Capturing Her Curves by Christa Wick & C.M. Wick

Author:Christa Wick & C.M. Wick [Wick, Christa & Wick, C.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christa Wick

Chapter 11

Lunch blurred by as it always did. The only thing that stuck in Velda's memory was the underlying current of optimism, something usually in short supply around the center. Some small sliver of the mood might have been triggered by the roofer's arrival. Except work hadn't started and it was just one roofer there to finalize the contract and accept the downpayment check. Quite possibly, Velda was the only one aware of the man's visit.

She knew the bulk of the ebullient mood was due to the new computers, espresso machine and a couple hundred pods she couldn't justify replacing after they were consumed.

Velda didn't see Shane at lunch. Knowing she couldn't keep a smile on her face while he was around and not wanting her own foul mood to dampen the joy of others, she left as soon as the plates were loaded. She returned when she knew cleanup would be underway.

With that task complete, a preternatural silence filled the dining area and kitchen.

She thought about sneaking back to her room. Hell, nothing was on fire and everyone was acting like they didn't need her. Maybe she could squeeze in a nap. Even better, she could call up Frank Delvecchio and ask what his wife Connie was cooking for dinner. Socializing with the couple would do her good and maybe soften Frank up in case she truly needed him to supervise the shelter for a few days.

"I thought you'd be in the computer lab with everyone else," Melanie Adams said as she walked a quick line toward the espresso machine.

"Is that where they all are?" Velda asked. She had half suspected as much.

"Well, a couple of the older kids and their moms are at soccer practice."

Melanie popped a pod into the machine and started it brewing. Every few seconds she waved her hand over the steam and drew a deep, satisfied breath. When the cup was filled, she took a sip and sighed before looking at Velda.

"I don't know how, but you brought us a real angel, Miss Pace."

Right, Velda thought. Shane was the angel in the current equation.

Melanie gestured at the machine. "Have you had a cup yet?"

Velda shook her head.

"No point getting hooked on something temporary," she said, leaving the kitchen and heading toward the computer room.

Instead of going into the lab, she ducked into the laundry room. The position gave her a clear line of sight. She counted more than a dozen people scattered around the computers.

The small crowd was mostly teens, plus Shane, Honey Grier, and Georgia Carter. Velda only realized after sorting all the bodies that nine of them were at computers. Before Shane's arrival, there had been just five machines, all of which were PCs. Counting three Macs and three new printers, she wondered what else Shane had added. A better router, she figured. Otherwise, someone would be complaining about internet speed.

Shane stood tall among the crowd. He moved between the workstations, fixing minor issues as Georgia and the kids stress-tested the machines.

Alone in the doorway, Velda watched as Honey turned around in her chair and called Shane's name.

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