On Monday Jessie believed the school clocks were under a mysterious spell because the minutes ticked by slower than ever. She couldn’t do anything else until Badger appeared.
Too impatient to wait in her office, she implemented her plan to spend five or ten minutes with different classes, allowing the boys to get to know her and answer their questions about her role as a development director.
A sharp knock on the door to Chris Sotello’s fourth-period history class interrupted her talk there.
“Coach?” A blond-haired teen stepped inside the room. “Brother Edward sent me to get Miss Medina. A man’s waiting in her office.”
Jessie’s heart pounded with anticipation. She looked at Chris apologetically. “Can we finish this another time?”
“Any time.” Chris gave her a smile. “Good luck!”
Jessie left the room, and walked the hall at a rapid pace.
Earlier, with Brother William’s help, Jessie had found six pictures with Badger in them and purposely left them where he could find them if he waited in her office. When she arrived, she saw him looking at the black-and-white 8x10 prints.
“Hello! Welcome back to St. Joe’s.” Jessie smiled, her shaking hands clasped tightly behind her back. She hoped her professional appearance pleased him. She had chosen a tailored blue blazer with a matching short skirt. Maybe he wouldn’t notice how nervous she felt.
Immediately, she noticed Badger sported a beige sport shirt and brown western-style slacks. Without his cowboy hat and dark glasses, he looked like any other visitor to the school.
“I never saw any of these before.” He flipped through the pictures as he spoke. “So many people I forgot.”
“I can make copies for you.” She took a step closer.
Badger laughed, then turned to look at her. “I don’t know if I want anyone to know these exist!” His hazel eyes twinkled. “Would you like your old high school pictures in one of those gossip rags?”
“I guess you’re right.” Her voice softened. “I’m glad you came, Badger.”
He turned to look around the room. “This place brings back a wagon load of memories. There used to be this old, beat-up chair right there by that desk. I’m embarrassed to tell you how many times I sat in it and got chewed out by Brother William. He kept me alive during a very tough time in my life.”
A corner of his mouth pulled into a slight smile. “I see Brother Edward is principal now. When I was here, it was his first year as an English teacher. Do you know some of those poems I wrote for him I used in a couple of my songs?”
Jessie stood there, quietly listening. She didn’t want to capitalize on Badger’s memories, but she hoped his personal feelings would sway him to do a benefit. Being at the school and talking with the brothers again would have a bigger impact than anything she could say.
“How would you like to see the school, Badger?”
He just shook his head. “Let’s go see Brother William first.”
As they left her office, Jessie told Badger, “Brother William was supposed to come with me Friday night, but he couldn’t make it.”
He raised one light-brown eyebrow. “I don’t think he could have passed for a waiter, do you?”
Jessie laughed. She liked Badger’s sense of humor. “If Brother William had been with me, I would have used another approach. Wouldn’t your bodyguard have let us in when he saw an old man? How much of a threat could we be?”
“You don’t know Wade.” Badger chuckled. “He wouldn’t let his own mother into my room! Of course, Wade’s never met Brother William, either! I got into big trouble once, and Brother convinced the policeman not to haul me off to juvenile. After that stunt, I became the weekend gardener around here. See those shrubs and bushes next to the chapel window? I planted every one of them.”
His laughter carried over the quadrangle as they walked to the Brothers’ Residence.
Just as she was about to ring the bell, Badger spoke again.
“Tell me, Jessie. How did a woman get to be the development director of a boys’ school?”
“I was qualified.” She rang the doorbell. “How did a boy from St. Joe’s get to be a famous singer?”
“Connections!” he exclaimed and gave her a wink.
After Goldie, the housekeeper, let them in, they walked from the small entry into a narrow hall. Religious paintings decorated the paneled walls between closed doors. They heard a television broadcasting the noon news, and then they walked through a portal. Comfortable leather chairs, two sofas, and various tables were the furniture for the Community Room.
Brother William sat in a recliner watching the television console in one corner. He spotted Jessie and Badger, and clapped his hands. “I win my bet! I told Goldie a famous singer would show up today. She said if he did, she’d make me a pecan pie.”
Badger helped him up from the chair, then pulled the old man into his arms. “It’s great to see you, Brother.”
