Spike's Day Out (3 page)

She brought the glasses to the bar and set them into the cleaning rack.

James grinned, “You seem to know what you are doing, Addy.”

She was going by her middle name just in case anyone was looking for Spike or Sicily. Adrea was nice and safe.

“I worked at a bar when I was just out of high school. I was informing on the underage drinkers to the warren master so he could keep the little buggers from drinking and driving.”

She slipped back out to get another load of glassware. He was under the impression that she was a rabbit and it was close enough that she wouldn’t have to work too hard to use the mannerisms.

Albert was two doors over at the restaurant and probably doing the same thing that she was, getting familiar with his environment.

She didn’t care what he was up to; she was here to work until it was safe for her to go home again. Working in a semi-familiar job was as good as it could get until she could go home.

James’s wife came in. His attitude changed into gentle and cuddly, far more kitten than tiger the moment that she walked up to the bar.

Addy smiled and watched the woman touch his arm lightly, the sparks between them obvious to all and sundry.

James stared at her for a moment and then he blinked. “Lee, I would like to introduce you to Addy. She is our new barmaid.”

Addy finished loading the tray and sent it through the washer. She wiped her hands and extended one to Lee. “Pleased to meet you.”

Lee blinked and her dark and tawny hair gave her the look of a lion, but the gaze was pure tiger. Addy stifled her gasp as she realized that this was one of the blends that Krisia had mentioned a few months ago.

Lee smiled slowly. “Welcome to the Crossroads. I have already met Albert. He is taking over evening chef’s duties at the restaurant.”

Addy fought her surprise but Lee saw it. She didn’t comment.

“I am the first aid here at the Crossroads. If you slice yourself on a glass or there is a bar fight, I am at your disposal. Just head to the aid station and ring the bell. I will be there in minutes if the door isn’t already open.”

Addy couldn’t help herself, she asked, “Is it good for the baby?”

“The baby doesn’t keep a regular schedule, so I don’t either. I sleep when I have to, and so far, everything is proceeding according to plan.”

James smiled, but there was a dazed look in his expression that told Addy he still wasn’t used to the idea of being a father. She had seen that look many times in the warren.

Addy nodded, “Just tell me if you need anything. If I can help you, I will.”

“Thank you. May I ask what your species is?”

Addy sighed, “I would prefer that you didn’t, but I was raised in a warren. That much I can tell you.”

James blinked. “You are a rabbit, are you not?”

Addy ran her hand over her hair. “Not exactly, but I am here for my safety, so I am going to ask that you not inquire further.”

James nodded. “Right. Fair enough.”

Lee inclined her head. “I will respect your hint. Rabbit it is.”

With the lines of information drawn, Addy resumed her tidying of the Crossed Star Bar.

It was going to be a big evening. It was spring and that was when most species headed for the Crossroads. Addy was going to have to hit the ground running. It was a good thing that she kept up on her cardio.

Teal was right, with the band on her wrist, none of the men looked twice at her. She was able to keep the drinks flowing and the tables turning over without any trouble.

Some of the ladies needed coaxing to go and face the men; it was like an awkward junior high school dance. The main difference was that sex was the goal. These ladies were here to find a man that they were compatible with in all aspects of life because there was no other option for them.

Addy took in some situations that nearly made her weep. Female wolves who were painfully shy, a lioness who didn’t have social skills, a lamb who was being eyed by a wolf and shaking with terror; it was all a collection of women who needed to find very specific men to meet their needs.

Once she had taken the measure of the women, she began to walk through the men’s grouping as she took the glasses and bottles away. She tapped the back of one mountain lion’s hand and she pointed out the shyest of the wolves. “She won’t come to you.”

He blinked and looked at her. “You think she might be interested?”

“I think you are here to find out and drinking until you can knock her over with your breath is not a good idea.”

