoff and hard slam of the car door said she did. But maybe she understood now … he looked at her and saw things he did not have, and things he would never be.
Or that’s what he thought.
Lucia was lost in those thoughts of hers until her father finally pulled the Rolls into the parking lot of a familiar church. Every Sunday, never failed, this was where Lucia was supposed to be. Her father stepped out of the car first after parking to head for the passenger side and open the door for her mother.
Her mother, though, took that time to turn in her seat a bit to look at Lucia with a curious expression. “Are you okay? You seemed upset earlier … but then quiet.”
No, not really.
Lucia decided to lie, anyway. “I’m fine, Ma.”
• • •
“Lucia, you saw the schedule change, didn’t you?”
Lucia’s head popped up over the counter where she was currently working to pull out dishes that would be needed for the morning rush at the shelter. She had learned, since she started work there a few days earlier, that thanks to donations of food and money, they were able to serve an average of a hundred people per mealtime. It was more than the shelter housed, so it was the only time that the doors were opened for anyone who needed fed off the streets.
She’d figured that the kitchen would probably be her least favorite place to work in the shelter. She didn’t do well in chaotic situations—that wasn’t where she did her best work, frankly. Yet, she found the kitchen and serving food to be one of her favorite parts. Maybe it was because each face had a new story to tell, and they were always kind and grateful just to be there. Plus, they liked having someone to talk to.
Lucia liked listening.
She was good at that.
It always seemed like everyone working the kitchen made it a point to have fun, too. Music was always filtering over the chatter of people and the clattering of dishes. It didn’t matter if you were in the back scrubbing out pots, or at the front on the serving line … someone would make you smile and laugh.
“Did you see it?” Laurie asked again.
“Um, no,” Lucia admitted. “I just came right back here to get started and didn’t double check. Sorry.”
Laurie smiled as Lucia set another pile of plates on the metal counter. “Yeah, I don’t blame you. I never get to work in the kitchen as much as I want to anymore. It’s still my favorite place to be, but now I get to push all the papers and make sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Like you.”
Laughing, Lucia wiped her hands across the apron. “Where am I supposed to be, then, and could I maybe convince you to let me stay here instead?”
The woman had the decency to pretend she was considering Lucia’s request before she fake frowned, and shrugged. “Sorry, can’t do it. They really need an extra adult in the daycare today since it’s at capacity, and