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Lacy’s, next door to the grocery. There’s a little bit of everything in there.”
    â€œThanks. I will.”
    â€œCan I get you anything else?”
    â€œJust the check,” Maggie said.
    â€œIt’s already been taken care of,” Janelle said.
    â€œOh, I can’t let you do that,” Maggie said. The special eggs had been one thing, but the two women obviously made their living here. She didn’t feel right accepting freebies from them.
    â€œI didn’t do anything,” Janelle protested. “Jameso paid your check.”
    â€œJameso?” Her cheeks felt hot, and she looked around trying to spot the motorcycle rider.
    â€œHe already left,” Janelle said. “He said he owed you for scaring you last night.” Her smile was knowing. “You don’t have to be afraid of Jameso. He is like a big, friendly dog—more bark than bite.”
    â€œI’m not afraid of him,” Maggie said stiffly. She was annoyed. Now she’d have to find him and thank him for buying her breakfast. And why hadn’t he bothered to say hello when he was in the café?

Chapter 5
    L ucille was eating breakfast at the little table in her kitchen when she heard the stairs creak. A few moments later, the door opened and Lucas entered. He wore socks but no shoes, and the same clothes he’d had on last night, the T-shirt untucked from the baggy jeans.
    â€œGood morning,” Lucille said. “Would you like some breakfast?”
    He nodded and pulled out the chair across from her at the table. “Do you have cereal?” he asked.
    â€œI have Cheerios.”
    â€œThat’d be okay.”
    She poured the cereal and milk, and set the bowl in front of him. He was probably old enough to do it himself, but he looked barely conscious still. “How long did it take you to get from Connecticut to here?” she asked as she set the bowl in front of him.
    â€œThree days.”
    â€œThat’s a really fast trip.” It had taken Lucille five days from California, ten years ago.
    â€œMom drove until she couldn’t see anymore, then we’d stop the car and sleep for a while.” He spoke around mouthfuls of cereal. Not a pretty sight, but Lucille wasn’t in the mood for etiquette lessons this early in the morning.
    â€œYou stayed in a hotel,” she said.
    â€œNo, she just pulled into a rest area or a parking lot and I’d crawl in my sleeping bag and she’d lay the seat down.”
    What had driven Olivia to travel that way? Was she too broke to afford lodging? Or was she running from something—or someone? “If the car you’re in belongs to D. J., where is hers?” she asked.
    â€œShe sold it.” More slurping of cereal. “D. J. won’t mind if we use his car. He’s a nice guy.”
    â€œAnd he’s your mom’s boyfriend?” Olivia had never said, exactly.
    â€œYeah.” Lucas looked glum. “They had a big fight before he left. She didn’t want him to go to Iraq, but he said he could make a bunch of money there. Then Mom lost her job, so that’s when she decided to come see you.”
    Any port in a storm, Lucille guessed.
    â€œWhat are you going to do this morning?” Lucas asked her.
    â€œI have to go to work. Is your mom going to take you to school to get enrolled?” If that was the case, maybe she’d better wake Olivia.
    â€œShe said I can wait until Monday. I don’t see why I have to go at all. There’s only a few more days left in the school year anyway.”
    â€œMore like two and a half weeks.” But it wouldn’t hurt for the boy to wait a couple of days. Lucille could sympathize with Olivia’s desire to rest today. “What will you do if you’re not in school?” she asked. “Do you want to come to work with me?” Prowling through the miscellaneous junk in her store might keep him occupied one day at least.