He smiled and got to his feet. He was huge, but there was a good heart in his smile. He moved lightly over to the shyest wolf and he extended his hand. When the woman extended her own hand and they walked to the dance floor, Addy wanted to do a little dance of triumph. Instead of dancing, she kept working and kept her eyes out for a likely man for the ladies she was taking an interest in.

The lamb needed the ram that was busy with deer across the way. She waited until their dancing and groping exploration had run its course and they parted. When the ram was on his own, she tapped his hand and pointed toward the fearful young sheep.

His chest swelled and a calm compassion entered his features. She watched as he walked across the room to sit next to the lamb until she put her hand in his and they went for a dance on the dance floor.

The young sheep needed a knight in shining armour and the ram needed something to protect. Some men did. She hoped that they made a connection. She had merely gotten them to the eye-contact state. The rest was up to them.

As the night went on, her arms ached from hauling so much glassware, but her little projects all managed to at least make it off the bench. It was a start.

Chuck appeared during the rush and James disappeared. Chuck had a different work pattern than James did, but Addy soon managed to work around him without any issues.

When there was a lull, Chuck asked her, “Do I make you nervous?”

“You mean the whole predator-prey thing? Nope. Any snake trying to consume me would get more than he bargained for.”

“I am guessing that. You don’t fear much.”

“Eagles freak me out but that is about it.” Addy shrugged and started to put away the freshly washed glasses.

“Interesting. I have been told that your actual species is in the forbidden zone.”

“Consider me a lady of mystery.” She winked.

“I might get Ivy to ask you how you manage that. We are struggling with a character and she needs more spine.”

“I would be delighted to talk to your wife.” She cleared the rack and set it back on the stack, and then, she headed back into the bar to harvest more used glasses.

It was a cycle that was only marred when someone ordered drinks for their table and she headed to the bar with her little notepad. Chuck got the drinks ready while she kept doing her thing, and she picked them up on the way back, taking the payment stone with her. A slight swipe against the stone to the charm that all seekers at the Crossroads wore and the funds had been logged to his account.

The night went on in a pattern of joining and separating, talking and dancing, finally culminating with them walking out into the night with either disappointment or a potential mate.

Watching a procedure that Addy had been considering herself, she couldn’t quite manage to get her mind around how she would feel about throwing herself at strangers and hoping for the best. Hope was important to her, but it wasn’t something that she thought of when the idea of having a mate crept into her mind. She wanted someone she could fight with, who would fight for her.

At the end of the night, the men who had not found female partners began to get aggressive toward each other. Addy broke up small squabbles with ease, but the last one continued, and she had to lift her target into the air and bring him down on the barstool.

The blood was copious.

Addy sighed. “I think I need Lee.”

Chuck shook his head. “Down the street, building with the Red Cross on it. Hold this bar towel to his head until she can get the stitches in.”

Addy did as requested and hauled the man along to the medic.

She was going to ring the bell but the door opened. “Evening, Lee.”

“Evening Addy. Come on in.”

She pulled her victim through the door and dropped him on the exam bed, face down.

“The wolves were getting a little irritated by the lack of friendly females. They had a scrap and I got in the middle.”

The wolf in question gave her an unhappy glare. “You screamed
banzai
and flipped me through the air.”

Lee chortled and rubbed at her lower back. “Whatever happened, you will heal as soon as you shift. If you would like, I have a room for transformation now.”

He winced. “I think I will leave that until the morning. Stitches for tonight?”

Lee looked at Addy. “Would you like to do the honours?”

“How did you know?”

“You have a remarkable aura of calm when confronted with a head wound. I guessed that you have experience at first aid.”

The wolf was perturbed, but he sat as Addy cleaned the wound and put the four stitches in place. He tried to scowl but he pulled the skin. “Thank you. You have a nice touch.”

Addy patted his shoulder. “When you wake up, drink a litre of water and take a few painkillers. We don’t want to risk kidney damage, so nothing tonight.”

His eyes went wide and he nodded, leaving the station without a look back.

