Deadly Games - Cate Noble [7]
Lupe shrugged. “She said not everyone deserves protection. But you do. This place does. Now if those vandals return tonight—”
“They will find me waiting.” Gena carried her tools to the back door and laid them on the floor, not wanting to admit she had her own superstitions. They were literally hours away from opening and she wasn’t about to leave anything else to fate. “I’m spending the night here.”
“There are no beds!”
“I’ll sleep in my car.” Actually, Gena doubted she’d get any sleep. In addition to painting, there was a punch list of odds and ends, like installing the closet shelves in the pantry and towel racks in the bathrooms.
“But—”
“The inspector and contractor are due here at seven.” One of Vianca’s cousins, also a licensed contractor, had stepped in at Vi’s death. Even though Gena and a two-man crew did all the work, the job required a licensed contractor for permitting.
Luckily, Vi had framed out the entire building before her death. Finishing it hadn’t been easy, but without a doubt, the lioness’s share of the work had already been done.
Gena opened the cooler sitting on the floor and fished out two cans of soda. “The city clerk’s office opens at nine. With luck, we can start moving furniture at ten.” She opened both cans and handed one to Lupe. “I say we take a break and propose a toast to our hard work. To new beginnings.”
Lupe mimicked Gena and clinked her can. “I am supposed to repeat your words,si? To new beginnings.”
“You learn fast.” Gena took a swig of the icy cola.
Lupe frowned at the can in her hand. “I am confused. How can you toast without alcohol?”
Realizing her gaffe, Gena started formulating an apology. Lupe had been struggling to remain sober, one of the requirements for staying at the shelter.
Gena recalled her own battle, how in those early days of sobriety it seemed everything was a reminder. A test. Beer commercials on television seemed like personal taunts. What’s one little drink among friends at social gatherings?
“You can do anything without alcohol, Lupe. Still, my proposing a toast was insensitive. I’m sorry.”
“You? Insensitive? Bah!” Lupe pushed her bangs to one side, still frowning. “Can I ask a personal question?”
As a general rule, Gena disliked personal questions. This was penance, however. “Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Do you ever get tempted? It’s so hard sometimes.”
“Yes. I am still tempted. I will always be tempted to drink. But I don’t give in. I know in the early days AA meetings were my lifeline.”
“Oh, um.Si.”
Gena sensed the slight withdrawal, and realized her response hadn’t hit the mark. “Is something else wrong?”
Lupe’s eyes watered as she nodded. “I talked to my abuela today. Carlos came by to see her.”
“Your husband? He’s returned to Mexico?” Gena knew Lupe’s grandmother still lived south of the border and suffered poor health. “Are you worried he’ll harm her?”
“No! He gave her some money and asked her to give me a message. He said he’s changed. That he really loves me. Even with my shortcomings! I want to believe that and yet …”
A warning signal pinged inside Gena’s skull. Lupe’s current temptation wasn’t with the bottle. Her battle went straight to the heart—after detouring through Lupe’s low self-esteem. All my shortcomings. Lupe believed she wasn’t worthy of better treatment. To her, bad love was better than no love.
“How many times in the past has Carlos promised to change?” Gena asked.
Lupe wiped her tears against her sleeve. “Too many. That’s when I get tempted to drink. When I get … lonely. I’m just not strong, like you.”
“I wasn’t always strong, Lupe. I had to learn to be.”
“But you said you really loved him.”
Him. The warning ping inside Gena’s head grew louder. In addition to her construction job, Gena volunteered one day a week at the shelter.
At Helen’s behest, all shelter volunteers took turns participating in group counseling meetings to encourage the residents. While Gena had grown comfortable discussing her personal