Bosom Bodies (Mina's Adventures) Read Online Free PDF Page B

mountain pine. His soap?
    “Oh, like, you lived there? Were you in the Army or something?”
    He didn’t answer right away. She turned her head to look at him. Even in the darkness of the hour she could tell his expression had changed. His smile held no joy and his eyes avoided hers. “Yeah, the Army or—something.”
    Mina opened her car door and got in.
    “Stay safe,” Diego said in a soft voice.
    She left the parking lot of Bosom Bodies, hoping she never had to go back there again.
    The streets of Balboa were alive with holiday anticipation—cars parked in the most unexpected places by people trying to get a good view of the boat parade. No more parade for Barbara, no more anything. How could a human being run over another human being and drive away without stopping to help? Maybe the person was drunk, maybe driving without a license? Nothing could excuse such an act of cowardice. The fires of hell would be too mild for such a person. Mina drove slowly, paying close attention. People walked randomly in front of cars. She sighed in relief once she crossed the bridge and reached Pacific Coast Highway. Almost home. It didn’t matter if the place was a mess and she didn’t have Christmas decorations, it was still home.
    A cold hand touched her right shoulder and from the back of the car came a whisper, “Please, don’t turn around. Keep driving.”

Chapter 5
     
    Mina slammed on the brakes so hard the Volkswagen fishtailed, stopping inches from a parked car. She pulled the key from the ignition, ready to jump out of the car.
    “Ginger, wait, it’s me.”
    Ginger?
    She recognized Angelina’s voice. When did she get into her car? Better yet, why did she get into her car?
    “You scared me to death. You are so lucky I didn’t have a gun. Why didn’t you tell me you needed a ride?”
    “Diego, I don’t trust him, didn’t want him to see me.”
    “Diego, yeah, strange man. Let me straighten out the car before I get a ticket. Where do you need to go?”
    “I was hoping, praying I could spend the night at your house.” Pleading and fear blended tightly in Angelina’s voice.
    “My house?” Visions of her chaotic place filled Mina’s mind, but when she looke d at Angelina’s distraught face she relented. “I tell you what. Let’s get to the condo and we can talk. By the way, my name isn’t Ginger. It’s Mina. I’ll explain later.”
    “Please, it’s better if no one knows I’m with you. Please.”
    “Just sit back and scooch down when I go through the gate to the complex. No one will know you are in the car.”
    They didn’t speak again until they were inside Mina’s home.
    “Would you like something to eat? Drink?” Mina asked.
    Angelina shook her head, avoiding Mina’s eyes. “This is your house?”
    “I’m renting. Needed a place to live after my mother’s house was sold. Listen, Ginger is a friend. I took her place at Bosom Bodies so she wouldn’t lose her job. She’ll start working at Bosom Bodies tomorrow. Barbara knew about it.” The mention of Barbara chilled the mood. “Angelina, what’s happening with you? Why don’t you want to go home?” She didn’t ask about the bruise under her eye, didn’t want to embarrass poor Angelina.
    “It’s my—the man I’m living with, he is mean. If I get back home early, he will beat me because I don’t make enough money. I don’t want to go back there. If you let me spend the night here, in the morning I’ll catch a bus to Oceanside . I have family there. They can help me.”
    “Angelina, where are you from?” Mina couldn’t pinpoint her accent.
    “Guatemala, but my mother is from El Salvador.”
    “Oh, I see.” See what? “I can only offer you a couch to sleep on. You can tell I’m not very organized here.”
    “It’s good, it’s very good. You are a nice person, I knew right away.”
    Mina didn’t have a clue what to do or say. To ask questions would seem like snooping. Not asking would seem like she didn’t