Page 102 of No More Secrets
“That too.” He winks.
“Come here, girl, and give me a hug.” She turns to Shiloh. “You make sure Lucas eats his salad.”
Shiloh grimaces. “No promises.”
Ivy cups her cheeks and looks her in the eye. “You’re one lucky girl. I thank my lucky stars every day Lucas found you.”
After Lucas left his sisters in Seaside Cove, he returned to California City and filled Ivy in on everything: who he is, who Shiloh is, and how their paths had crossed. Ivy, bless her, was surprisingly understandingdespite him deceiving her, and she still wanted to sell him her building.You need it more than me, she told him.
“Me too.” Shiloh gives Ivy a hug, meeting Lucas’s gaze. He still gets sick to his stomach whenever he thinks what could have happened if he hadn’t pulled Shiloh out of the homeless encampment when he did.
Sophie steps forward with a chilled bottle of Italian soda. “For the road.”
“It’s not that long a drive.” Ivy’s moving in with her sister in San Diego, and in another month, the two ladies depart on a six-month voyage around the world.
“Then enjoy it tonight when you get there.”
“We’ll be celebrating with something a little stronger than this, but I’ll take it,” Ivy jokes, tucking the bottle under her arm.
She settles into her car and starts the engine when Lucas says, “Forgetting something?” He holds out his hand, and she stares at his palm. Then she rolls her eyes and drops her apartment key in his hand. Lucas slips his hand in his pocket. “Thank you.”
“No, thankyou.” Ivy takes one last look at the Dusty Pantry. “Wish I could say I’m going to miss this place, but...” She shakes her head. “You all had better come visit me.”
“We will. Now get out of here before we don’t let you go.” He knocks the roof of the car and stands back.
“Bye, Ivy.” Shiloh waves.
Ivy waves back, reversing from the parking spot. Just before she turns away, Lucas catches her wiping off a tear. The woman’s going to miss this place more than she cares to admit, and he’s going to miss her. He’s sure they’ll see her again before she leaves on her trip.
When Ivy turns out of the parking lot, Shiloh turns to him and Sophie. “Can we go now?”
He exhales, still not 100 percent sold on this idea of theirs. “Hop into the truck.”
They pile in, Shiloh in the middle and Sophie on the other side. Lucas doesn’t take the road. He cuts across the dry land, brambles and weeds scraping his undercarriage. The city has been cleaning out the homeless encampment. Most of the residents have left, some checking into the local shelter. Bob, Barton, and Ricky disappeared a while ago. Lucas checked. He wouldn’t allow Shiloh anywhere near the encampment if they were still around. But there was one resident left, and Shiloh didn’t want him living alone on the streets. They’ve just been waiting for Ivy’s apartment to become available.
They reach Irving’s Caprice, and Lucas parks the truck. Sophie pulls a box of latex gloves from her bag. “Put them on.”
“Why?” Shiloh asks, and Lucas slips on a pair.
“Hepatitis is rampant in encampments.”
“Ew.” Shiloh makes a face.
“You got lucky, kid.” There is much she could have been—and probably was—exposed to during those two weeks she lived out of a car.
“What’s the plan with this guy?” Sophie asks. She isn’t too keen on the idea of bringing a homeless man to the apartment complex. But Shiloh insists he’s harmless.
“We get him cleaned up.” His body and system. Lucas has a strict no-drugs policy. If Irving brings any of that into his building, he’s out. “Then we put him to work.” He’ll make the perfect janitor.
“And then we find his daughter,” Shiloh adds, jumping out of the truck after Sophie.
Lucas grunts. He’s heard about Irving’s stories and isn’t confident a daughter exists.
Irving is waiting for them by his car. He brushes a hand down the front of his button-up dress shirt that’s several sizes too large for his bony frame. Lucas can only imagine where he dug that thing up.
“Itchy Irving, look at you.” Shiloh whistles. “Did you get all fancy for us?” He’s wearing a suit and wing tips. He’s also carrying a briefcase.
Lucas will be checking that before Irving moves in. He catches a look from Sophie, and her eyes flare in agreement. She’s thinking the same thing.
Irving grins at Shiloh. His teeth are stained, some are missing. But he pushes back his shoulders. “Daisy Ray. I knew you’d come back for me.”
“Told you I wouldn’t forget.”
Sophie leans in close to Lucas as they walk over to Irving. “She’s got a heart of gold.”
“Yeah, she does.” And he’s been grateful she’s had room in it for him since the day he met her. “Come on, kiddo,” he says to Shiloh. “Let’s get this man home.”