“Keep me from being cold,” he whispered against her lips, and she knew he didn’t mean temperature wise.
****
Kleya stared at herphone, reading the text from James, asking if he could come by and have lunch with her at the kitchen.He was interested in her life, to see where she spent her days.
“Why are you smiling?”Lark asked, looking over Kleya’s shoulder.
“James is coming here to eat lunch with me.”
Lark shook her head.“An arranged marriage.”
“It’s very common in the Wellington district.”She shrugged.“I like James.He’s not at all like my father.”
“I’ll never understand rich folks.But, if you’re okay with it and happy, then I’m happy for you.”
Kleya nudged her with her shoulder.“Wait till you meet him to judge.”
“Of course.He better treat you right or I’ll kick his ass.”
“Deal,” Kleya murmured, smiling at her best friend.
They returned to work and Kleya kept busy by setting everything up for the lunch rush.They provided three meals a day to the homeless and those down on their luck, something only possible by the donations they brought in.Money went a long way, but also unused food that was brought in by restaurants.They weren’t the only shelter operating, but they were the largest, primarily because Kleya donated a chunk of her monthly allowance to Lark’s kitchen.The safety net provided much needed relief for many people forgotten by the Coalition.Gangs ruled the poor, but there were so many innocent people unable to rise from their station in life that kept beating them down.The inequality broke her heart day after day.
As lunch time came around, she was busy setting up the food trays when an awareness came over her.She looked up and around and saw James in the doorway.Behind him stood a very muscular, very imposing man in a suit.The way his gaze swept over everything and every person let her know that this was a bodyguard.James spotted her and she hurried around the long tables to greet him.
“Welcome,” she said, smiling.
James bent over and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.“I hope I’m not imposing.”
“Not at all.We’re still setting lunch up so would you like to take a tour?”
“Yes.”He offered an elbow and she slid her hand around his bicep.
“This is the dining area, with the kitchen directly behind it,” she said, pointing.“Everyone is welcome to the food we prepare.Through this arch we have clothing, provided from stores where the item is damaged in some way, but also through donations and church charities.Each section we provide, a director oversees.”
She led him through another doorway into a larger room full of cribs.Babies cried, gurgled, and laughed while several women took care of them.
“Only about ten percent of the women that come through here have babies, but we provide childcare so the mothers can sleep, eat, work, or talk to lawyers.We have several who come for pro bono work.”
She could tell James was taking all this in, his mind categorizing everything.The last place she took him to was the dorms.Areas of single beds all lined up in rows, with sections roped off.
“Areas are broken up by age range and gender.We don’t get many males who stay the night, but occasionally one or two come in.Most of the time, it’s young boys who are sex workers needing the safety of a shelter for the night.”
James frowned.“Who supplies the funding for this place?”
“Mostly donations, although we do have some government subsidies,” she replied.“It’s why I sometimes attend galas with my parents, even if they are very embarrassed when I press the snobs on Wellington Hill for monetary pledges.”
“Do you donate?”
“Yes.Most of my monthly allowance, in fact, which really helps Lark out.I don’t need much.Speaking of...There she is.”
Kleya waved and Lark smiled as she made her way over.
“Lark, I’d like to introduce my fiancé, James Roarke.James, this is the founder and my best friend, Lark.”
He inclined his head.“Pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.This place wouldn’t be half as successful if not for Kleya.She’s truly a unicorn.”