Jessie stepped back. Over the edge of Badger’s shoulder, she saw the tears brimming in Brother’s blue-gray eyes. Tears burned her own eyes, so she looked away. She knew this was a private moment for the men, and softly cleared her throat.
“I promised Goldie I’d help her with something. Excuse me.” She spun on her heel and left the room quickly.
As she walked the hall, she said a little prayer. If only .…
After lunch in the Brothers’ Residence, Jessie and Badger walked the campus and visited classrooms. In order to keep attention minimal, Jessie introduced him to the teachers or students as her friend, Mr. McCloud, who was visiting the school. The students whispered, but no one pointed outright, and they always answered “Yes, sir” when he spoke to them.
Badger listened and watched, asked questions, and seemed receptive to everyone. Finally, they returned to Jessie’s office just as the dismissal bell rang, ending the day.
As she closed the door, Badger moved to look out the window. Scratching his bearded jaw, he watched the boys pass outside.
Jessie stood quietly, her back pressed against the door. The past hours she had allowed Badger to observe without much commentary from her. He knew about the school from his own experiences; she only explained about the financial problems just as she had to the alumni last week.
She heard him sigh, then turn. He folded his arms across his chest. “You realize, Jessie, if I say yes to the concert, that’s the easy part. I may do it free, but there will still be expenses.”
Jessie’s heart fluttered with hope. “I’ll get the corporate sponsors, Badger. You just say yes.”
Badger walked to her desk, and picked up the telephone receiver. She watched his thick fingers punch between buttons, then studied his features as he talked.
“It’s Badger. Remember when we talked in Austin? I want to do the benefit for St. Joe’s School in San Antonio.” Badger nodded, his eyes closing. “Yes, I know. Do whatever it takes. They’ve slotted the concert for Memorial Day weekend.” Slowly, he put down the receiver, then smiled at Jessie. “The answer is yes.”
For the first time since high school, Jessie wanted to break out in a victory cheer for St. Joe’s. She laughed happily, clapping her hands together. “This is wonderful!”
Suddenly all her professional training and education shoved her excitement into the background. She had the answer she wanted, and now the real work began.
“We’ll need to have a press conference as soon as possible. When are you leaving town, Badger?”
Rolando,
Spaghetti in the refrigerator. Tell Bobby to fold clothes
in dryer. With Delia at María Ponce’s house.
Mamá
P.S. Jessie says to call her.
He read the note on the refrigerator, but only the postscript caught his attention. The rest was nothing new. He dialed the school first, but when he only got the answering machine, he called Jessie’s apartment.
“Hello!” She sounded breathless as she answered after the first ring.
“It’s Roland. Did you—”
“Roland!” Suddenly she was screaming. “He said yes! Isn’t that wonderful? The concert’s a go! I’m so excited!”
Roland held the phone away from his ear. As a cheerleader, Jessie probably had never needed a megaphone. He leaned against the kitchen wall. “That’s great, Jessie. I guess you and I need to go celebrate. Have you had dinner yet?”
“No, but Gonzo is on the way over, and he promised to pick up a pizza. We’ve got so much planning to do. Listen, the reason I called you—besides to tell you the good news—is that I need you to be present at the press conference tomorrow. Noon. In the gym. You can be there, right?”
Roland tried to process everything she told him. Once again some buzzard named Gonzo was monopolizing Jessie’s time, and she wanted him at St. Joe’s tomorrow. “What do you need me for? I’m sure your friend Gonzo can handle things.”
“Gonzo is not the president of the Alumni Association. It seems to me, you’d want to be there. Isn’t it the alumni who are going to help me get this concert off the ground?” Her voice changed from excited to irritated. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. It’s just hard for me to get away at such short notice.”
“Roland.” She sighed. “We’re in this together. I need you there tomorrow. Please?”
He might have agreed immediately if that Gonzo character wasn’t in the picture, too.
But wasn’t she free to see Gonzo if she wanted? He had known Jessie only a week, but because of their experiences together, his emotions steered his heart in her direction. He couldn’t find the brake pedal to stop himself from caring about everything she did and who she did it with. He sighed with the confusion of it all.
“I don’t know what you expect me to do, Jessie,” Roland said.
“Just be your charming self when the reporters ask you questions.”
