The sound of a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Sabrina glanced at the little round clock on the wall and frowned. She seemed undecided whether to answer, but the visitor was insistent, knocking louder. “Mrs. Guzman is at her daughter’s tonight. I wonder who that could be.”
He got to his feet. “Maybe I should go.”
“No, there’s no reason to leave.” Her gaze darted from side to side. “I’ll just see who it is.”
Jack watched her go into the living room and followed after a few seconds. Maybe she didn’t feel comfortable telling him why, but it was obvious that she was afraid.
At the door was a middle-aged man, balding and with small, watery eyes. “I just wanted to make sure you were packing. You have to be out of here in forty-eight hours.”
Jack could see Sabrina taking several large breaths. He moved closer, wondering if there was anything he could say to change Sabrina’s predicament.
Mr. Snyder looked up and fixed him with a glare. “You brought in a boyfriend? There’s an extra charge for another person.
“He’s not my—”
“We’re not—” They spoke at the same time.
“I don’t care what you call it. If he stays the night, you pay.” Mr. Snyder’s lips turned up in a sneer. “Unless it’s a one-night stand.”
Jack strode forward and put a hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. He could feel her shaking, but again he wasn’t sure if it was fear or anger. “Would you take a check from me?”
“No, Jack,” Sabrina whirled around, expression furious. “I really don’t need you to pay my rent.”
“That’s right, you don’t. You need to start packing.” Mr. Snyder shuffled his feet and waited. Jack noticed his shoes were so highly shined he could see reflections in them.
“You’ve delivered your notice and now you need to leave,” she said to Mr. Snyder.
“So does he,” he said, pointing behind her at Jack.
She pulled in a deep breath and looked up at him. She wasn’t angry. She just looked so very tired. His heart squeezed. Someone who worked as hard as Sabrina deserved a bit of respect. Jack nodded. It wasn’t worth fighting the manager over. The situation was ugly enough as it was.
Jack didn’t mind being booted from the apartment. He could see how this was going to end and he knew Sabrina had to stand her ground. Fury was rising in his chest and he fought it down. Getting into an argument with this man wouldn’t help her at all. He grabbed his coat from the couch and slipped it on.
Mr. Snyder grunted and stayed where he was. Jack had the feeling the guy wasn’t going to leave until he did.
“I’ll go say goodbye to the girls.” He walked the few feet to the open doorway that spilled the sounds of little-girl laughter. Peeking inside, he wasn’t surprised to see the floor covered with paper and pens and crayons. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you two at practice.”
“Already?” Gabby jumped up and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Jack knew the mission had rules about hugging kids, especially without their parent present. He had to walk a fine line sometimes between being a coach and a family friend. He patted her on the shoulder and slowly stepped back. “Don’t forget to bring your jerseys, okay?”
“We won’t,” Kassey assured him. Her little mouth was turned down at the corners, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
As he came back into the living room, Mr. Snyder was tapping one foot impatiently. If Jack had never heard him speak, he would have figured the guy for a pushy, obnoxious little man. Add in the vicious attitude and Jack had the very lowest opinion of Sabrina’s building manager.
He touched her arm gently. “I’ll see you later.”
She looked up, her mouth tight. “Yeah. And sorry about...” She glanced toward the kitchen, where the kettle was letting off a low whistle.
“Not your fault,” he said. He walked to the door and looked Mr. Snyder in the eyes. “I’m not sure what the problem is here, but I sure hope you have good reason to be evicting Sabrina. There are laws about this sort of thing.”
The manager tried to hold his gaze but blinked and looked down at his shoes, shuffling to the side to let him pass. Jack stepped through the doorway, keeping his hands in his pockets. He was tempted to grab Mr. Snyder’s shirtfront and shake some sense into the man. Harassing someone like Sabrina made no sense at all. She was stable, quiet and kept the place clean. But he knew bullies had their own reasons for what they did.
As he walked down the hallway, he couldn’t help noting the stained ceiling and the faint smell of cooking grease. He wanted, more than anything, to turn around, walk back through that door and tell Sabrina that he could find them a wonderful apartment in a great part of town, with a manager who respected her the way she deserved. He forced himself to keep moving, step after step, toward the stairs. Sabrina was not the type of woman to take charity. He was very sure of what she’d say to any kind of offer like that. And he admired her for it, even while it frustrated him. She was moving to the Mission, and he wished he could just make everything better. But she was determined not to accept any help.
Pushing open the door to the stairs, he blew out a breath and started jogging down the first of four flights to the bottom. It would have been wonderful to sit and drink tea with her, to listen to that soft accent, to watch her dark eyes flash with emotion, but he knew it was better to go now. They were friends, by her request, but he had a feeling it was going to be very hard to tell his heart to stay firmly on that line in the sand.
Chapter Ten
“Bob, those production figures for the past six months don’t make any sense. The costs are going up and our contract with Packaging International should have protected the company from any price changes.” Jack stood in the doorway of Bob Barrows’s office and crossed his arms over his chest. The time for gentle persuasion was past. He had finally cornered the elusive production manager and he was going to get some answers.
