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“Are you here with someone, sweetie?”
The girl only nodded in response.
“Who?” Tara stalled by checking the sugar dispenser and the salt and pepper shakers. The girl was too young to be here on her own. An adult had to be here someplace. The restroom perhaps?
Finally, the girl pointed. Tara looked over her shoulder. The twentysomething who was normally with the girl sat at another table back in the corner behind the small room divider, flirting with a man. She looked like she’d been there awhile if the lipstick stains on the coffee mug were any indication.
“You’re with her?”
The girl nodded.
“Why are you sitting over here?”
The girl shook her head and shrugged. “She told me to stay over here.”
Tara frowned. It wasn’t a big deal to have the girl taking the table since it was late, and there were only a couple tables full. But the girl was by herself. Well, except for the dragon.
“Why?”
“She said to leave her alone.”
“Is she your mom?” Why did that idea bother Tara? She thought of her own mother, who’d had six kids and still managed to make them each feel special. Mom never ignored them. Ever.
The girl shook her head. “No. She’s the babysitter. But I’m not a baby.” The protest seemed tired and worn-out, even coming from the child.
“Where’s your mother?”
“At work.”
“What about your father?”
“I dunno.” The girl hugged the dragon tight. “Mama says I have to be good and not upset the sitter cuz she can’t find nobody else.”
Tara slowly wiped off the table, wondering what she should do. Thankfully, someone was here with the girl, though she wasn’t doing a very good job of watching her.
“She don’t like me being around,” the girl whispered into the fur.
“Who? The babysitter?”
“No. Mama.” The sadness in the girl’s voice tore at Tara’s heart. She almost hated to ask the next question.
“Why?”
“She’s trying to find me a new daddy,” the girl whispered, leaning toward Tara. “I don’t know why.” The girl wrapped her arms tighter around the dragon. “Me and Lanara both like my real dad just fine.”
Whoa. Tara stared at the girl. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t really her business. But the girl looked so lost and distressed.
Not sure what to do and even less willing to upset her any more, Tara decided to tread on safer, less emotionally charged ground for now. “Is that your dragon’s name? Lanara?” she asked.
“Yep. Daddy read it in a book.” The girl turned the battered animal around so Tara could see its worn face. “Daddy gave her to me for my birthday.”
Interesting. Tara nodded. “She’s lovely. Did you have anything to eat?”
The girl shook her head. She sat up straighter, looking beyond Tara.
“Come on, kiddo.” A woman’s voice came from behind Tara. “We’re going with Jake.” She reached past the girl and pulled out a small purse from behind the girl’s back. A tall, dark-haired man stood at the door, waiting impatiently.
There wasn’t any bill on either table, and only the cup that had lipstick on one edge to even indicate they’d been there.
“Would you like something to go? A cookie?” Tara offered.
“No, thanks,” the woman said. At the same time, the girl said, “Yes, please,” and looked up hopefully.
The girl jumped down from the booth, her ratty tennis shoes slapping against the wood floor. The woman grabbed the girl’s arm, and together they wound their way through the tables to where the man waited.
Tara hurried to the glass container on the counter and hastily grabbed a handful of cookies. “Take these with you.” She put them into a bag.
“We didn’t order those,” the babysitter snapped.
“I know.” Tara smiled. “It’s a gift.” She winked at the girl and extended the bag to her. “You come back anytime, okay?”
The girl smiled and nodded, using her free hand to wave the dragon’s floppy arm.
Tara forced herself to smile and wave back, struggling not to frown. That whole interaction felt weird, though despite the late hour, she couldn’t put her finger on why. She cleared off the table and headed into the kitchen. Robbie was cleaning up his last order and preparing to hand the kitchen over to the night cook. He didn’t see customers, so it was doubtful he even knew about the girl. Wendy didn’t remember her before tonight.
