London Harmony: Flotilla Read Online Free PDF

one or two trips left to the barges to do. I was oddly content that I was earning the pay, and didn't feel I was taking charity. It was a satisfying feeling of self-worth I hadn't felt in so very long.
    I placed the last box marked 'kitchen' beside the kitchenette and then walked past the couch as I let out a heavy satisfied sigh. “That's the last of this load.”
    I looked at the comfortable looking lounger beside the couch and flopped into it. No sooner had I sunk into it than I was assaulted by two giggling masses as they piled onto my lap. Natalie sat up on her legs and started studying me. She blurted, “Your hair is messy. I'll get the brush.”
    She darted off as I deflated. Yes, my hair, my clothes; I looked at my hands; my hands... my everything. I pulled one dirty hand away from Wil, who I had been steadying on my knee.
    Steph seemed to be studying me and my reaction, she rolled her eyes and said with a knowing grin, “You're fine Ange, the rugrats eat dirt, it hasn't killed them yet. You're welcome to freshen up in the loo. I hear tell that Paya called her fiancee to have him bring us pizza, from Gertrude's of all places, while you were downstairs. I didn't know Gertrude ever let anyone out of there with a whole pie before.”
    Paya saved me from blushing into a pit of hell when I realized Steph knew my thoughts. “It's one of my many talents, schmoozing pizzeria owners into doing my bidding.”
    My stomach growled loudly at all the talk about food.
    Steph put her hands out, and Wil jumped from me into her arms as she nudged her head toward the loo. I smiled my thanks and she said to me, “She likes to talk big, but I know that she promised Gertrude an autograph from Tabby Cat for the special favor.”
    I paused as I stood, that's right, Tabitha Romanov was the founder of the Flotilla Project. Of course, Paya would know her. I stepped past the women and Paya asked with a cocked eyebrow, “How did you suss that out?”
    Steph almost chuckled, her eye twitching in that cute wink. “Wouldn't you like to know, stinker?”
    I passed by Natalie, who was coming out of the children's room with a little doll brush. I ruffled her hair, gave an apologetic look, and stepped into the loo.
    I smiled as I closed the door at Paya's instant response, “Ah-ha! It was Small-Fry wasn't it? I saw you talking to her last Thursday Night.” The way she said Thursday Night made it sound like an event.
    I exhaled and looked into the mirror. I looked so gaunt now. I guess that's what struggling to eat does to you. I had three sets of clothes squirreled away behind the warehouse in an alley where I was sleeping, they were all getting pretty manky.
    Nothing to be done for it.
    I thought about the fifty quid Paya had promised, maybe I could buy a new jumper at a secondhand or something and get a good meal and a room for the night. I went about washing up. There wasn't any soap or towels yet, they must not have been in any of the boxes we unpacked, so I did the best I could. I almost snorted at the one important thing that wasn't forgotten. Toilet tissue. I balled up a bunch to dry my hands and face then flushed it down.
    I looked at myself again in the mirror as I ran my fingers through my matted hair until I looked presentable. I made a silly face. Well at least I wasn't hideous, and I truly liked my smile, though it looked so drawn and tired now, just a shadow in my eyes.
    I turned and paused at the door as I thought about the Flotilla and this Slingshot program. I wondered what it took to qualify, and if I could bring myself to ask for help. I knew I needed it, and it was asinine not to ask, but I have always been self-sufficient, and my bloody damn ego wouldn't let me. The irrational part of my brain kept asserting that I had got myself into this mess, and it was up to me to get myself back out of it.
    I took a deep breath, steeled myself, then opened the door and stepped out. Steph was digging in a box by the kitchen table and