Secret Worlds (372 page)

Deborah rolled her eyes and held out a hand to him. “He’s fine. Mind helping me to get him back on his feet?”

Lash bent down, and the man clutched his hand. “You got a grip there, son. Do any wrestling?”

“Good grief, Nathan. Not everyone we meet is going to want to hear about your college wrestling days.”

“No, sir. I haven’t,” Lash said as he followed the couple to the row of chairs that lined the walls of the room.

“I was on the Texas Tech wrestling team in—”

“1977,” Deborah said, interrupting him, “was the year I started college at Tech. We met at the—”

“Texican Café.” Nathan pulled out a chair for her. “You should have seen her. She had her hair in all these little braids like—”

“Bo Derek.” She sat and patted the chair next to her, inviting Lash to sit. “That was the rage back then.”

Lash nodded politely as the couple continued to talk about their college days and how they met, amused as they continued to complete each other’s sentences.

Deborah placed a hand over Lash’s. “Goodness. Look at us just talkin’ away. We haven’t even introduced ourselves. I’m Deborah Taylor, and this handsome devil is my husband, Nathan.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lash said. “I’m Lash.”

“Ooh, that’s an interesting name,” Deborah said. “It suits you.”

“Watch out there, Lash. The cougar is on the prowl,” Nathan teased.

She kissed him on the cheek. “You know I have eyes only for you.”

“So, when did you start the class?” Lash really liked them.

“A couple of weeks ago. We’re new to the city. Just moved here from Gardenville. It’s a small town in North Texas. Nathan was out of a job for a while, and we thought we’d never find work. Then Prescott Oil moved in with all this fracking business, and they hired Nathan right away. He’s so good they wanted him working in their Houston office, so here we are. Got my purse stolen the first day we moved in.”

“It’s not like Gardenville. You got to keep your eyes and ears open ’round here,” Nathan chastised, wagging his finger.

She grabbed his hand, kissed it, and placed it back on his lap. “I know. I thought I
was
being careful. Well, that’s why we’re here. How about you?” Deborah asked Lash.

Lash glanced over at Naomi and caught her staring in their direction. She turned a vibrant pink and suddenly found her fingernails very engrossing.

“I walked Naomi here from a group meeting we had earlier. I didn’t want her to walk alone at night. Chuy asked if I could help out. Since I didn’t have anything else to do, I figured, why not? I’ve never done this before.”

“That’s so sweet of you. You and your girlfriend did a good job,” Deborah said. “Don’t you think so, Nathan?”

“Yes. Good job, son.” Nathan patted him on the back. “Your girlfriend’s a looker too.” He winked at Lash.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Really?” Deborah looked over to Naomi and then back at Lash. “I assumed by the way you two have been looking at each that you were together.”

“I don’t think she’d be interested in a guy like me,” Lash said.

“Oh, she’s interested.” Nathan opened a bottle of water, took a sip, and handed it over to his wife.

“She sure is,” Deborah agreed. “Why don’t you ask her out on a date?”

Lash thought about it and quickly pushed the thought away. Was he out of his mind? Naomi was an assignment, not someone that he could become romantically involved with, and then there was the problem that she was human.

He glanced back at Naomi. He ached at the thought that he could never be with her in the same way Nathan was with Deborah. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Taylor. Good job today,” Chuy said as he approached them.

“Nathan and I were telling Lash here how nice it was for him to volunteer to help us out,” Deborah said.

Lash smiled. “It was my pleasure.”

“Actually, Lash reminds me of you, Chuy,” Deborah gave Lash a devilish look. “He’s polite and helpful. I heard he walked Naomi here to make sure she was safe. Such a gentleman.”

“Yeah, thanks for watching after her,” Chuy said. “I know Naomi can be a handful sometimes.”

“Are you talking about me?” Naomi stepped up beside Chuy.

“Yeah, I was thanking Lash for walking you over.”

Naomi scowled. “I can take care of myself.”

“There’s safety in numbers, dear,” Deborah said. “Come on, Nathan. It’s time we get you home.”

Nathan stood up and groaned. “I definitely heard my knees pop that time. You’re going to have to pull out the liniment tonight.”

“Come on, Chuy, let’s get going. I’m starving.” Naomi tugged on Chuy’s arm.

