Chapter 7

 

Alonzo eased the SUV to a slow stop in front of the school. It was 11:30 pm. Past Jeanette’s bedtime. She wasn’t going to worry about working on lesson plans tonight. They could wait until tomorrow as Gloria suggested. Jeanette was feeling too relaxed for work. Going out to dinner with Alonzo had been just what she needed to relieve some of her stress. And it certainly didn’t hurt that she no longer had to rack her brain trying to figure out how she was going to come up with cash she didn’t have.

After her apology the evening went well. Although she kept reminding herself that they were not on a date, it sure felt like one. They engaged in all the things couples did on a first date like asking each other surface questions about their background and upbringing.

She learned that Alonzo was thirty-four and the oldest of three siblings. He and his brother Julio were two years apart. His sister Teresa was twenty-six, the same age as Jeanette. He was quite bright, earning degrees in finance and business. She joked, “As soon as I dig myself out of the rut I’m in, maybe you can show me how to invest my coins.”

She was happy to learn he and his brother would be opening their first restaurant in December. Though they just met, Jeanette shared in Alonzo’s enthusiasm at his long-term goal of opening a chain of restaurants. She was tempted to ask him to hire her on the spot as a waitress.

The only annoying part of the evening was Steven coming back every ten minutes to check on them. Good service was one thing, but the overzealous waiter was taking it to an outrageous level. After the fourth interruption of their conversation, Alonzo excused himself. Steven didn’t come back until he offered them dessert before bringing the check.

Alonzo turned the vehicle’s lights off. He wasn’t ready to let her go, but knew he had to because of the late hour.

He didn’t know what had gotten into him earlier because he wanted to strangle Steven. It wasn’t unusual for the kid to hover whenever Alonzo dined at Joshua’s Place, whether he was his waiter or not. Alonzo never minded because his dates knew his identity. They expected the attention.

Jeanette wasn’t oblivious to the extra attention. Her sharp eyes and facial expressions told him she was getting suspicious of Steven’s lingering. As much as Alonzo didn’t want to leave her, risking the chance of another staff snooping, he excused himself to go in search of Steven.

“Listen, you need to chill with coming to the table. We’re trying to enjoy our meal.”

He felt a twinge of regret for the sharp tone he used when Steven’s face turned red and he began to profusely apologize.

“It’s cool man. Just give us some space.”

With Steven out of the way, he and Jeanette were able to get to know each other. He was amused and pleased when she suggested they converse in Spanish.

His amusement must have shown because she playfully tapped his hand. “What’s that look for?”

He shrugged a broad shoulder enjoying the contact of her skin against his. “No, reason.”

Jeanette sucked her teeth. “I can speak Spanish. I’m a little rusty though.”

His heart melted when she smiled at him.

“Since you’re in a generous mood tonight you can help me.”

When he didn’t respond fast enough for her, Jeanette lifted an arch brow issuing a sassy challenge.

“You can speak Spanish? I mean, I know you said a few little words a few minutes ago, but if that’s all you got…”

Alonzo chuckled before switching their conversation to Spanish. Yep, she was a bit rusty. A few times she had to ask him to slow down or ask for clarification. With more practice she’d be ready to join him at any family function and fit in. When the idea sailed through his mind, he thought of his mother. What would Marta think of Jeanette? Would she not like her simply because she wasn’t Cuban? It never concerned him what his mother thought about the few women he had taken around his family. Jeanette was different though. For some reason Alonzo cared what his mother would think.

“I guess I better get inside,” Jeanette said, pulling Alonzo out of his musing.

“You should quit your second job,” Alonzo blurted.

Jeanette turned in her seat to face him. If only it was that easy. Gloria had told her the same thing. Auntie quoted her favorite line, “Child, the Lord will make a way.”

Jeanette was more from the school of thought, God helped those who helped themselves. And right now, she needed to keep her second job to help herself and her aunt.

“Believe me, I wish I could. But when you have bills and you’re trying to keep a family business from going under,” she shrugged, “you do what you have to do. Know what I mean?”

With a master’s in education, Gloria opened Tender Steps in the early 70’s after the national push for Head Start programs in the inner-city schools. During the early years, up until a decade or so, the school was doing financially well due to the lack of over saturation.  Now with daycares popping up on every corner it was getting harder to keep the doors open.

Alonzo nodded. He did know. He'd lived through lean times. His parents came to this country with nothing. His father worked as a dishwasher and his mother a maid. Once they had a steady income, barely enough to survive on, his dad went to night school to become a certified mechanic. After Javier Castro landed a job at Pep Boys, his mother became a stay-at-home mom. Money was still tight, making it necessary to watch every penny spent.

