Read Online Elaine Orr - Jolie Gentil 04 - Any Port in a Storm by Elaine Orr - Free Book Online
Authors: Elaine Orr
Ads: Link
conversation with “ahoy mate” or something similar.
It was only nine o’clock, but I decided that since I’d taken a brisk walk on the boardwalk before breakfast I would treat myself to an iced coffee. I parked near the boardwalk steps that are close to Java Jolt and, after I placed my order, went straight to the computers. If I didn’t send my mother and sister a note they’d hear about the food pantry break-in and my mother would call Reneé, since I only pick up about half the time my when mother calls me.
I sent the email and took my coffee with me. My phone chirped as I pulled into the parking lot of the dollar store, which was donating a couple hundred little American flags to give as prizes.
“Is this me lady with the sharp cutlass?” Scoobie asked.
“Only if you’re going to tell me you aren’t going to do trash patrol at the park this evening,” I said.
He groaned. “I forgot. I’ll get George to help.”
“Perfect for George.”
“Listen, I wanted you to know Alicia and her friends are going to finish making their game tonight and they’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Huh. I figured she’d be too mad…” I began.
“Oh, she’s pissed all right. But I think now more at her mother for figuring out she was in the houses than at you for telling.”
“Small favors. Hey, how’d you find that out?” I asked.
“I have my ways.” Scoobie hung up.
I shoved the flags in my trunk and headed to the library to get the boxes of books from Daphne.
“Hey, girl,” she greeted me with her usual big smile.
“How do you stay so cheerful all day,” I lowered my voice as I got closer to the check-out desk, “when you have so many people bugging you all day?”
She looked surprised. “Jolie Gentil. If you have to write out floor plans or whatever, would that bug you?”
“No, it’s my job,” I said, looking at the computer area where Max and Josh, my favorites among the local homeless guys, were engrossed in something on a screen.
“See,” she said.
I glanced at her, befuddled, and then got her point. “You don’t mind your job.”
“I like my job,” she said. “Are we feeling crabby today?” She took a box of books from the table behind the circulation desk and set them on the counter.
“Just too busy,” I guess.
“Just keep telling yourself…”
“Jolie!” Max sounded thrilled to see me.
“It’s for a good cause,” Daphne finished, and smiled. “After you talk to Josh and Max I’ll help you carry out the books.”
I walked over to where they were sitting. Josh’s eyes were still on the screen, which showed a weather map. He looked up as I got closer. “Hey, Jolie. Looks like your pirate day could have rough seas.”
I groaned as he pointed to the screen. “You think it’ll be a bad storm?” I asked.
Josh shrugged, and Max said, “Maybe really bad.” Excitement punctuated every word.
Josh gave me a small smile and turned back to the computer. “It should be just wind and a lot of rain. If you’re lucky it’ll hold off until late evening.”
“Then it’ll be here at noon,” I said, glumly looking at the bright spots on the map that indicated the hurricane, still far off the coast south of us.
Max decided to help carry the boxes to my car and chatted the entire way. It reminded me of how much Josh had to listen to Max all day. I didn’t think I could do it.
“And Scoobie said he has good jobs for me,” Max finished.
I hadn’t been listening, so tried to make up for it with a bright smile. “That’s great. I’ll see you at the park tomorrow.”
He lowered his voice. “And we’re staying in a motel tonight and tomorrow. That way we don’t have to watch our stuff.”
I studied him for a moment. I don’t really forget Josh and Max are homeless, but they are around town a lot and are more…normal than some of the other homeless guys. I hoped some of the others would stay away from the park tomorrow, and then felt guilty for thinking
It was only nine o’clock, but I decided that since I’d taken a brisk walk on the boardwalk before breakfast I would treat myself to an iced coffee. I parked near the boardwalk steps that are close to Java Jolt and, after I placed my order, went straight to the computers. If I didn’t send my mother and sister a note they’d hear about the food pantry break-in and my mother would call Reneé, since I only pick up about half the time my when mother calls me.
I sent the email and took my coffee with me. My phone chirped as I pulled into the parking lot of the dollar store, which was donating a couple hundred little American flags to give as prizes.
“Is this me lady with the sharp cutlass?” Scoobie asked.
“Only if you’re going to tell me you aren’t going to do trash patrol at the park this evening,” I said.
He groaned. “I forgot. I’ll get George to help.”
“Perfect for George.”
“Listen, I wanted you to know Alicia and her friends are going to finish making their game tonight and they’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Huh. I figured she’d be too mad…” I began.
“Oh, she’s pissed all right. But I think now more at her mother for figuring out she was in the houses than at you for telling.”
“Small favors. Hey, how’d you find that out?” I asked.
“I have my ways.” Scoobie hung up.
I shoved the flags in my trunk and headed to the library to get the boxes of books from Daphne.
“Hey, girl,” she greeted me with her usual big smile.
“How do you stay so cheerful all day,” I lowered my voice as I got closer to the check-out desk, “when you have so many people bugging you all day?”
She looked surprised. “Jolie Gentil. If you have to write out floor plans or whatever, would that bug you?”
“No, it’s my job,” I said, looking at the computer area where Max and Josh, my favorites among the local homeless guys, were engrossed in something on a screen.
“See,” she said.
I glanced at her, befuddled, and then got her point. “You don’t mind your job.”
“I like my job,” she said. “Are we feeling crabby today?” She took a box of books from the table behind the circulation desk and set them on the counter.
“Just too busy,” I guess.
“Just keep telling yourself…”
“Jolie!” Max sounded thrilled to see me.
“It’s for a good cause,” Daphne finished, and smiled. “After you talk to Josh and Max I’ll help you carry out the books.”
I walked over to where they were sitting. Josh’s eyes were still on the screen, which showed a weather map. He looked up as I got closer. “Hey, Jolie. Looks like your pirate day could have rough seas.”
I groaned as he pointed to the screen. “You think it’ll be a bad storm?” I asked.
Josh shrugged, and Max said, “Maybe really bad.” Excitement punctuated every word.
Josh gave me a small smile and turned back to the computer. “It should be just wind and a lot of rain. If you’re lucky it’ll hold off until late evening.”
“Then it’ll be here at noon,” I said, glumly looking at the bright spots on the map that indicated the hurricane, still far off the coast south of us.
Max decided to help carry the boxes to my car and chatted the entire way. It reminded me of how much Josh had to listen to Max all day. I didn’t think I could do it.
“And Scoobie said he has good jobs for me,” Max finished.
I hadn’t been listening, so tried to make up for it with a bright smile. “That’s great. I’ll see you at the park tomorrow.”
He lowered his voice. “And we’re staying in a motel tonight and tomorrow. That way we don’t have to watch our stuff.”
I studied him for a moment. I don’t really forget Josh and Max are homeless, but they are around town a lot and are more…normal than some of the other homeless guys. I hoped some of the others would stay away from the park tomorrow, and then felt guilty for thinking
Similar Books
