Page 10 of Serving my Dragon
I arched a brow. “Nice.” I typed in the address and then stared at the blank subject line and body of the email. “What should I say?” I yelled out since Kayleigh had gone back to the kitchen.
“Give me a second. I don’t want to burn anything. We’ll craft something after we eat. Speaking of which, it’s just about ready.”
No need to tell Pollita as she’d not left the kitchen the entire time Kayleigh cooked. My flushed human rescue looked happy bustling in my kitchen and it sure smelled good to someone who’d not eaten in a few hours.
“First sandwich is for the little lady who patiently waited.” Kayleigh bent over and offered the plate to my lizard. “Hope you like it, Polly.”
Pollita chirped before taking some bites and immediately hummed in approval. My sandwich got served next, and my mouth watered. Good thing Mama couldn’t see this or she’d probably sob and wail that I tried to replace her. That would never happen.
Although… one bite and I knew the women in my family had competition. How could something so simple as egg, bacon, and cheese on toasted bread taste so savory with a hint of?—
“You put some spice in it?” I asked.
“Yes. I hope that’s okay.”
“Delicious,” I mumbled through my next bite.
“What’s delicious?” repeated Mama. She appeared in the kitchen, eyes round as saucers, jaw on the floor. “¿Que está pasando aqui?”
Panic filled me. “I can explain, Mama,” I said switching to Spanish.
Only I didn’t get a chance because Mama saw Pollita next and uttered a scream. “Lizard! Kill it!”
Chapter Four
“Mama! No!” I hollered as I dove for Pollita. I scooped up the lizard as Mama magically produced a broom and aimed it menacingly.
“What are you doing, mijo?” A confused Mama eyed me cradling Pollita.
“Mama, meet my new pet, Pollita.”
I never thought my mother’s eyes could get so big. “That is not a pet.”
“I beg to differ.”
We’d been arguing thus far in Spanish and Kayleigh cleared her throat. “Hello, Matias’ mom. I didn’t realize you’d be coming over. Can I make you a sandwich?”
The comment drew the attention from Pollita and I readied for the fireworks as Mama’s gaze narrowed. In heavily accented English she spat, “Who are you? Why are you in my boy’s house?”
“Hi. I’m Kayleigh.” My guest held out her hand and didn’t seem daunted by the fact Mama ignored it. “Matias rescued me from the canyon, which I thank the lord for because I don’t know how I ended up there on account of I seem to have injured myself which resulted in me losing my memories, and when I ran into him, like a hero, he offered to help while I figure out how to get home.”
The rapid-fire explanation widened Mama’s eyes even further to the point I worried they might fall out.
In case Mama hadn’t followed the entire thing, I summarized. “Kayleigh has amnesia, according to the doctor. Since she had no wallet or passport and nowhere to go, I offered to let her stay with me.” I didn’t bother explaining that she’d technically invited herself. Then again, even if she hadn’t, my conscious wouldn’t have allowed me to abandon her.
“You invited a stranger to live with you?” Mama exclaimed.
“Well, I couldn’t exactly abandon her in the street, and since the police have no report of a missing tourist?—”
“You called?” Kayleigh interrupted.
“Yes. No one has filed anything. The person I spoke with said it’s possible you weren’t expected back yet, hence why no one reported you missing. I also left a message at the embassy while you were cooking.”
Kayleigh’s lips curved. “Thank you so much for doing that.”
As we spoke, Mama’s head bobbed as if at a tennis match. “She’s wearing your shirt,” Mama stated in Spanish. “And her hair is wet.”
I replied in English. “Because, as I said, she’s lost all her things. I let her borrow some of my clothes.”
