Serenity

by Jesse J. Thoma

  “Then I guess our business is done.” Parrot Master flew back to the proceedings in time to finalize the deal. “Welcome to the flock.”

  “I’m not part of the flock,” Thea called after Parrot Master and the Zookeeper as they retreated back into the park.

  Thea looked at Kit and Frankie. “That was a good thing. What just happened there, right?”

  Kit nodded. “It means no more drug dealing in the library, at least to the extent they can make that happen. I think that’s a good thing.” It felt like the net gain from the meeting was positive, but the personal revelations were throwing her for a loop. Maybe it would be a good idea to get in touch with Ethel.

  “Why is she called the Zookeeper? And why does she talk like she belongs in a Wall Street boardroom?” Thea tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

  Kit saw her hand was shaking. She looked closer. Thea’s jaw was also clenched. Perhaps Kit wasn’t the only one who found the meeting unsettling.

  “Because of all the women she keeps under her protection,” Frankie said. “She gives them animal names. Keeps them anonymous when she talks about them so everyone’s protected. She’s the zookeeper watching out for everyone in this crazy zoo of life. I’m Baby Giraffe.”

  “Do you know what she called me?”

  Frankie shook her head. Kit thought it was probably better not to know. It could be something horrible like Guppy.

  “She went to law school. That’s why she talks like a lawyer.” Frankie laughed when Kit and Thea looked at her like she had said the sky was pink and unicorns were real. “I don’t know what led her to her current profession, if you’re going to ask, but she’s one of the smartest people I know. Aside from you, Thea. No offense, Kit.”

  Thea looked like she wanted to say something, but she opened her mouth and shut it again. Kit knew the feeling.

  “You’re wondering how I can be friends with drug dealers?” Frankie poked at something on the ground with her shoe.

  “Yes,” Thea said. “I was under the impression that was a life you wanted to get away from. And seeing the drug deal in the library upset you so much.”

  “I do.” Frankie nodded vigorously. “More than anything. But I’m not away from it now. You do what you have to do to survive. And whatever their flaws, my parents made a deal with Parrot Master and the Zookeeper that they’d never sell anything to me and they’d never recruit me. But seeing the drug deal in the library was different from the rest of the world. That’s the only place I really feel…felt, completely safe. I don’t know why I didn’t think to talk to them myself.”

  “Because you’re not supposed to have to think of that kind of thing.” Kit hated the idea of parents who had to make that kind of a deal for their kid, but it said something about them, too.

  “Does what happened here help make the library feel safe again?” Thea asked.

  Frankie nodded, but it was clear she was still deep in thought. She probably understood the ways of the streets better than any of them. If she felt the deal they made meant the library was safer, then it was.

  “I’m probably naive, but why would Parrot Master and the Zookeeper agree to never recruit or sell to you?” Thea started back to the library. “Don’t they want as many clients as possible?”

  “Unfortunately, demand isn’t an issue,” Kit answered for Frankie, who still looked a little distant. “Look around the park. They have plenty without having to go after a client’s kid.”

  “Am I supposed to like them?” Thea turned to talk to Kit as she walked. She looked like she was forced to eat something a few days past its sell by date. “Because they have a moral code of some kind?”

  “I never said they were great people,” Kit said. “But they helped us today, and maybe it will make things better in some way.”

  Kit’s feelings about Parrot Master and especially the Zookeeper were as convoluted as always, but there was an extra layer of confusion now. And to make matters worse, it felt like the time she’d been using, which she’d been trying to bury and forget, had been shoved back in her face. She didn’t want to think that she’d needed so much help and looking after. She also didn’t want to think there were other vulnerable people out there now who didn’t have the protections she did. She’d done what she could today, and for the moment, it needed to be enough.

  Chapter Seventeen

  On the walk back to the library, Frankie split off to head home. As Kit and Thea walked the rest of the way to the library, Kit slipped her hand in Thea’s.

