Patricia Rosemoor - Skin

“So you’re really into this Carmen, huh? Sounds like a lost cause to me. People do what’s easiest.”

The words shot through Lilith like an arrow. Did Hannah believe that of her? Surely not.

Lilith wanted to ask Hannah if stripping had really been that easy. The thought of getting on stage and taking off her clothes for a roomful of men tied her own stomach in a knot. Who knew what Hannah’s options had been at the time she took the job?

Now she had other options, Lilith reminded herself, wondering how to broach the subject. Hannah had money. She could set herself up otherwise. Perhaps she would have to live a more modest lifestyle, but at least she didn’t have to continue to play victim to men she didn’t even know.

“The kid’s got to learn to toughen up,” Hannah said. “Crying won’t get her nowhere.”

Crying? She hadn’t mentioned anything about Carmen crying. Had Hannah seen them, then? Had she been at the zoo?

Lilith didn’t dare ask. But her pulse rushed faster as she realized the import of that discovery, that Hannah was jealous enough to spy on her.

Which gave her a ray of hope.

She gazed at the heart-half Hannah still wore, and her fingers crept up to touch its match. They were sisters. A bond that couldn’t be broken.

Lilith smiled at the thought and said, “Why don’t you come in.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

ACTUALLY, HANNAH didn’t know why she’d come. Curiosity, she supposed. She wanted to see this wonderful life Lilith had made for herself firsthand.

The neighborhood wasn’t bad. Looked safe enough. No gang bangers on the street or graffiti on the walls. But Lilith had approached the building on foot. And now they were walking up enough stairs that she’d be winded if dancing hadn’t put her in such good shape.

“So where do you park around here? Garage in back?”

“I don’t have a car.”

“No car?” Chalk one up for herself, Hannah thought.

“Can’t afford one or the insurance.”

“You got a college degree.”

“The scholarships only paid for so much. I worked, too, but I had to take loans, which I’m still repaying. Besides which…” Lilith hesitated, her expression intent, as if she were going to divulge more about her finances. Instead, she shook her head. “Now I’m saving to go to law school.”

“You want to be a lawyer? They’re the scum of the earth. Did you hear the one about the lawyer who–”

”I’ve heard the jokes.”

“Who’s joking?” A shudder passed through Hannah, who’d never met a lawyer who’d been nice to her.

“The woman I work for is a guardian ad litem and works pro bono. Lots of her clients are kids who need protection, and she protects them for free. I don’t think that’s anything to joke about.”

Yeah, the story she’d read had been about the lawyer. And Lilith had gotten a mention and had been in the photo. That’s how Hannah had known she was in Chicago.

Not wanting to debate, Hannah remained silent and took in the nicely furnished if small apartment loaded with plants. While Lilith checked her mail, Hannah got the feel of the place, peeked into the single bedroom where a cat flew off the bed and under it, then strolled to the front windows with their view of the tree-lined street. Nice, but nothing like her view of the river, of course. Chalk two more up in her own favor.

“Valkyrie,” Lilith called. “C’mon and eat, kitty.”

But the cat didn’t reemerge.

“She’s under the bed. I guess I scared her.”

“Well, you’re a stranger. For the present.”

Which meant Lilith didn’t want them to be?

Hannah’s insides tightened, and she had trouble breathing properly. She’d wanted so long for Lilith to find her. But she wouldn’t fool herself. She was too smart for that.

“Hungry?” Lilith asked.

“Yeah. Pick a restaurant. My treat.”

“Why not here?”

“I like restaurants. Besides, why should you have to cook for me?”

“Because I want to. Because you’re my sister. Because we have a lot of catching up and that’s easier to do without an audience.” Lilith paused, then added, “But if you would rather go to a restaurant–”

”Nah, I’ll take a chance that you won’t poison me. I assume you learned to cook somewhere along the line.”

“I think that was an insult, but I’m going to ignore it.”

Hannah followed Lilith into the kitchen. “C’mon, you don’t call making peanut butter sandwiches cooking, do you?”

“That was all you ever wanted me to make.”

“Yeah, why do you think?” They laughed together, and it was a good feeling, and Hannah relaxed a little. “So what can I do?”

“Keep me company.”

The kitchen was small. Not enough room for a table. But there were two stools at a breakfast bar along one wall. Hannah perched on one of those and studied Lilith as she pulled food from her refrigerator.

Despite the blah outfit — dark skirt and white blouse, sensible pumps and pantyhose — and the conservative way she’d tied her hair in a knot at the top of her head, Lilith was a looker. Truth be told, Lilith looked a lot like her. Or was it the other way around since she was the younger sister?

“I could do something with you, you know.”

Opening the refrigerator door, Lilith glanced at her. “What?”

“As in fix you up. The right clothes and makeup, you’d be a knockout. When I got done with you, you wouldn’t even recognize yourself.”

“That’s what I’d be afraid of.”

“And you’d knock your boyfriend’s socks off. Well, say the word…”

“Uh-huh,” Lilith said in a noncommittal manner. “I hope you like pasta.”

Hannah eyed the package of pasta and container of fancy store-bought sauce. “I thought you said you were gonna cook.”

“This pretty much is cooking for me. I can make a mean salad, too.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. What would have been wrong with going out? What was money for, if you couldn’t spend it? She’d lived on the street for too long, had eaten too many cans of cold spaghetti. Pasta was just a fancy name for it, not that she said so.

As if Lilith could read her mind, she asked, “How did you do it?”

“Do what?” Hannah knew her voice tightened when she said, “Strip? I thought we went over that the other night.”

“I meant survive.” Lilith pulled two pots down from a shelf. “When you ran, how did you survive? You were thirteen, for God’s sake. You were a child.”

“You don’t stay a kid long on the streets. You get smart fast. You learn to beg. And to steal. And to sell yourself, if you gotta.” There, now it was out in the open, and Lilith could kick her out if she wanted. “Whatever it takes to get through another hour, another day, another lifetime.”

Lilith blinked and Hannah could see her eyes had filled like she was going to cry. Her own throat tightened, but as Lilith took a step toward her, she held out a hand, keeping her sister at bay.

“I hope you’re not feeling sorry for me. I got tough fast. And I’m off the street. I’m making great money, which means I’m safe now.”

“Mm-hm.”

Lilith wasn’t saying whatever was on her mind. Hannah couldn’t stand not knowing what exactly.

“I’m the one who calls the shots, big sis.” She knew she was heading them for another row, but she couldn’t stop herself. “When I’m up on that stage, I have the power. Every eye in the place is glued to me. I could have any man there under my thumb if I wanted.”

Lilith whipped away from her and stuck a large pot under the faucet and started filling it with water. “I think they’d want more than your thumb.”