“Reporters?” Roland switched the receiver to the other ear. “I have to talk to reporters?”
“Get used to it. We have a busy two months of public relations ahead of us, Mr. President. Oh! There’s the doorbell. See you tomorrow. Later!”
The telephone clicked in Roland’s ear. He had wanted to take her to dinner and celebrate her accomplishment, but he got shoved aside. Well, he sure wasn’t going to stand in line behind some St. Michael’s monkey called Gonzo.
Roland hung up the telephone just as Bobby came through the door. The teenager, still dressed in a black tank top and shorts from track practice, tossed his track cleats beside the drain board, and dropped his backpack on the floor by the sink.
“Where have you been? It’s after six.” Roland’s deep voice came out in a growl. “And you know better than to leave your junk all over the kitchen.”
“Hey, man!” Bobby’s hands flipped up in front of his chest. “What’s eating you? And whatever it is, I didn’t do it.”
“Sorry, Bob.” Roland sighed, his fingers raking through his hair. “I didn’t mean to jump on you. Uh—where have you been?”
“After practice, we helped Coach and Ms. Medina set up the gym for a press conference tomorrow. Did you hear who she got to sing for St. Joe’s? A country singer!” Bobby wrinkled his nose. “How could she do that to us?”
“Well, she didn’t know how to get in touch with a Bleeding Centipede, I guess.” Roland found himself grinning in spite of his earlier mood.
Bobby reached down and grabbed his backpack. He dragged his cleats down and slung them over one shoulder. “She told us this singer went to St. Joe’s. Did you know him?”
“No, Badger went there about ten years before I did.”
“Sheesh! How old is this guy?” Bobby groaned as he carried his belongings out of the kitchen.
Roland had placed the dish with the spaghetti in the microwave and was punching buttons to heat it when Bobby returned, pulling a T-shirt over his head.
“I tell you, Rolo! You need to ask this lady out.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Roland had turned from the microwave oven.
“Who do you think I’m talking about? Ms. Medina. She came by and talked to us during geometry class today. She’s so fine!” Bobby went to the cabinet and pulled down two plates. “You’d have to be dead not to notice, Rolo!”
Since Saturday, he was rediscovering the excitement in thinking about a special woman in his life. Just the memories of Jessie’s kiss made him feel like he was sixteen again. Yet he casually told Bobby, “Ms. Medina is a very intelligent woman.”
“Well, if I were you, I’d want to date her, not discuss politics.” Bobby walked to the table and set the plates down. “You know, Rolo? Ms. Medina told us they might let girls in the school by the time we’re seniors. Wouldn’t that be fine?”
As a businessman, he knew that going coeducational was a smart way to keep the school going. On a personal level, maybe the hormone tornadoes would be less severe if there were teenage girls to occupy the boys’ thoughts instead of that attractive development director, who filled Roland’s thoughts in a very fine way.
Jessie surveyed the commotion in the front area of the gymnasium and smiled. From the moment Brother Edward, the principal, made his opening comments, to Badger’s short speech, to the introduction of the first five corporate sponsors of the concert, the press conference went smoothly. Jessie’s own words, enlisting further financial support and introducing Roland and the program director from KYCK radio, concluded the hour. The media was most interested in Badger, and spoke with him and his manager at length, but it didn’t stop reporters from firing questions at anyone else connected with the concert.
Jessie thanked the man from Channel Five after their on-camera interview, then stepped back, and straightened her gray pinstriped jacket over her skirt before looking for Roland.
Dressed in a tailored black suit and colorful tie, Roland was a distinguished and extremely sexy-looking alumni president. If he approached her for a donation to help his old high school, she’d empty her bank account just to see his smile.
She quietly moved closer so she could eavesdrop on Roland’s conversation with two female reporters.
“My brother is a sophomore at this school.” Roland’s hands moved naturally as he spoke. “I’d like to see Bobby graduate from here just like my brother Ray and I did. I have friends with boys in grade school. They want to continue the tradition and send their sons to St. Joe’s.”
“What do you think makes this school worth saving?” the black-haired reporter asked.
“This school gives a solid education. Plus, the boys get the feeling of belonging to another family—the St. Joe’s family. Why do you think Badger agreed to do the concert? The spirit of St. Joe’s goes on with our students even after they leave here.”