  “I’m sorry I dragged you out of work to meet with drug dealers. In hindsight, I probably should have prepped you a little or given you a chance to wrap your head around the idea.” Kit pulled their joined hands to her lips and kissed the back of Thea’s hand. She quickly dropped their hands back down when she seemed to realize what she’d done.

  Thea smiled and squeezed her hand. “When you just lay it all out there like that, it sounds insane. But you were doing something to help the library and me. I could see in your expression that it wasn’t easy for you either. It wasn’t a perfect situation, but I really appreciate what you did. Thank you.”

  “I’d do it again for you. And again, and again if you need it.”

  “And that is just one of many reasons you’re so wonderful.” Thea really enjoyed the embarrassed stammering that followed her statement.

  The day hadn’t been easy, but she knew it wasn’t easy for Kit either. The fact that Kit hadn’t hesitated to dive back into a world that she was trying to put behind her was quite a gesture.

  “I still don’t understand how we just trust that they will keep their word, but you and Frankie know more about this than I do.” Thea stopped to pick up a stray paper and toss it in the trash.

  “We don’t have to trust,” Kit said. “At least not fully. If we see more drug deals, we know they’re full of crap. Then we call in the big guns.”

  “Tell me more about these big guns.” Thea ran her free hand suggestively up Kit’s arm. She was happy to flirt a little after the stress of the last few hours.

  Kit didn’t look sure if they were still talking about drug deals and the library.

  “If we’re talking about the library, I have no clue, so hopefully Parrot Master keeps his word. If you happened to mean anything else, you’re welcome to explore anytime.”

  Kit moved in front of Thea and walked backward, facing her. Thea reached out and took Kit’s other hand. She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of the jolt she felt tingle up her arm when she took Kit’s hand. She had no idea if it felt that way to everyone when they held hands with someone they cared about. She knew it never felt like that on the rare occasions she and Sylvia had held hands. She never wanted to stop holding Kit’s hand.

  “Oh, there are many things I intend to explore.” Thea tried to pull Kit closer, but she stayed an arm’s length away, teasing her. “But tonight, would you be willing to hold my hand and walk me home?”

  Thea wanted more time with Kit. Just the two of them, no entourage of dotty drug dealers.

  They stopped by the library quickly so Thea could grab her things. Kit carried Thea’s workbag. It made Thea feel like her sweetheart was carrying her book bag home from school. She teased Kit about it, but that just made her puff out her chest and lean into the role. Thea thought she was goofy and incredibly hot.

  They walked in silence for while, each lost in their own thoughts, connected by their joined hands and their weird earlier experience. Thea could honestly say she’d never met anyone quite like Parrot Master and the Zookeeper. That was probably for the best. The world could only handle so many like those two. Parrot Master seemed like his own kind of special bird, but she could see the intelligence and calculation in the Zookeeper’s eyes that Frankie had mentioned. She didn’t appear to have ill will behind her gaze, but she wasn’t someone to be underestimated either.

  Kit pulled her out of her musings.

  “Can I cook dinner for you for our next dat
e?”

  Thea was surprised at the offer. She didn’t take Kit for a cook.

  “I’d love that,” Thea said. Kit in the kitchen sounded pretty damn sexy. A vision of Kit cooking in nothing but her tool belt materialized. It was going to be a long walk home.

  Kit looked thrilled. “Great. I’ll tell Josh to get lost so he isn’t bothering us all night. He’s nosy as hell and the apartment isn’t that big. He’d probably walk out in his underwear right when I was serving dessert.”

  Thea tried hard not to let her mind go to inappropriate places involving Kit, dessert, and underwear, but she wasn’t all that successful. She had no idea this side of herself even existed.

  “Why don’t you come to my place and cook there? Then poor Josh can wander the house in his underwear in peace?”

  Kit looked like a kid caught telling a wild tale.

  “Well, damn, there goes all the hot chef points I was totally counting on. I can’t come to your place to cook because Josh doesn’t live there. I need him to pregame dinner with me, step by step, and then we’ll all say a prayer I don’t screw it up.”