Lee rubbed her back again and sat on the edge of her desk. “I am looking for a replacement for when I go on maternity leave and possibly afterward.”

Addy jerked. “What?”

“You seem to have the requisite skills. I have been reading up on your council files. Your
actual
council files. I am nosey that way.” Lee grinned. “You also have a varied resume and that in itself would be a boon if you chose to stay here.”

Addy ran her hand over her hair. “Wow. That is…wow.”

She lifted her left wrist and showed off the band. “You know this isn’t real, right? Being here alone would be torture.”

Lee chuckled. “The band thinks it is real, and sometimes, a magical object knows what your mind doesn’t.”

“I have only known Albert for half a day, most of which I spent in the bar.”

Lee grinned. “Doesn’t matter. The bands know. It wouldn’t have snugged up and become seamless if you two didn’t have something under your casual introduction.”

“How far along are you?” She helped Lee into her chair and smiled at the deep sigh.

“Nine months. I could blow at any moment. I look small but I know when I got knocked up.” Lee’s expression took on an evil cast. “It freaked James out.”

“Why?”

“Because he has lived a large chunk of his adult life here. He has just been handed a link to the outside world. We can’t have a baby here at the Crossroads, it would freak people out.” Lee smiled. “We also want him or her registered with standard agencies. The moment I go into labour, we call his family and get me out of here.”

“Have you had a baby shower?”

Lee snorted. “With nothing but horny men and women running around? No.”

Addy scowled. “If you are due any moment that is practically a crime. In my family, you would have been surrounded by small green and yellow onesies.”

“Well, here, there are few women. Teal, Ivy and Teebie. Men don’t really think of baby showers.”

Addy’s back stiffened. “I think I have to get back to work, but leave this with me for a few hours. I will get back to you.”

“Before you go, can you help me out of this chair?” Lee looked hopeful.

Addy helped her up with only a little grunting on both their parts. Once Lee was up and running, Addy made a beeline for the Meditation Centre.

Teal was wearing a loose robe but she opened the door. “Addy, what is wrong?”

She grabbed Teal by her shoulders. “I need to make a call.”

Teal stepped aside and showed her the phone. “Do what you need to do.”

Sicily spoke with her mother for fifteen minutes, and Verona shared her outrage. “I will get a pack arranged. Can you have it picked up?”

Sicily looked at Teal who was watching with interest. “I have a parcel from my mom’s place. Can you have it transported tomorrow around five in the afternoon?”

Teal yawned. “Sure. Not a problem.”

Sicily thanked her mother and yawned herself. She told her mother she loved her and hung up the phone.

“Thank you, Teal. That was helpful. Where can we hold a baby shower for Lee?”

“I will talk to Teebie in the morning, or in two hours, whichever comes first.”

Sicily smiled and whispered, “Good night.”

She slipped out the door and mentally became Addy again.

It was time to get back to work. The baby shower was under way.

Addy was busy running the final tray of barware through the washer when she registered that she was hungry.

She stood up with a groan and rubbed her back.

“I wondered when you were going to show signs of strain. Well done, Addy.” Chuck applauded slowly.

“Thank you, Chuck. What time do I come back today?”

“Come back when you wake up and have had a few hours to yourself, but please eat something. You are looking a little grey around the edges.”

The scent of food teased her and she thought she was imagining it. When she looked around, Albert was standing at the edge of the bar with a takeaway box in his hand. “I am guessing that you could use a meal.”

She swallowed against the drool that was filling her mouth. “Is that for me?”

Albert smiled. “It is indeed. Chuck mentioned that you hadn’t eaten since you had arrived. I am guessing that you are one of those women who likes to keep busy.”

“I am. Lead on, I will follow whatever is in that packet.”

She wiped her hands, checked the washer and moved out from behind the bar. “Good night, Chuck.”

“Good morning, Addy.”

She walked out into the weird pre-dawn light and followed Albert home.

The moment they were inside the small house, she paused. “Do I have to share?”