“And how you do feel about a female in the Development Office, Mr. Tovías?” the shorter, blonde woman asked. “How does the alumni feel having a woman represent an all-boys school?”
“We were a little surprised at first. But everyone’s been impressed by Ms. Medina’s plans. I’m happy to see her represent us. She’s got the school’s best interests at heart.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tovías.”
The ladies moved on to talk to the program director from KYCK radio.
Roland turned and saw Jessie grinning at him. At least, he had the good manners to look embarrassed.
Jessie walked closer and whispered, “I bet you guys have some trouble with a woman in charge, don’t you?”
Roland raised an eyebrow. “Whenever you’re in charge, I never know what will happen next.” He looked over her head around the gym. “So where’s Gorilla? I wanted to meet him.”
“If you mean Gonzo, he’s out of town.” She found his jealousy amusing, and wondered how deep his feelings ran. In the short span of a week, she had developed a strong attraction to the man who stood before her. She liked his pride and confidence. And he came in a handsome package, too. Most important, though, was the fact they were learning to respect each other.
“I still owe you a dinner in a restaurant,” he said. “How’s tonight?”
Jessie lowered her eyes. On Tuesdays, the Medina family always had supper together, a tradition that had begun when her brother Gilbert moved out years ago. She was tempted to ask Roland to join them, but if their relationship was destined to move to a more personal level, she wanted to take things slowly. Meeting a person’s family was serious stuff.
“I guess you’re hesitating because you have a meeting or something and can’t figure out a way to tell me—hey, Jessie! It’s no big deal. I just owed you a nice dinner. But you’re busy. What you’re doing for St. Joe’s is more important, anyway.”
“Well, it’s just that—” She began to explain about her family but he interrupted her.
“Like I said, it’s no big deal. I’m a big boy. You won’t hurt my feelings. After you and Godzilla work out all the details, I can sweep up the stage or something.” He looked at his gold wristwatch. “I really need to get back to the garage now. Goodbye.”
Roland turned, but Jessie grabbed his arm. She stepped closer to him. “You don’t have half the answers you think you do. From the very first day, I told you I needed your help. We’re not talking about sweeping stages, either.” Then she released him. “Can we go to dinner tomorrow night instead? I think it’s time you and I had a heart-to-heart talk about concert promotions.”
Roland’s eyes swept her face. “I think I might like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, too, but Jesse, it has nothing to do with concert promotions. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
He left Jessie standing in the gym with the memory of his devilish grin firmly imprinted in her mind.
The following evening, the doorbell of Jessie’s apartment rang exactly at seven.
Jessie smoothed her dress, a pink cotton shift embroidered with red, yellow, and blue flowers. She wore the gathered neckline off her shoulders, and accented the dress with a red cinch belt. She moved to the door, her long brown hair swinging freely down her back.
Jessie opened the door with a smile that grew more natural as she saw Roland’s eyes glide over her.
“You look beautiful, Jessie.”
Her heart skipped for joy. “Thank you.” She had taken great pains not to look like a development director tonight.
As Roland stepped into her apartment, she admired his attractive appearance in a green shirt and dark jeans. She closed the door behind him. “I’m glad you didn’t have any problem finding the apartment.”
“This is a nice place.” Roland looked around the living room area.
He turned around as she moved from the door. They almost collided.
Less than an arm’s distance from one another, Jessie looked up into Roland’s serious expression. He reached out to stroke her brunette hair. Since the days when her mother used to brush it for hours, Jessie always enjoyed when someone touched her hair. A seductive fever shivered through her body as Roland’s fingers sifted through the brown strands, then lifted them off her bare shoulder. Goose bumps appeared where his fingers had touched her skin.
“Forgive me.” His voice was deep and dusky. “It’s a silly superstition, I know. But—I just had to touch your hair.”
Jessie stared into his gaze, the color of midnight and shadows. She had no reason to fear his admiration, although she knew many people still believed if an admirer did not touch an object of beauty, something terrible might happen.
“I understand,” she whispered.
Slowly, his face descended, and then he kissed her. When he pulled away, her lips so carefully caressed, a tingling sensation made her believe she was safe from every superstition forever.