Chuy looked curiously from Naomi to Lash. His expression changed, as if he realized something. With a silly grin on his face, he turned to Lash. “What’re you doing tonight?”

“He’s busy,” Naomi answered quickly.

Lash raised his brow and caught her eyes dart between him and Chuy. She was nervous. “Nothing.”

“Come over to our house for dinner,” Chuy said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Naomi said. “Welita isn’t expecting anyone else. There may not be enough to go around.”

Chuy snorted. “Welita cooks for ten every night. There’ll be plenty.”

“Great! I’d love a home-cooked meal. Beats the Ramen noodles I planned to eat,” Lash said.

“Ramen noodles, Naomi. Don’t let the poor man eat that stuff when he could have some of Welita’s tamales.”

Naomi sighed. “Oh, all right.”

Lash decided that he was a glutton for punishment. As much as he knew that he shouldn’t get so involved with Naomi and her family, he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Okay, this is far enough,” Naomi said, shifting the car into park.

Chuy threw himself to the ground, panting. “We need to get Welita a new car.”

Lash leaned against the back of car, wondering what he should do next.

When the car had broken down about a mile from the house, he’d thought they were in for a long walk. Then Chuy had climbed out of the car and Naomi made her way to the front seat as if they had done it before. She’d given Lash an expectant look, and when he hadn’t moved, she’d said, “Well, don’t just sit there. Help Chuy push.”

How was he to know that they’d actually wanted to take the car with them? He’d climbed out and shaken his head as he eyed the clunker. By the looks of it, the gas in it was probably worth more than the car.

The car wasn’t heavy to him at all. Alone, he could easily have pushed it without breaking a sweat, but with Chuy and Naomi there, he couldn’t push faster without raising suspicion. They’d been moving so slow, though, he’d been tempted to throw Chuy back into the car and push it himself.

Lash looked down at Chuy and decided his best bet was to feign exhaustion.

“We didn’t push that far,” Naomi said when she got out of the car. “Chuy and I had pushed it all the way from downtown last year?”

“Why don’t … you … have it … towed?” Lash’s chest rose and fell as he faked being breathless. He was starting to feel dizzy from being over oxygenated. He’d never had to simulate physical exhaustion before.

Naomi hovered over him, hands on hips. “Are you kidding? Do you know how much towing costs? Besides, I thought you were like Mr. Fitness or something.”

Lash stiffened. He’d better reel in the acting a bit.

Chuy propped himself up on his elbows. “Cut the man some slack, Naomi.
You
didn’t have to push four thousand pounds of steel in the heat.”

“Come on, you big baby.” Naomi held out a hand to Chuy. “You two look like you could use something to drink.” She inhaled and smiled. “It smells like dinner is ready.”

Lash took a deep breath and smelled a delicious aroma. In thirty-five years on Earth, he’d had his share of fine cuisine—when he was able to get his hands on cash. But the wonderful aroma wafting across the front yard was something he’d never smelled before. His stomach rumbled.

Chuy slapped a hand on his back. “Ever had tamales?”

“No.”

“Seriously?” Naomi asked as she reached the steps of the house.

“Yeah. I’ve seen tamales in a can. They smelled nothing like this,” Lash said. He shuddered as he recalled the repugnant odor of the slimy goo.

“A can? You’re missing out man.” Chuy pulled the screen door open and yelled as he walked in. “Welita, we’re here! I got Naomi’s boyfriend.”

Naomi turned red and scampered after him. “He is not my boyfriend!”

Lash chuckled and followed her into a quaint house that had seen better days. The cream-colored sofa, yellow with age, was covered with a knitted blanket in bright, cheerful colors. A bedroom dresser, looking out of place in the living area, served as a stand for a small TV. He was surprised by the lack of modern electronics most households seemed to have.

Naomi and Chuy went into another room while Lash stayed in the living room looking at the family photos on the dresser. He picked up a photo of a little boy wearing a red plaid shirt and black corduroys. Large brown eyes emerged from beneath black curls.
Javier.

He felt his eyes prick as he stared at the little boy. Javier didn’t even have the chance to live out his full life. He could only imagine the pain Naomi had felt losing him.

Lash heard a scratching at the door, and he put the photo down.

“Lash, would you open the door and let the dog in?” Naomi called from the other room. “Be careful though, she doesn’t like strangers.”

