“I can’t believe it. The universe might be just after all.”

Star smothered a giggle at Annie’s eager smile. “Yes. Perhaps karma is a force to be reckoned with.”

Annie Denley took a long sip of her water before diving into her quesadilla. Normally Star wouldn’t have gone out for dinner. She considered eating out a frivolous expense, especially when she had access to her own kitchen and prepared meals at Hope And Bread. However, she couldn’t keep the news of Lukas Millar’s arrival to herself. She had to share it with her best friend and the very woman he had so unjustly wronged.

“Well, he deserves it. He treated me like shit. I gave him everything in the world. I actually had hope that he meant all those things he said. Now I know it was all smoke and lies.”

“He’s a lawyer. It’s that what he’s good at?”

Annie giggled. “What can you do but laugh about it I guess? If I didn’t, I think I would break down and cry.”

“Don’t do that,” Star begged. “You’ve shed enough tears over Lukas Millar. He’s not worth even one of them.”

Annie nodded. She dipped a triangle piece of her quesadilla in sour cream before plunging it into the spicy salsa. She took a bite and sighed. “This place is heaven,” she admitted after she’d finished chewing. “You have the best restaurants in your neighborhood. So what if they have bars on the windows.”

Star knew Annie wished she lived and worked in a safer area but it couldn’t be helped. She had a calling. She’d promised her mother that she would make something of her life. Her father was proud of her, on the odd day he recognized her. It was enough for her, bars on the windows or not.

“Should I tell you what kind of revenge plan I’ve dreamed up? It’s not very sinister because the kitchen isn’t a sinister place. It’s about hope and love and acceptance. I find it hard even trying to think a devious thought, even when it comes to scum like Millar.”

Annie wrinkled her nose. “I know. You have a heart of gold. I don’t know a single other person under thirty who could do what you do and accomplish all you already have. All while taking care of your dad.”

“Dad’s in a home so I don’t actually take care of him.”

“No but you visit him whenever you can. You spend every single waking minute of your life giving yourself to others. Haven’t you ever thought of finding someone?”

“I don’t need the complication. All men are assholes anyway.”

“A woman then?”

Star laughed. “If I found them attractive I might consider it.” She purposely didn’t mention Annie’s dismal love life. Nearing thirty, Annie was nearly desperate to get married and have children. The only thing that stood in her way was finding a man who wasn’t an asshole. She had the worst luck with men. She seemed to attract the kind that wanted to take advantage of a woman with a kind heart and a little money.

“So are you going to tell me what kind of future a certain piece of shit lawyer has in store at your kitchen? What do you have him doing? Scrubbing toilets with his tongue?”

“Ugh!” Star giggled. She took a bite of her own burrito. “I don’t know that even Millar deserves a fate like that. You haven’t seen our bathrooms. They’re vile.”

“But you made him clean them?”

“Every morning since he started a week ago. Jed has Millar hopping around like a well-trained puppy. You should see all that they’ve accomplished. Jed needs the break and Millar is more than capable of operating a scrub brush. He even helped Jed install a new window to replace the one that was broken. They’ve painted over all the graffiti and I’ve never seen the kitchen so clean. Tomorrow I’m going to throw him a curveball though. I’m going to get him on dishes. Cassie’s arthritis is worse than ever. She’s going to have to take a few days off. I think scrubbing bathrooms, food prep and endless dishes are just the right fit for Millar.”

“His life’s true calling,” Annie agreed. She could only keep a scowl on her face for so long before she burst out laughing. Annie was a beautiful girl. Her blonde hair, heart shaped face, petite slender build and sweet personality seemed to make her prey for men like Millar. Men that wanted nothing more than her body for a short while. Unfortunately, they made her believe they wanted her heart.

“I agree. I can’t wait to see him with his hands plunged into the dishwater. I’ve been avoiding him all this time. I haven’t even been properly introduced. I know that’s going to change tomorrow. I have to sign off on his hours at week’s end. I guess I was probably supposed to do it today but I put it off. I would rather have dinner with you than have to face Millar.”