“What’s your pleasure tonight? Italian food? Chinese? Mexican?” His black eyebrows raised above his shining eyes.
“Mexican,” she told him, then smiled. Her pleasure tonight would not come from the food, but from the charms of this tejano who sought to protect her, even from himself.
“Have you ever been to Flavio’s?” Roland asked as they walked outside.
“No—hey! Doesn’t the man who owns the restaurant send his sons to St. Joe’s?”
“That’s right. The youngest son, Mateo, is in my brother Bobby’s class.”
As they left her apartment and drove down Bandera Road, Jessie’s mind drifted back to the concert. In her efforts to tap community and alumni resources, she could not neglect the parents of students. It was time to start recruiting volunteers to help her contact the parents. They had a big stake in the concert’s success, too.
“Roland,” Jessie said, as an idea began forming in her mind, “does your mother work outside the home?”
She saw his mouth take an unpleasant twist. “Depends on what you mean by work, Jessie. She’s very active in P.O.N.S.”
“Really? I admire their work. I think it’s about time neighborhood groups hold politicians accountable to promises they make in order to get elected.”
“I suppose.” Roland shrugged. “I just worry about my little brother. He’s home alone while she’s complaining to City Council members.”
Jessie’s eyebrows raised. “Your mother deserves a life apart from being a homemaker if she wants it. And isn’t your brother old enough to take care of himself?”
“I’d expect you to see it that way. Personally, I believe a commitment to family should be a priority over volunteer work or any job for that matter.”
Jessie heard the bitter edge to his words, and it struck an unpleasant chord in her. “In other words, the woman’s place is in the home. Period.”
“I’m not a caveman, Jessie. I just believe family comes first.”
“So what about the father?” she asked. “What’s his job?”
“A good father gives everything to his family. His paycheck, his love, and as much time as he can spare. My father worked hard so we could have a good education and a few luxuries, but he always found time to be with me and my brothers.” Roland sighed. “I hope I can balance things as well as he did.”
“I’m sure your mother is trying to balance things, too, Roland.” Jessie tried to keep any judgment out of her voice. “How does your brother feel about her work in P.O.N.S.?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. We never talk about it. It’s just a matter of fact that she’s not home and we have to cook for ourselves.”
Jessie’s face opened in surprise. “You still live at home with your mother?”
“Actually, I live in a garage apartment in the back. I moved there when my father died. I didn’t want my mother to be alone, and I knew Bobby needed extra attention. Actually, Bobby was the reason I got so involved in St. Joe’s.”
Jessie had to smile. Just like his father, Roland always made time for his family.
Señor Tovías would be very proud of his oldest son.
Roland’s choice of restaurants also impressed her. She liked the atmosphere in the rectangular dining area, with colorful Mexican piñatas hanging from the high ceilings, tiled floors, and waiters dressed in white guayabera shirts. Immediately, one of them came to take their drink orders after they sat down.
“So, do we have a place for our concert yet?” Roland asked her when they were alone.
“Actually, I was hoping for Sunken Garden Theater.” Her back rested against the tall cane chair. “But there’s a hold on the place by KSAN radio. And I couldn’t get anyone there to return my calls.”
“Sunken Garden? That’s an outdoor theater. What if it rains?” Roland reached for one of the tortilla chips in a straw basket in the center of the green tablecloth. He dipped one in an enamel bowl of pico de gallo. “Why would you pick that place?”
“It’s the cheapest place in the city, Roland.” She shot a disapproving look in his direction. “And we won’t mention that ‘R’ word again.” She knew the risks of using an outdoor theater, but profits were a priority. She decided she’d be completely honest with Roland, so he would know what was at stake, too. “Actually, I feel like I’m running out of time, Roland. Badger’s manager expects me to confirm a date and place by Friday. Gonzo picked a terrible time to leave town. He knows the people at KSAN.”
“You don’t need him. I know someone at KSAN radio.”
Jessie stared. “What?” She couldn’t believe what he had just said so calmly.
“Mike Esparza. On the air, he’s Flying Mike, KSAN traffic reporter. I worked on his car just last week.”
“Could you call him? Would he help us?” She tried not to sound too anxious, but this connection was something short of a miracle for her.