  Thea laughed. “Why don’t we just go out to dinner? Or I can cook for you?”

  “No. I want to cook for you. You make me want to learn how to do these things. For you. But I was hoping I was going to get away with using Josh’s help for longer than twenty seconds.”

  “For hot chef points?” Thea raised an eyebrow.

  “Exactly.”

  “Do you own a tool belt?”

  “A what?” Kit stopped walking for a second while she looked at Thea in confusion.

  “What? Never mind.” Thea couldn’t believe she’d actually asked out loud. “So what will you be cooking for me, hot chef?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll see what Josh has on the menu.” She winked.

  “I thought you packed lunch every day for the two of you.”

  “The best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches you’ve ever tasted.” Kit pretended to shine her knuckles on her chest.

  Thea thought Kit might be selling herself a little short, but it didn’t matter. Thea was already counting down to dinner.

  Usually she took the bus home, but tonight they were both happy to walk the extra distance. The mood of the streets felt different to Thea with Kit by her side. She didn’t always feel comfortable walking the few blocks near the library alone, especially after dark, but Kit didn’t seem bothered at all. Her comfort put Thea at ease. Kit made her feel safe in a way she wasn’t sure she’d ever experienced.

  She was happy she listened to Walter and was following her heart’s lead and not her head. That damn thing could lead her to some lonely places. Thinking of Walter triggered the memory of the strange conversation she’d walked in on between Kit and Walter earlier.

  “What were you and Walter talking about earlier? And before you tell me it was nothing, remember you said I scare you. I’m not afraid to use that to my advantage.”

  “Why don’t you think you can scare it out of Walter?” Kit looked like she wanted to bolt.

  They were walking past a row of brick, single story, small businesses that were closed for the day. There was a small alley between two of the buildings. Thea pulled Kit into the narrow space and pushed her against the wall. She pinned Kit’s hands above her head and pressed their bodies together. She leaned close but stopped with her lips inches from Kit’s.

  “I can’t do this to Walter.” She wasn’t sure where this side of her was coming from. But now that she was out, she was going to let her play. This was quite a turn-on. From the look in Kit’s eyes, it was working pretty well for her too.

  “He’d be dead right now.” Kit was breathing erratically and looked like she was having a hard time keeping her hands where Thea wanted them. “Most people are scared of that.”

  “And what about you?”

  “My heart is beating really fast and I’m sweating.” Kit glanced at Thea’s lips. “That happens when you’re scared, or having a heart attack, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening right now.”

  “Who says this is the scary part?” Thea leaned close to Kit’s ear and spoke softly. She felt Kit shiver. She released Kit and pushed off the wall. She headed back to the sidewalk and heard Kit’s loud groan behind her. She ran to catch up with Thea.

  “Okay, you’re right. The fact that you can do that to me, what you just did, and then leave me high and not at all dry, is actually terrifying. But I don’t think it was all one-sided. I saw it in your eyes.”

  Kit was right. Thea’s brilliant plan had backfired rather spectacularly. She might have made her point to Kit, but now she was wet and turned on as well. At least they could both be uncomfortable for the rest of the walk to her house.

  “What did Walter want with you?” Changing the subject seemed safest right now.

  “I’m seriously considering being obstinate to see if you can keep your hands to yourself or if you shove me up against another wall,” Kit said. “But I’m not sure either of us is ready to scandalize the neighborhood just yet. And you’re too classy a lady to be groped behind a dumpster in a back alley.”

  Thea appreciated Kit pumping the brakes. Letting her wild side out for a spin had been fun, but she didn’t know where to go after she had Kit pinned to the wall. Even though she wasn’t ready for more intimacy than she’d already initiated, she wanted to get her hands on Kit. She settled for looping her arm around her waist. Kit responded by putting her arm around Thea’s shoulder and pulling her close. Kit felt strong and solid. Maybe she wasn’t ready tonight, but she was looking forward to exploring all of Kit soon.