A wistful look stole into Annie’s eyes. “You know, he can be charming when he wants to be. Kind. He could make even the world’s hardest heart believe he’s genuine. Don’t be fooled by his lies. He has a forked tongue.”

“Believe me, I know.” Star popped the rest of her burrito into her mouth. She was far too full already, but it was too good to waste. “You don’t have to warn me. I’ll continue to keep him at arm’s length the entire time he’s at the kitchen. If I don’t, I’m afraid that I might fly off the handle and really say some things that are best left unsaid.”

“Probably nothing he hasn’t heard before. I’m sure he does this all the time. Reel women in like a fish, use them and spit them out.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Star’s heart ached at the pain etched into her best friend’s face. She reached across the table and took Annie’s hand, squeezing gently. “Forget about him. It’s been nearly a year. You know what you need? Someone as kind hearted as you. They’ll come along eventually. They have to. You deserve the best, Annie. Really.”

“I hope so. There’s nothing harder than teaching kids all day when you really wish for your own.”

“No one has more patience than you. I don’t even think I could do what you do.”

“Of course you could. Teaching special education isn’t any different than teaching anything else. It’s certainly no different than serving people at your kitchen. If you love people, all people, that’s all that matters, and you certainly do.”

Star nearly blushed at the praise. She checked her watch, surprised it was nearly past seven. “I have to get to the Home to see dad. He’ll be wondering where I am.”

Annie shot her a sympathetic look. They both knew that wasn’t true. Star’s dad didn’t even remember who she was most days. He had a few moments of lucidity here and there. Despite the fact that he no longer knew her, she knew him and she loved him. He was her father, doing the best he could, making it through each and every day just as she and every other person on the planet was.

“I’ll pay. My treat.” Star dug in her purse for her credit card.

“No! Absolutely not. You paid last time.”

“I think actually, you did. Let me treat you. You can get it next time. I’ll be sure to pick an expensive place too.”

Annie giggled again. She had a beautiful, musical laugh. “Alright. I’ll hold you to it.” She packed up her purse and slung it over her shoulder as she slid out of the faded, ripped booth. “Take care, Star. Be sure to text me all the wicked updates. I could use a little pick me up here and there. Maybe even a picture of a said wicked lawyer using his tongue to clean a toilet rim after all.”

“If I can sneak one of him washing dishes, I’ll do it.”

“It might go viral…”

“No less than he deserves.” Both women enjoyed another hearty laugh before Annie disappeared out the front door and Star made her way up to the counter to pay.

“How was everything?” Maria Alexandro, owner of the small Mexican restaurant, greeted Star with a smile. The woman’s once dark hair was totally grey. She was a small woman, hardly topping five feet, but she was sweet and really cared about her restaurant. The food she and her husband served was the best in the whole state as far as Star was concerned.

“Excellent. Amazing, as always.” She whipped out her credit card and paid, sure to leave a generous top. Maria and Pedro ran the restaurant for the most part by themselves. Occasionally their teenage children helped but neither their daughter or son was there at the moment.

“Estrella, always too generous!” Maria exclaimed when she saw the tip. She used the Spanish form of Star’s name. It was a beautiful word and Star liked the way it rolled off Maria’s tongue.

“I’ll be back next week, I’m sure,” Star assured her. “Take care Maria.”

“You as well!” Maria treated Star to a wide smile before she rushed off to wait on the other tables.

Star left the restaurant feeling much better than she had when she arrived. She hadn’t been sure how her best friend would react to the news that Millar was at the kitchen. She’d been meaning to tell Annie for days but hadn’t found the time.

Hope And Bread was only a few blocks from the restaurant. It made it a convenient lunch or dinner spot. Star’s small apartment was located only a short distance from there and her dad’s care home just a mile away.

She always walked, even past dark. She wasn’t afraid of the neighborhood. No one ever touched her. Most people actually knew her. Both her kitchen and kindness were well known and it afforded her a small amount of protection and respect. She’d grown up near where she currently lived. She walked past her childhood home every single night on the way to visit her father.

To some this neighborhood might be a nightmare, but to her it was home. There was no way she was leaving. Her entire world, all that she had left, was here in Logan Heights.