Melinda woke up earlier than she had expected. She reached over and picked up the phone, figuring she could catch Jim on his way home.
"Hello?" Jim picked up after a few rings.
"Hey." Melinda slid out of bed and headed into the bathroom, startled by her disheveled hair.
"Mel? Is something wrong?" She could hear the concern in his voice and smiled.
"No, no. I just called to say hi, and to warn you, we have a guest." She left the bathroom and headed down the hall. "You on your way home?" She asked casually, gliding downstairs.
"In the driveway right now." Melinda heard a car door slam and looked around downstairs. To her surprise, Victoria wasn't asleep on the couch. In fact, she was across the room, stretching in, what Melinda guessed were, yoga poses. "Please tell me our guest has a pulse." Jim hung up the phone and stepped into the house.
"Hi." Melinda gave him a hug and a kiss, giving Victoria time to cross the room. "Victoria, Jim. Jim, Victoria. Glad that's over. Who's hungry?" Melinda said all in one breath, clapping at the end in a very perky gesture. Victoria raised her hand.
"I can make pancakes, eggs, and bacon, if you like. Though it's up to you whether you like them or not." Melinda smiled. Victoria pointed in the direction of the kitchen. "I'll just be…that way. Ciao." She scurried off into the kitchen and Melinda turned to Jim.
"Did that answer your question?" Jim nodded, his brow furrowed.
"Yes, but I thought we agreed not to get a maid." Melinda laughed, and slapped his chest playfully.
"Oh, be nice! She's a very nice girl, but a bit…off." Melinda grabbed the blanket off of the couch and folded it, placing it over the back.
"Off as in off her rocker off, or off as in…off off?" Jim sat on the couch, fixing the extra pillow under his head. Melinda sat next to him, fixing her body between his arms.
"She can see earthbound spirits. And…feel them. And it hurts, a lot." She closed her eyes, recounting the first time they saw each other. Jim quirked a brow.
"And how would you know?" Melinda laughed, the smell of pancakes and bacon wafting in on them.
"Long story." She sat up, turning to face him. "She says her mother was kidnapped by thugs that are armed. Goons with guns, she called them." Jim sat up, suddenly aware.
"Did you call the cops?" Melinda shook her head.
"I don't think she wants me to, she didn't exactly tell me not to, but I think we can handle it, you know?" Jim understood, Melinda was a woman who could take care of herself, if she didn't want him to worry, he didn't. At least not much. As if on cue, Victoria poked her head around the corner.
"Breakfast!" She sing-songed. Melinda noticed the lack of a certain white bandana among her accessories and wondered if she was talking to her friend. Melinda led Jim into the kitchen, amazed by how it was set up. Two identical plates, both fully equipped with two sunny side up eggs, two pancakes and bacon.
"Wow." Melinda breathed. "This looks delicious." She sat down, cutting out a bite of pancake. "Mm, it tastes amazing." Victoria beamed.
"I aim to please. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to clean up." She turned to the pans and bowls, placing them in a row, smallest to largest.
"Well, aren't you going to eat?" Jim asked, slightly confused. Victoria smiled.
"I don't eat until before I go to my day job, it gives me more long-lasting energy." Melinda couldn't believe it. This girl worked two jobs, had to deal with ghosts and intense pain, and now, her mother being kidnapped.
"What do you do in the day?" Melinda asked, munching on a piece of bacon.
"When I'm not staring at the sky from a hilltop," Melinda chuckled, "I teach dance at the community center. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays." She smiled.
"What kind of dance?" Victoria spun around, and did several modern dance tricks that Melinda could only dream of performing.
"Modern dance, with a bit of hip-hop mixed in for a street flair." Melinda laughed, finishing her meal.
"Well, the meal was fabulous, and your little dance was," She clapped, standing up. "Bravo! But I am opening up today, and I need to get ready, so thank you for the meal, Victoria, and goodbye" She gave Jim a quick kiss, and exited. Victoria turned back to her dishes, scrubbing each one thoroughly before rinsing it and setting it to dry. Jim watched her for a while, and spoke.
"When are you going to eat?" He asked, getting up to help her put the dishes away.
"I'll have a snack at 11:00, and then a meal at 2:00, classes start at 2:30." She reached to put a plate away, but pulled back, hissing. "Skimbleshanks!" Jim furrowed his brow.
"Skimbleshanks?" He put the plate up and leaned against the counter. "What happened?"
"I tore a bit of tissue in my shoulder, and it's still a little sore." She smiled weakly, heading into the living room, only to nearly run over Melinda, for a second time. "Sorry!" She quickened her pace, opening the door for Melinda. "I've got to go, I'll se you later, I guess." She followed Melinda out the door and raced off, her legs carrying her out of sight.