“I’ll have to check into it,” Barrows said. He reached for a five-inch-thick stack of paper to his right. The man’s glasses were smudged and his hair seemed greasy, but his suit was obviously very well made. Jack knew about nice clothing, thanks to his mother’s constant guidance, so he could spot a custom-made suit at twenty yards.
“Have you spoken to Packaging International? Have you asked why they’re charging us twice as much as when we first signed the contract for the vitamin powders?”
“I have. All they can tell me is that costs doubled on their end due to city tax levies.” Barrows wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.
Jack frowned. Had Denver passed new ordinances for businesses? He mentally kicked himself for being oblivious for so long. He usually didn’t notice anything unless it affected his snowboarding and now he was reaping the harvest of his ignorance.
He took off his glasses and wiped his face. Jack wondered if Barrows was ill. He looked nervous and shaky. “When is your father coming back to work? I heard rumors that it would be soon.”
“Within the next few weeks. I’ll let you know when we’ve got a firm date.” Jack wished he knew for sure. When he’d dropped by the house early this morning, his father was out playing golf. It was good to see him doing something other than work, but it also meant he was well enough to return. Jack wanted to get these figures straightened out before that day.
Riding the elevator back up to the top floor, Jack let his mind wander back to last night. Sabrina’s quiet anger at the building manager had stayed in his memory. It wasn’t just her control, it was the feeling that she knew that if she protested too much, she would only come out on the losing end. The only time Jack had ever known that feeling was in one situation, and that was so long ago that he had almost forgotten it.
The elevator buttons blinked on and off as he rose higher and higher. In high scho
ol he had tried to explain that his dreams had not included a future in the family business. His father had made it very clear that if Jack didn’t follow his advice, there would be no college, no home, no contact whatsoever.
A light ding sounded and the silver doors slid open. He walked out into the lushly decorated lobby. Sleek black chairs were arranged artfully under a red-and-white abstract painting. Jack opened the glass door to his office and stood for a moment, looking out at Wolf Mountain in the distance. The sun gleamed brightly on the snowcapped peak and he closed his eyes, imagining how it would be up there on such a perfect spring day. He could almost feel the wind in his hair and smell the pine forest.
He sighed and opened his eyes, looking down at the stack of papers in his hands. Sabrina had held her anger in check because she needed to give her nieces a home. She was acting in their best interests. Jack had agreed to what his father had planned for him because he was too afraid to go out into the world alone. Looking back, it was probably for the best, but the more he learned about Sabrina’s life, the more he realized something.
There had been a time when he had been sure that if he put off his dream of opening a snowboarding clinic up on the mountain, he would eventually be a bitter old man. He imagined himself still sitting in the fancy glass office, fifteen stories above the streets of Denver. But that wasn’t the reality.
He sat behind the polished mahogany desk and flipped over the first page of the report. If he had learned anything these past few weeks, it was that time was precious. Getting to know Sabrina had taught him responsibility, but she had also given him courage. For the first time in a long while, he had a clear vision for his future, and it was here at Colorado Supplements.
* * *
“Hurry up, girls,” Sabrina called. They had five minutes to make the bus and get to the mission for soccer practice. The thought of seeing Jack had kept her from complete despair. He and the girls were the only bright spots in a world that was growing darker every day. After what had happened the last time she’d seen the slave laborers, she was barely keeping her sanity. Haunted by the memory of leaving the girls and unable to see a way to report on the slave-labor group, her nighttime hours were filled with nightmares. Along with packing all their belongings for the mission, Sabrina didn’t know if her anxiety could go any higher.
It seemed to take ages to get the girls down the stairs and out the door. Just as they stepped into the chilly morning air, she remembered she needed to get cash to pay Mrs. Guzman for watching the girls last week. They hurried across the street and Sabrina put her card into the ATM. She punched in the PIN and sighed a little as she entered the amount. She wished she didn’t have to work during the evening, but being available at all hours was a boost to her income. The machine dinged and Sabrina squinted at the screen. Not able to complete the action? What did that mean? Maybe the ATM was out of money. That was possible, wasn’t it? Sabrina’s mouth was suddenly dry. She poked the option for a balance slip and in the few seconds it took the machine to spit it out, Sabrina’s heart had dropped into her shoes. She took the piece of paper with shaking fingers and stared at the amount. A negative amount was printed clearly; she couldn’t deny it.
“What’s wrong, Tía?” Kassey stood up on tiptoe to read the paper, but Sabrina moved it away.
“Nothing. Let’s go catch that bus.” She turned and started down the sidewalk.
“But what about the money?” Gabby asked, trotting after her.
“I’ll get it later.” There would be no money later. Sabrina sucked in deep breaths as they hurried to the bus stop. A terrible suspicion started to grow in her mind. She was incredibly careful with her accounts since she didn’t have the leisure to lose track. There was only one time she had not been in perfect control of her funds. It had been just weeks ago—the conversation with Rosa.