The dimmed sparkle in her eyes pained Alonzo. Reaching out he placed his hand on top of hers that rested on her thigh.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She stared at his hand covering hers. Jeanette’s initial reaction had been to pull away, but the warmth of his touch was putting her at ease.

“Where do I begin?”

He rubbed a callous thumb across her satiny skin. “Wherever you want, sweetheart.”

Alonzo intently listened as Jeanette shared with him how the daycare was losing business to the new one down the street and another one three blocks over. The school had the capacity for thirty students, only twelve were enrolled. And even if they did have the extra students, salary and benefits for an additional teacher was out of the question. Her aunt was stuck in the past and refused to raise the tuition, which would add some relief. It would at least help with having a small stash for the upkeep of the building.

He gently squeezed her hand when she took in a deep breath and let it out before divulging, “When my aunt couldn’t afford to pay the previous teacher, I quit my job as a first-grade teacher in the district to help her. There was no way auntie was going to be able to do everything herself. I’m not complaining, but I had to defer getting my master’s in education. One of the amazing benefits with the district was tuition reimbursement.”

Jeanette gently slid her hand from beneath his to wipe at the corner of her eye. Talking to Alonzo was stirring up so many emotions. The greatest being hopelessness. At times she felt like she was never going to crawl out the dark hole her life was in.

“I can’t quit working at Macy’s. We need the extra money to keep things going. The school is my aunt’s life and I owe her so much.”

“Why do you owe, Tía?”

He kept his hand on her thigh, gently massaging the area. Not because she was vulnerable and it was an opportunity to feel her up. There were plenty of women he could call for that. The gesture was simply to offer comfort. He and Jeanette had more in common than she would believe. Like her, he felt a responsibility to his family and would do anything to accommodate their needs. The only difference was he had the financial security to take care of his loved ones. Jeanette literally had nothing, although she worked hard. Where was the justice in that?

It pleased her that Alonzo hadn’t pulled away when she withdrew her hand. The weight of his caress was soothing.

“I was a toddler when my parents died in a car crash. My aunt was the only family member who would take me in.”

Her father, Gloria’s nephew was an only child. Her mother was the youngest of three girls. Neither of her aunts wanted to be bothered with a toddler when they had their own families to raise. So in a sense, Gloria was the only family Jeanette had to speak of.

“She didn’t have a ton of material stuff to give me, but she never shortchanged me on love. I could never leave Auntie or the school. I have to keep the school going.” Jeanette’s smile was sincere when she added, “And I really enjoy having the freedom to help each child learn and grow at their own pace. Each child is different. Some need more attention than others. When I worked for the district I didn’t have the flexibility to create individual learning plans. If the child didn’t catch on and there wasn’t a parent at home willing to do the extra work the child suffered. I didn’t suffer, the parent didn’t...”

Alonzo’s lazy grin brought Jeanette’s rambling to a halt. He must think I talk too much.

“I’m sorry. You asked me one question and I went off on a tangent.”

“Sweetheart, no need to be sorry. Those babies are lucky to have you.”

Though his comment warmed her heart, it was time for her to go. Because the longer she sat there the more effort it would take for her to move. And as much as she hated to admit, Alonzo was someone she wouldn’t mind spending what little time she had to get to know better.

“It’s getting late and I have to get up early.”

Alonzo wanted to ask her if he could see her again tomorrow evening, but decided not to on the chance she would be working.

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

“That’s not necessary…”

Jeanette’s protest died on her lips. The frown creasing his forehead told her it was necessary.

“Sorry.”

Jeanette waited for Alonzo to come around to her side of the vehicle. She didn’t make a fuss as he held out his hand to assist her from the SUV. Nor did she resist him holding her hand as they walked to the side of the building. It took her several seconds before she broke contact so she could search for the keyring in the bottom of her purse. Was it crazy she didn’t want to let him go?

“Thanks, Alonzo for everything. I really had a good time with you tonight.”

“You’re welcome. I hope I can see you again.”

“I would like that.”

Jeanette’s belly did a series of flip-flops as their fingertips brushed when she handed him the device. Her gaze shifted everywhere, but on him as she feared her eyes would reveal a vision of them tangled in sweaty sheets after lovemaking. She was forced to look at him when he handed her back the phone.

“Text me your number. I’ll see you later.”

Jeanette closed her eyes when he moved in, tenderly kissing her cheek. It was the sweetest thing, but man how she wished it had been her lips.

“See you later,” Jeanette whispered before floating inside.

After locking the door, her fingertips touched the side of her face where he kissed her. In a daze, Jeanette walked up the flight of stairs to her apartment over the school. At the top of the stairs, she unlocked another door leading into the living room area. Inside she leaned against the wooden door, a huge grin illuminating the dark space.

Crashing into a luxury car hadn’t been such a bad thing after all.