Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down by Lisa Olsen Page B

pulling out a tube of slick lip gloss.
    Rob was out of his chair in a flash, grabbing her elbow roughly.  “Selling yourself as a feeder?  That’s a sure way to end up dead.”
    Laveda pulled her arm free without much effort, poking him in the chest with the gloss.  “Don’t you get stroppy with me, I can take care of myself.  I don’t need you sticking your nose into it, Robby.  And if you must know, I’m the help, not the menu.  I work there as a bartender.”
    The anger dissolved between them as he took in the piece of news.  “Oh,” he said, jaw unclenching.  “Well, that’s alright then.”
    “So glad you approve,” she muttered sourly.  “Not that it’s any business of yours to begin with.”
    “It’s my business to look after you, especially when you’re living under my roof.”
    “Which I appreciate, ta muchly.”  She leaned forward to kiss his cheek.  “But I can manage just fine.” 
    I still wasn’t clear on their relationship, it didn’t seem to follow any experiences I had with my distant cousins.  But I could see they cared about each other, that much was obvious. 
    Leila appeared, taking her seat at the table and immediately diving into the Tupperware container.  “Has everything been sorted?  I’ve packed your things,” she said around a mouthful of cookies.
    “Packed my things?” Rob asked, a pucker of confusion appearing on his brow.
    “Don’t be thick, Robby, it makes you sound daft.  I’ve packed Laveda’s things of course.”
    Laveda’s eyes stretched wide.  “What, you kicking me out then?” 
    “Of course not, you’ll be going with them to San Francisco.” 
    “I will?” she gasped.
    Right at the same time Rob and I both said, “She will?”
    “Didn’t I tell you before?”  Leila blinked, all innocence as she stole the last cookie.

Chapter Ten
     
    “You’ll love it there, Laveda, and the jet is posh as anything.  Leather soft enough bite into,” Leila beamed.
    I leaned closer to Rob as they chatted about the trip.  “Did you tell her we were leaving for home soon?”
    “No, I didn’t get a chance to.  But if Leila had one of her visions… it’s likely Laveda’s meant to go with us.”
    “Of course she’s meant to go,” Leila declared.  “I saw it for m’self.  And there’s a surprise waiting for you as well.”
    “What kind of surprise?”  Laveda’s eyes sparkled in anticipation.
    “Can’t tell you or it won’t be a surprise.”  A roll of the eyes was given. 
    “Guess I’d better go give notice then.” Laveda decided, tucking her lip gloss away, unused. 
    “Just like that?” I asked in surprise and she turned to me in distress. 
    “Don’t you want me to go with?” 
    “Well, sure, you’re more than welcome to hitch a ride.  But isn’t this kind of sudden to uproot everything and move half a world away ?  Do you even have a passport?”
    Laveda’s dimples sprang back to life.  “She’s adorable, ain’t she?” she grinned with a shake of the head.  “Picking up at the drop of a hat don’t mean nothing to our folk.  It’s what’s kept us alive all these years.”  All of a sudden I was reminded she might not be as young as she looked. 
    “Alright then, we’d be glad to have you.  Rob can send you the flight information as soon as it’s arranged.”
    “Aces.  Come on then, Leila, time to go walkies.”  She grabbed her coat off a hook hanging inside the broom closet.
    “But why?  I’m not going to work and I’ve just made my tea the right shade of tasty,” Leila pouted.
    “Because Robby’s bound to bust a nut if we don’t give them some alone time soon,” she said, holding out Leila’s coat.
    “Oi, you’re not so old I can’t lay you across my lap if you get too cheeky,” Rob warned, eyes narrowing.
    “And you’re not a close enough cousin that I’d mind,” she teased back. 
    Definitely an odd family relationship.  “You really don’t have to leave on our