  “To answer your question…” Kit said.

  Thea couldn’t remember what question she’d asked.

  “Walter doesn’t think anyone, perhaps especially me, is good enough for you. We were discussing my worthiness, among other things.”

  All Thea’s goodwill toward Walter evaporated and indignation filled in the gap. He had no right deciding who was and who wasn’t good enough for her. And if he had an opinion on the matter, he sure as hell shouldn’t be telling Kit about it.

  That’s the kind of crap a father would pull. Thea stopped short and Kit looked at her quizzically. She seemed to understand at least some of what was on her mind.

  “He loves you. No one will ever be good enough in his eyes. I don’t disagree. But I’m really freakin’ happy you’re thinking I’m at least worth a shot,” Kit said.

  “You already know that’s true.” Thea narrowed her eyes and stared at Kit with mock horror. “Are you fishing for a compliment?”

  “I wasn’t, but if you’re offering…” Kit posed in the middle of the sidewalk. “Pick whatever you like best and compliment away.”

  Thea circled her slowly, just to enjoy the view. She wasn’t going to turn down the excuse to ogle Kit without worrying about getting caught. When she was back in front of her she stopped and tapped her in the center of her chest.

  “If I were to compliment you, I would praise this.”

  “My sternum?” Kit looked down at Thea’s hand against her chest. She seemed to like what she saw. “A little weird, but okay.”

  Thea swatted her playfully.

  “Not your sternum. I’m sure it’s outstanding, but you know that’s not what I’m talking about. You have a good heart.”

  “It pointed me to you, so it’s earning its keep.” Kit smiled almost shyly.

  They walked the rest of the way to Thea’s house talking about their respective days at work and other rather routine things. It felt so routine that Thea almost didn’t notice how comfortable she felt with Kit and how unlike her that felt. For once she didn’t want to analyze or examine. She just wanted to enjoy the walk with a woman she really liked. A woman who made her happy.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I saw my old drug dealers yesterday,” Kit said.

  Josh was helping Kit prep dinner for Thea. He’d dubbed it “Operation hot chef.” The knife he was using to
chop onions slipped and he sliced his finger.

  “Ow. Shit. What the fuck, Kit. You do not just drop something like that on a man when he’s chopping onions. My eyes are already blurry from the onion tears and then that? Now there’s blood in your fancy dinner onions and you would deserve it if I dumped all of it in the pot and made you start over without my help.”

  “Jesus. You could just say you’re worried about me. No need to drag the damn onions into it. They aren’t part of this.” Kit handed him a paper towel to press to the cut.

  “Fine. Why did you meet your old drug dealers? You know if you’re struggling you can talk to me. Have you talked to Ethel?”

  “It wasn’t like that.” Kit paid a little more attention to the mushrooms Josh had put her in charge of slicing. “They were dealing drugs in the library. I needed them to stop. I tried to call Ethel about something else that came up, though. She couldn’t talk. She’s busy, I guess. Personal stuff.”

  “I know I’m not her, but I’m a good listener.” Josh pulled the paper towel away from his finger and checked his wound. “And we’ve got at least an hour prepping stuff for your dinner here.”

  “Why do people cook?” Kit rolled her eyes and flicked a mushroom at him. “This takes forever.”

  “Because it’s delicious. It’s satisfying. You get to spend time with those you love and tell your favorite cousin what’s troubling you. A million reasons. Pick your favorite.”

  “It’s so hard to pick just one,” Kit said.

  Josh threw a towel at her. “I don’t have to help you, you know. I can walk at any point.”

  “You wouldn’t.” Kit glared at him. Josh had picked a really complicated recipe. He’d said it would impress Thea. Now she wondered if it was so he could threaten to walk away and leverage her desperation.

  “Keep chopping, Mr. Zesty.” Kit pointed her knife toward the onions. “I’ll talk.”

  She wasn’t sure where to start. There were a number of things that rattled her about her encounter with the Zookeeper.