Her sister had never called back after that day and Sabrina had forced herself to not focus any energy on being angry. Rosa had had her cell phone bill paid and hopefully would get a job to support herself now that she was done with the internet boyfriend. He had never wanted Rosa’s kids, never had time for anything except a good time. She hadn’t called to talk to Gabby and Kassey, and Sabrina let it go. But now it seemed that giving her sister her debit card information might have hurt them all more than she could have known.
The bus pulled to the stop as they arrived, and she shepherded the girls up the steps. Her mind was whirling and she felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. She pulled out her phone and tapped out a quick text. Rosa never responded to texts and never picked up the phone when Sabrina called. Sabrina had to tell Rosa what her betrayal meant. Bile rose in her throat as she wrote the words and pushed Send.
Sabrina tucked the phone into her pocket and reached out to the girls. She hugged them tight against her, fighting back tears. What looked like a very temporary move to the mission until she could save up for another apartment was now looking as if it might be something a lot more permanent. She had failed them. As hard as she tried, she had still failed to be the family they deserved.
* * *
Sabrina tried to focus on the kids milling around the gym but her mind kept wandering: the bank, the missing money, her sister’s betrayal, the slave-labor ring, Pancho, Jack’s offer to help them out. She was so tired, so utterly defeated that it was all she could do to keep moving. Lord, after everything I’ve done, this is how it turns out? Are You punishing me for leaving them alone that night? She’d been wrong, but it had been the lesser of two evils. Bringing the girls under the gaze of the labor boss would be an act of insanity.
Finally the practice was over and she waited for the girls at the door as they helped Gavin and Jack put the chairs back into place. Even though she’d worked up a sweat, Sabrina felt chilly. The shock of seeing her bank balance had cast a shadow over her entire life. But she couldn’t just lie down and give up, no matter how much she wanted to, because there were two little girls who needed her.
Gabby and Kassey seemed to have accepted the idea of moving into the mission, but the thought still sent anxiety rushing through her veins. She had always told them everything would be okay, and now she was going to move them into a homeless shelter? She felt sick with fear. All the memories of her childhood came rushing back. So many times her father had gotten a job and then lost it weeks later. So many times her mother had cried quietly in the kitchen because there was no food to feed her kids. Sabrina had promised herself she’d never rely on anyone the way her mother had. She’d always work hard and take care of herself. But it hadn’t been enough.
“Tía, our first game is this weekend,” Kassey shouted as she ran toward her.
“I know, sweetie.” Sabrina had written it on the calendar weeks ago, before Rosa had called, before everything had gone wrong.
“Coach Jack is bringing cupcakes for everybody and we’re going to win,” Gabby said, perfectly confident. “We’re going to win because we work hard and try our best.”
Sabrina felt her throat close up in sorrow. A child’s faith was a beautiful thing except that her confidence was no guarantee. She didn’t want to see Gabby disappointed, but couldn’t bring herself to tell her it might not work out.
Jack came up behind them and said, “It’s not all about winning. It’s about working as a team.” He smiled down at the girls and gave Gabby a wink.
She giggled and raced through the door into the lobby.
“Do you really believe that?” Sabrina couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice. She didn’t know why she was picking a fight. “I’d think the coach should care about winning just a little bit.”
He slung an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. The move was so easy, so natural that Sabrina couldn’t help the silly smile that crept across her face.
“If you think kissing me is an answer, then you’re wrong,” she grumbled, warming on the inside at
his touch. Not to mention the fact that they were supposed to be just friends.
“No, the kiss was just because.” He smiled down at her, dimples in sharp relief. “And about the winning, I meant what I said. I know a lot about sports and teams. Even world-class snowboarders have a team—you just don’t see them. No one succeeds all alone. We all need each other.”
She frowned, searching for some example to prove him wrong. “What about bakers? What about gourmet-cupcake makers? You have a team in your kitchen?”
“I didn’t grind the flour or process the sugar. I didn’t churn the butter or get the eggs out from under the chickens.” He still had his arm around her shoulders as they reached the lobby. Lana glanced up and her lips twitched at the sight of them.
“Huh. If you want to get technical about it...” She shrugged. He was right, in a way.
“If you think of someone who is successful without a team, no matter how distant, you let me know.” He let his arm fall to his side and walked toward the desk. “I can bring you guys home.”
“No, that’s not necessary. You don’t have to give us a ride every time there’s a practice. We’re perfectly fine taking the bus.” Sabrina frowned.
There was a pause and she looked up to see an expression on Jack’s face that made her giggle. His exaggerated expression of frustration, eyes looking upward, was so unlike him.
“It’s a ride home, not a marriage proposal.” His tone was light but he shook his head. “Do you ever let anybody help you?”
Her smile slipped a bit. “I do. Mrs. Guzman upstairs watches the girls when I have to go out.” Except for the time there was no one and she had to leave them alone. Her stomach clenched. If she had a team, if she had let herself make friends, then her girls wouldn’t have been alone in the middle of the night. “Sorry, you’re right,” she said, sighing. It was just a ride, even though her heart was growing more and more attached to him each day. She looked up at this man who had done so much for them, even as she pushed him away again and again. “Thank you.”
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