Sin City Temptation. Sharon C. Cooper

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СКАЧАТЬ walked the short block to where her peeps hung out. Trash littered the area. A suffocating sensation tightened her throat as she wandered deeper into the throes of homeless people, noticing there were more of them than the last time she was there. Trinity stepped around a man who was stretched across the sidewalk, facedown, and prayed that he was alive. With the poor conditions, lack of food and nonexistent health care for them, it wasn’t uncommon for some to die right there on the street.

      She spotted Fred and Henry first, wondering why Lucy wasn’t with them. It wasn’t until she got closer that she noticed someone lying on cardboard behind the makeshift card table they had set up.

      “Well, if it isn’t our favorite cop,” Fred said, tossing the cards that were in his hands to the table and telling Henry to deal. They all knew she was no longer a cop, but still referred to her as one. “I was just thinking that it was about time we saw you.”

      “I know. I was hoping to get here last week, but things have been a little busy.” She handed each of them a bag of toiletries, as well as some food. She set Lucy’s bags next to her shopping cart, which was sitting near her head and was spilling over with junk. Trinity glanced down at Lucy’s sleeping form. “How’s she been doing?”

      The last time Trinity visited, Lucy was having hip trouble and could barely walk, but refused to seek medical attention.

      “About the same,” Henry said. “She’s been sleeping a lot more, but says she’s fine.”

      “Lucy,” Fred called out trying to wake her without taking his eyes off the recently dealt cards in his hands. “Trinity’s here to see you.” Fred winked at Trinity and she rewarded him with a smile.

      Lucy removed the blanket that had been covering most of her face and head, but didn’t sit up. Trinity didn’t miss the dark circles beneath her eyes or how pale her café au lait complexion looked.

      “What’s going on, Luce?” Trinity asked. She eased behind Fred’s crate and knelt down near her friend, feeling her forehead and then checking her pulse, which seemed a little fast. “Are you feeling okay?” Trinity helped her sit up, pushing the knit cap Lucy was wearing farther away from her face so that she could get a better look at her eyes.

      Lucy swatted Trinity’s hand away. “Stop that. I feel fine. Besides, I told you to quit all that fussing over me. We’re going to have to find you a man so you can get married, have some babies and fuss over them.”

      Trinity shook her head and smiled. She had to endure the marriage speech in various forms during every visit. Like many women, Trinity dreamed of the day she’d fall in love, get married and start a family, but she didn’t see the fantasy coming to fruition anytime soon.

      Trinity studied her friend and concern welled up in her heart at how bad Lucy looked. Her health was clearly declining and Trinity would never forgive herself if she didn’t do everything she could for Lucy.

      Just another reason why I need to get that shelter up and running.

      Pulling out one of the bottled waters she’d brought, Trinity opened it and handed the bottle to Lucy, insisting that she drink from it. Lucy had once been married. Years ago, she had been a housekeeper for a wealthy family and enjoyed the work until she was accused of stealing. Anger bubbled inside Trinity every time she thought about the bad hand Lucy had been dealt. Instead of taking her word and basing their decision on Lucy’s commitment to their family, her employer terminated her without proving whether or not she’d stolen anything. Then, after a long period of unemployment, her husband eventually left her, taking the kids with him. That was twenty-some years ago and Lucy never forgave herself for not fighting to keep her children. Now they were grown, with kids of their own, and wanted a relationship with Lucy, but she refused. According to her, she didn’t want to be a burden to them, and nothing Trinity did or said could convince Lucy otherwise.

      Trinity dug through the bag of food that she’d brought and pulled out a protein bar. “Why don’t you try eating something? I can tell you’ve lost some weight—making me even more concerned.”

      Lucy pushed the bar away. “I told you that I was fine. Why don’t you pick on Fred or Henry?”

      Right now Trinity’s main concern was getting Lucy some medical attention, but she had no idea how. She was leaving for Vegas in the morning and unless she was able to convince Lucy to go to the hospital at that moment, there was no telling when her friend would get some help.

      Lucy looked away when her eyes met Trinity’s concerned ones. “I’m worried about you,” Trinity said in a low voice. “I can’t leave town knowing that you’re not well.”

      “Trinity,” Lucy said in that tone that mothers, no matter the nationality, use to get their child’s attention. “I told you I was fine. Now give it a rest!”

      “Luce, let me take you to the hospital.” Trinity ignored Lucy’s growing agitation. “I’m heading out of town in the morning, and I won’t be able to focus on what I’m supposed to do if—”

      “She ain’t gonna go,” Henry said. He adjusted his broken glasses, held together by duct tape, and looked over their rims at Trinity huddled next to Lucy. Trinity should’ve known Henry was listening, considering his hearing was sharp, unlike his poor eyesight. “We tried to get her to go up there to that clinic a few blocks over,” he pointed behind them, “but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

      “Henry, mind your own business.” Lucy glared at him as she repositioned herself against the brick building. “I’ve been taking care of myself for over fifty years. I don’t need you—” she turned to Trinity “—or you telling me what to do. Besides, shouldn’t you be home packing or something? And what is this trip? Where are you off to?”

      Trinity sighed and stood. She glanced at the brick wall behind her, before leaning against it. She’d have Jesse stop by as often as he could to check on Lucy and she’d see if she could get his brother, who was a doctor, to make at least one of those trips with him.

      Trinity told them about her pending trip to Vegas and answered their numerous questions. She was going to miss them. They treated her like one of their children and she felt just as close to them as she did her own mother.

      “So this fella you’re going to be guarding, I assume he’s not married?” Lucy perked up.

      Trinity shook her head, trying to hide a smile. Lucy didn’t quit. “No. He’s not married and before you ask, he’s not my type.”

      “He’s male and breathing, right?”

      “Yes, but...”

      Lucy attempted to stand and Trinity, as well as Fred, who was still sitting on a crate, turned slightly and helped her up. “But nothin’. You are a young, beautiful woman. There is only one reason you’re still single and that’s because you’re not giving these young men a chance to get to know you.”

      “Leave the child alone,” Henry chimed in. “She’s young. She has plenty of time to settle down.”

      “It’s not her I’m concerned about,” Lucy said. Trinity grabbed hold of Lucy’s arm and cringed when it looked as if her friend would topple over. Lucy waved her off. “I’m concerned that we’re not getting any younger and I want her to find that special someone before we leave this world.”

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