The official Title!! "Something Worth Leaving Behind"
an excerpt

As soon as Nevaeh entered the familiar pub, she had changed her mind about being there. Z had stood up with a crowd of applauding and cheering men shoving tiny containers of half and half his direction. He tore open another container and downed it without taking a breath like it was a shot of whiskey. The men chimed another count as Z tore into yet another container. His face was turning blue as he held his breath trying to down such tiny amounts of liquid. Finally he coughed as he gasped for breath the same time as the last bit of half and half was popped into his mouth. He shook his head and held his hands up as the bar began booming with laughter and congratulatory calls.
Through the crowd, Nevaeh could see the bartender shaking his head but he wore an amused smile. She weaved through the crowd and sat down on the stool at the end ordering her usual shot of milk. The bartender smiled.
“You’re going to become a regular customer, I can tell.” Before he would get the shot of milk he held out his hand. “I’m Red Sivine. You can call Red, or Sivvy, or just Sive if that’s what you want. And you are Mr. Donovan’s granddaughter.”
“Nevaeh,” she replied, taking his hand and his hint. Finally he got her a shot of milk and leaned onto the counter.
“So what can I do for you this time, Miss Nevaeh?”
She glanced at the other people in the room, momentarily worried about what Red would do if they needed served again. He caught her gaze’s direction and nodded. “Don’t worry about them. They’ve had more than enough. That’s why they’re downing half and half and ketchup and other condiments.”
Nevaeh smiled and took her drink. “Okay. So I found the address and it used to be a homeless shelter called the Hope for the Homeless. I think my mother might have lived there for a while, and I thought that it made sense that when my father was disowned he went there too and met her there. Then the both of them moved out and into Vartan.”
Red nodded in approval. “Sounds plausible to me. So what can I do for you?”
“I want to find some of the people who worked at that homeless shelter. Maybe they can tell me about my mother. Do you know of anyone who worked there?”
This time Red was silent for a moment. He looked away as if deep in thought. “Well, I can’t say that I knew anyone who actually worked there, but I do know of a young man who did indeed live there for a short time. He was the one who spent a lot of time with your father. I can’t say that I know where he is anymore though. He vanished quite suddenly just like your father did. I don’t recall Mr. Donovan spending any time at any homeless shelter, but that doesn’t mean anything. Other than that… I’m not sure what to tell you.”
Nevaeh nodded gently. She was afraid as much. But at least she tried. She returned her currency card but he didn’t accept it.
“That one’s on me. I couldn’t help you this time. If you do need anything else, please come back.”
“Oh, I will, thanks!” She returned her currency card to her pocket and navigated the edge of the crowd on the way back out. She jumped when someone landed heavily in front of her. Z’s grinning face made her groan and take a step back.
“So, here you are! You came back! I hoped you would.”
“And now I’m leaving before you and your cohorts can—“ Z wrapped an arm around her cutting her off.
“I won’t hurt you.”
“Says a man who just drank his limit and has been downing condiments.” Nevaeh shoved his arm off and started forward again. This time Z let her go.
“I can talk too! If you need any help from me, I’ll answer any questions you might have!” His holler followed her out the door and she slammed it hoping to give him a hint. From behind the door she could hear his loud voice announcing how he had received free drinks from her last night and she was the reason he wasn’t allowed to have anything but half and half. Snorting she raced down the thin sidewalk, staying close to the buildings so she didn’t get pushed off accidentally.
How was it that Z had an interest in her of all people? She wasn’t spectacularly beautiful, not like models who can catch any man’s eye. She hadn’t even said anything to him when he first started staring at her. Why did he have to be so obnoxious?! She fumed the whole train ride about his nerve of just stomping down from the table to land in front of her just as boisterously as he could and confront her, wrap an arm around her, and speak to her like he had any business to! How dare he! Why was he so skilled at racing across the street without getting hit? Why couldn’t he have the been the drunkard who fell off the sidewalk the other day?