Lash grinned at the thought of how surprised Naomi was going to be. Over the past few weeks, he and Bear had become good friends. “Sure, no problem.”

He opened the door, and Bear scurried into the room. Seeing Lash, she ran around in circles, excited.

“Sit,” he instructed.

Bear barked and sat, her tail pulsed against the linoleum floor.

“That’s strange,” Naomi said as she stepped into the living room.

Lash squatted and scratched behind Bear’s ear. “What’s strange?”

“She usually barks non-stop at strangers until they leave, and she really doesn’t like anyone petting her, except for us.”

Naomi reached out to pet Bear.

Bear growled.

Naomi snatched her hand back. “Crazy dog. No table scraps for you.”

Lash chuckled as Bear let out a huff, turned her attention back to him, licking his fingers. “I think Bear and I are going to be great friends.”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “Come on, dinner is ready.”

“There you are,” Welita said, as Lash followed Naomi into kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron. “You must be Naomi’s boyfriend. I’m Naomi’s grandmother, Anita, but everyone calls me Welita.”

He placed a hand into hers and shook. “Lash. Nice to meet you, Welita.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Naomi said.

“No?” Welita turned to Chuy. “You told me he was.”

Chuy chuckled, and Naomi threw a potholder at him.

“I said there was a guy that Naomi was hanging out with after her group thing she does every Monday night,” Chuy said.

“You failed to mention that I was with another girl, too,” Naomi said. “Her name is Ellen. She’s in the group.”

“Is Ellen your girlfriend?” Welita asked Lash.

“Welita! That’s private,” Naomi said.

“Why should that be private? If he has a girl, he should be proud to show her off.” Welita turned to Lash. “Well?”

“No, ma’am. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Really? Such a handsome fellow like you is single? And you’re so polite, too.” She patted his arm. “Take a seat here,” she pulled out an old wooden chair.

Lash sat down across the table from Naomi. “I know you didn’t expect me for dinner, Mrs. Duran—”

“Welita,” she said, pulling a lid from a huge black pot.

“Welita, I really appreciate you allowing me to have dinner with your family.”

“I knew you were coming.” Welita plopped a heaping scoop of beans onto a plate.

Lash glanced questioningly at Naomi.

She shrugged and eyed Chuy suspiciously.

“I didn’t say anything. It was a last minute decision,” Chuy said.

“How did you know, Welita?” Naomi asked.

“Rebecca told me.” Welita dipped a large spoon into a pot of Spanish rice.

Rebecca? The other angel?
Lash thought. Did the guardian angel know about him? Maybe he could get more information about her from Welita.

“Who is Rebecca?” Lash painted an innocent expression on his face.

The room fell silent. Chuy and Naomi looked at each other.

“Well, uh, she’s kind of … she’s …” Naomi sputtered.

“She’s my guardian angel.” Welita placed a plate of food in front of him and sat in the seat next to him.

“Oh, I see,” Lash said casually. He picked up his fork and dug into the beans. “Umm, this is delicious.”

“Let me explain that,” Naomi said. “Welita is religious and—”

“There’s nothing to explain. Rebecca said an attractive young man would be coming for dinner tonight, and he did.” Welita ruffled Lash’s hair, and he grinned. He was really starting to like Naomi’s grandmother.

“Rebecca has good taste.” He winked at Naomi and placed a forkful of rice into his mouth.

Welita studied him for a moment. “You know, you look like her. You have the same perfect skin, and the same almond-shaped eyes—almost an exact duplicate of her.”

Lash coughed as a grain of rice went down his windpipe. Welita didn’t let anything get past her, and he feared he was close to being discovered. Although, based on Chuy and Naomi’s reactions, it didn’t seem like they believed her. Though many claimed to see angels, or even to have their own guardian angel, most unbelievers dismissed these claims as side effects of drugs or religious wishful thinking.

Naomi snorted. “Yeah, Lash is an angel.”

Welita scowled. “I didn’t say that. I said that he looks like Rebecca.”

Lash picked up a corn-husk-wrapped package. The conversation was getting too close for comfort.

“Lash, you need to—ow, stop kicking me Chuy,” Naomi said.

Lash looked curiously at Chuy.

“Don’t mind her. Go on. You’ll like it,” he encouraged.

Lash bit down on the husk and gagged.

Welita threw Chuy a glare. “Lash, you’re supposed to take the husk off.”