"Don't worry, captain! I'll look after la pequeña," Nadia Santos called from the top of the loading bay on the Cadillac Ranch.
"I appreciate it, Nadia," Mel said, a contented smile on her face. Having an additional set of hands to help around the Ranch, as well as an extra pair of eyes to watch Ida, was a huge weight of her Mel's shoulders.
"Ich weiß nicht what 'la pequeña' means, but I don't like bein' talked down to," Ida pouted.
Nadia and Mel just looked at each other, and then burst out laughing simultaneously.
"What? It's not funny! Ich meine es!" Ida said emphatically.
"I know, I know you're serious," Mel said trying to catch her breath while wiping tears out of her eyes. "It's just so funny hearing German, Spanish, and my Houston twang all jumbled up like that in one sentence. You sure are one culturally confused kid!"
"I'm not confused, I know exactly who I am," Ida said defiantly.
"Alright, you win kid," Mel said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "I'll see y'all in a couple hours."
Mel waved to both of them as she made her way into the depths of Waterloo Station.
* * *
Picking her way through the station, Mel found The Queen's Comfort much more quickly this time, making sure to point out familiar landmarks to herself on her way towards the restaurant. She made it there in a quarter of the time it took her a month ago.
She casually showed her Irregulars shipping credentials to the host at the door, and immediately made her way back to Lachlan's lounge.
Feeling a bit more confident than usual, she pushed open the door to the longue with a casual shove and greeted the men inside.