“What do you need? I’m new at all this concert stuff, you know.” He enjoyed another chip piled with chopped tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.
“Well, the lady who runs Sunken Garden told me the station still didn’t have definite plans. I hoped I could convince KSAN to give up Sunken Garden to us, then join us in promoting Badger’s concert.”
“But I thought KYCK was doing that.”
“They are. But KSAN might be willing to help us since they don’t compete with KYCK. KSAN plays top 40, and KYCK is a country-western station. If Mike could get me to the right people, maybe we’d have a place for our concert that wouldn’t eat into our profits.”
“We can go by the garage after supper and get his number then,” Roland said. “I’m glad I can help you like this.”
Jessie smiled, enjoying the unexpected surprises Roland brought to their relationship. She finally let herself relax and enjoy dinner.
Roland was fascinated by the woman seated with him for dinner tonight. She was smart in her career and could talk about a variety of topics. The decorations in the restaurant inspired a conversation about places each had visited in Mexico. She knew many facts about Mexico as well as different places in America where she had traveled with her family. She talked more about her relationship with her parents and siblings. He envied the Medinas for their close ties, especially their Tuesday-night suppers with both parents present.
Eventually, the discussion returned to Badger’s concert, and although Roland wanted to be involved and help Jessie, he began to wonder if he was merely another tool to insure the success of her plans. Especially after she asked Roland to introduce her to the owner of the restaurant, Flavio Martinez. First, she complimented Flavio’s cuisine. Then she asked him if he would consider donating food to feed the band and road crew before the concert.
Roland was surprised by her direct approach for donations, but Flavio thought it was a wonderful idea. He offered his restaurant for the small party she had planned after the concert, too.
Later they returned to Roland’s garage to get Mike Esparza’s phone number. He watched as Jessie called Mike and planned a meeting with him at ten in the morning. She had enlisted a total stranger’s help in convincing KSAN to help St. Joe’s. She amazed him more by the minute.
Finally, Jessie invited Roland inside her apartment, and when she kicked off her red shoes, he thought it was time to get cozy on her blue sofa. Instead, Jessie pulled out her legal tablet filled with a list of things to do and began her inquisition. Were there any other people he knew that she could contact on behalf of St. Joe’s?
“This is all so wonderful!” Jessie said with a laugh, near midnight, when she finally tossed the legal pad on the coffee table. She uncurled her legs from under her, and rested her head on the back of the sofa. “Who would have thought you worked on the cars of so many influential people? And you gave me some great leads among the alumni who don’t make the meetings, but probably still care about the school. Now, we just need to decide which people we’ll talk to first.”
Roland tried to hide a yawn. “We? I have a garage to run.”
“But you’re the boss.” Jessie raised her head, her brown eyes glowing. “And there’s Jorge to run things, too. Roland, you know a lot of these people. I don’t.”
“That never stopped you before.” Roland rested his arm along the couch, his hand pushing her brunette hair off her shoulder. He loved the softness of it. “You talked to Mike Esparza tonight like you two were old army buddies.”
Jessie laughed self-consciously, her face turning a charming shade of pink.
Roland knew if he did not move quickly, she would begin discussing something else she needed for the concert, and right now, he wanted something from her that had nothing to do with St. Joe’s. In one smooth motion, he slid across the sofa, closing the distance between them. He rounded his arm about her shoulders.
Her lips parted as if she was surprised, and he solicited a delicious kiss. She tasted of flan, the cream vanilla dessert they had shared after dinner. Her silky hair brushed his arms, and he enjoyed losing his hands among the dark brown waves.
He had never known anyone like Jessie, yet he knew he had to leave before his hormones took over his common sense. Ever so gently, he ended their kiss, but not before rewarding himself with two light, sweet ones.
“It’s late, Jessie.” His lips pressed against the satiny hair, trying to imprint the texture into his mind so he could dream about it tonight.
He left her apartment after a brief kiss by the door. Roland realized it was going to be difficult to concentrate on mufflers and spark plugs tomorrow. His thoughts would also be on Jessie, who filled his mind with romance. He even admitted he would be wondering, too, about Jessie’s appointment with KSAN. He discovered he was unable to control his interest in her job, because now, it was important to both of them.