Oh, for Petes sake! Lincoln loosely bracketed his hips with his hands. He studied the rooms occupants. One older boy wore a long, ratty velvet coat over holey jeans. The baggy pants of the other two dragged on the ground. One wore leather wrist bands. All had numerous earrings in both ears, and the girl with the lighter brown hair Jennyhad her lip, eyebrow and, Lord knew what else, pierced. Distrustful expressions, identical to Wolfies, were mirrored five times over.
He slowly released a pent-up breath. Its safe to say the ranch doesnt meet any of our expectations. I counted on having time to spruce it up and lay in supplies. And you thought youd walk into an operating shelter. Lincs gaze shifted to Wolfie, his sister, and Cassie in her pint-sized wheelchair. On top of that, I never planned on hostingsmall children. But theyre here and will be until I reach the new director of Social Services.
None of us formed any preconceived notions, Miranda muttered. Why dont we start over? Introduce ourselves, and then food can be our next priority.
Right. Linc rubbed the back of his neck, beginning to feel overwhelmed by everything facing him. It embarrassed him that the girl, Randi, was the first to voice a mature approach. He was, after all, the adult in charge. Although it struck him that, as John Montoya had said, hed jumped into this venture without a shred of actual experience.
Im Lincoln Parker, he said. Linc, if you like. Until a few weeks ago I lived and worked in Hollywood. My aim in starting this retreat is to provide a safe, substance-free home for up to a dozen teens whove lived hand-to-mouth on city streets.
Parker? Jenny gasped. Youre not Felicitys brother, are you? I mean, you couldnt be that Lincoln Parker. She shot Eric a funny look and they both uttered uneasy choking sounds.
As a matter of fact, I am that Parker. Lincs eyes clouded. He was getting a bad feeling about these kids again. No. Its too unbelievable to think youd be Not even the cops were able to find the kids who dumped my sister at an inner-city L.A. emergency room and then ran off.
We didnt dump her, Jenny sputtered. Two cops at the ER told us to get lost.
Eric scrambled to his feet. Yeah, I went back the next day and nobody would tell me a thing. We heard later shed ODd. Felicity was our friend, you know.
I spent weeks combing backstreets, asking information of anyone who might have seen where you were.
Gosh, didnt Felicity ever talk about us? When you were out of town, she let us crash at your place, Jenny said edgily, beginning to chew her nails, which was something Miranda noticed the girl did in tense situations.
You brought drugs into my home?
No! Jenny seemed horrified.
Dont lie. I have an autopsy report that shows alcohol, marijuana and embalming fluid in my sisters blood, for Gods sake. Oh, whats the use of talking to you? The police were adamant that even if I found you, you wouldnt rat out a dealer. Lincs dark eyes glittered as his anger centered on Jenny. I wont tolerate drugs here. Maybe youd better move on. His voice shook with anger.
Eric stepped protectively in front of Jenny. Youve got no right to yell at us, man. Me and Jenny tried to help Felicity.
Jennys white face bobbed out in the open as she grabbed Erics arm. It was wet, Eric. Thats what made Felicity act so crazy.
Lincs scowl returned to the girl. What are you yammering about? The night you took Felicity to emergency, the city hadnt seen rain in months.
Not rain, stupid, Eric spat. Wets a street name for weedmarijuanalaced with PCP, soaked in embalming fluid and dried. Felicity knewwe all know thats evil shier, stuff, he finished lamely, watering down his language when Miranda jabbed him in the ribs and rolled her eyes at the children still huddled in a corner. Wanting to defuse the situation, she hauled Jenny toward the kitchen.
Today has turned out to be a shocker for everyone, Mr. Parker, she said. My dad used to say troubles better met and dealt with on a full stomach. Why dont Jenny and I see what we can find to make for supper? Yall can talk afterward.
Linc leveled a frown at the girl with the too-dark hair, pale skin and smoke-gray eyes. If you have a dad worthy of quoting, why are you hanging out with this riffraff?
Mirandas chin shot up. My dad died. And were not riffraff. If thats your attitude, and if you want kids with pedigrees, why advertise this place as a haven for homeless teens?
Her barb struck Linc in an unprotected spot and triggered a load of guilt. Why had Felicity, who had access to a nice home and best of everything money could buy, chosen friends among druggies and derelicts? He obviously wouldnt find out by attacking the very kids he hoped one day to wrest answers from.
Still gruff, he waved the two girls away. Wheeling abruptly in the direction of his youngest guests, Wolfgang in particular, Linc rattled off their names by way of introduction. Wolfie, you go help Randi and Jenny. You know better than I do where cooking supplies are kept. Eric and company can help me inventory the rest of the house. Between now and suppertime, well sort out equitable sleeping spots for the night.
Wolfie, mulled over Lincs words. Whats equitthat word you said. Whats it mean?
It means fair. Elbow room for everyone, like we discussed earlier. I dont want anyone encroaching on his or her neighbors sleeping space.
I guess thats okay, the boy muttered. You sure use big words, mister. Me, Cassie and Hana aint no walking dictionaries, you know?
The kid sounded so serious, Linc laughed. Okay, Ill watch the four-bit words.
Even the older teens broke out in approving grins. For the moment, the strain that had permeated the room evaporated.
Greatly relieved, Miranda picked up Scraps and nudged Jenny into the kitchen.
Remember to wash your hands before you touch any food, Parker yelled after them. He didnt really expect an answer and wasnt surprised when none came. But he realized that John Montoya had been more right than wrong. He might be in over his head here.
CHAPTER THREE
JUST BEFORE RANDI found the light switch and spilled light into the dark kitchen, Jenny grabbed her. Im no cook, are you? What if Lincoln Parker hates what we fix?
Miranda didnt answer. Eewew! Pinching her nose closed, she surveyed a mountain of dirty pots, pans and dishes stacked haphazardly on every surface of an equally dirty stove, sink and counter. Not only were those houseparents despicable, she said in a nasal voice, they were pigs.
Yeah, this is disgusting. Jenny covered her nose and mouth with one hand.
Jenny, go find Mr. Parker. Tell him we cant do anything about starting supper until weve made a dent in cleaning up this mess. Warn him that some of these pans look so corroded theyll have to be trashed. Beginning with this one. She gingerly picked up a saucepan with moldy macaroni and cheese burned to the bottom and sides.
Jenny wasted no time hightailing it out of the smelly room.
Not caring how chilly it had grown outside, Miranda flung open what windows she could budge. She sucked in great gasps of fresh air and wondered how anyone could live this way.