ON WEDNESDAY, REBECCA realized that she was going to have to apologize to Cole again at some point. After Sarah had called to tell her that Cole had found them two more volunteers, as long as they’d provide the community-service credit, she’d had no choice but to get Eric back to school. At first, she’d considered stalling. Technically, Sarah should have discussed adding volunteers with court-ordered community-service sentences with her board of directors.
But Sarah had pretty much seized the reins of Paws for Love and she’d mow down any dissenters if needed. Holly Heights’ mayor had flat-out refused Rebecca’s request to run the adoption event in town, but he’d folded like a wet newspaper under the force of a determined Sarah Hillman. It was a good thing they hadn’t called the Paws for Love leadership position Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Sarah would have had every house in the world ruled by both a dog and a cat by the end of the first year.
Cole had done his part, something she’d been certain would never happen. Sarah had made all the calls necessary to get the shelter approved for court-ordered community-service hours through the local judges and for volunteer hours needed for work programs. Adding those hours to the ones covered by Rebecca’s high school volunteer program would make it easier to expand the shelter. Something else they could thank Cole for.
If she didn’t take the baton and move Eric further along the track to graduation, she’d be the biggest hypocrite in Texas.
So this was one time she’d have to get out of her office, get some dirt on her hands, to make a difference.
Take that, Cole.
Her phone rang as she parked in front of the Jordan trailer. In the light of day, the whole trailer park was different. These were homes. People cared about them. There were wind chimes hanging from the trailer next door. The Jordan trailer’s small porch was covered in potted plants, most of them...green. She didn’t know a thing about plants.
“Hello?” Rebecca checked the rearview mirror to make sure her curls were in some sort of order as she answered the call. She did not check to see if Cole was home.
“Hey, Rebecca, I’ve had an emergency,” Carl Montoya, the school’s truancy officer, said quickly. She was lucky to understand that much. The crying baby in the background wanted to be heard. At six months old, Ruby Montoya was pretty good at making that happen. “Ruby is teething and Monica called for reinforcements. Can you reschedule?” Carl’s voice was distracted and the screaming seemed to be growing louder.
“Sure thing, Carl. I’ll let you know.” As Rebecca ended the call, a young woman stepped out on the porch. Eric’s sister was wearing the polo Dinah at the Shop-on-In had recently instituted as the uniform in order to give the place an updated feel. The fact that Backstreet Boys lunch boxes filled the display window because she’d gotten an excellent bargain on them didn’t stop Dinah.
“Hi,” Rebecca said as she slid out of the car. She clutched her briefcase in front of her and offered her hand. The girl’s firm handshake indicated she was used to handling meetings like this on her own. “I’m Rebecca Lincoln, Eric’s counselor.”
“I figured. Debbie Jordan. Have a seat.” She pointed at two chairs that were nearly hidden in the foliage. “It’s too hot to talk inside.”
“You have a nice porch here. Are you the green thumb? Every plant I buy has a short life expectancy.” Rebecca settled carefully and noticed the tray of iced tea. “Oh, good. I was thinking as I drove up that I should have brought along a bottle of water. It’s too hot for September.” She picked up a glass and sipped sweet tea strong enough to knock her flats off. “Yum.”
Debbie laughed as she sat down, her hands knotted firmly together. “Eric made it. I haven’t managed to teach him that it shouldn’t make your mouth tingle after you drink it. I keep working on it. And yes, these are all my babies. When it gets cold, I move them inside. It’s like living in the rain forest without the fear of being eaten by a big snake.” Her eyes darted to meet Rebecca’s and they both grinned.
It was hard to imagine this petite girl trying to teach the boy who towered over her anything. Rebecca thought of how uneasy she still felt every time she turned the corner by the science classes at the school.
Not a girl, Rebecca. She’s running a house all by herself. Debbie Jordan was nervous, but she wasn’t afraid. She met Rebecca’s stare without flinching. “Help me get him in school.”
Caught off guard at this proactive opening, Rebecca took another sip of her tea. Some parents wanted to make every problem her problem. Eric’s sister was asking for help. “Is Eric here? I’d like to talk to him.” Rebecca licked her lips nervously. “We can reschedule if you’d like. Mr. Montoya had an emergency and couldn’t make it.”
Debbie snapped a few dead leaves off the nearest plant and stuck a finger in the dirt. “He’s inside. If there’s any way to do this today, I’d like to go ahead. Getting time off isn’t that easy. I had to get someone to cover my shift, and we need the money.” She bent to grab a watering can and poured a steady stream over the plant closest to her. Was this her way of handling stress?
“He thinks he could go to work instead of school.” Debbie shook her head violently. “When I point out that he hasn’t even done that yet, that he’s going to be short on community-service hours to report and that standing around under the goal with the creeps he calls friends is not in any way improving his life...” She stopped. “Well, you can imagine we don’t make it far down the road back to his senior year.”
“Have you talked about the community service lately?” Rebecca asked as she stifled the urge to ask what Eric had gotten in trouble for. It didn’t matter.
“He did some early on, picking up trash, but it’s like he doesn’t care. He’s dead set on enlisting,” Debbie said. “He’s the only family I’ve got. I want him here.”
One careful sip of the iced tea gave Rebecca a second to consider the proper answer. “It’s a fine thing to want to serve your country. If Eric hopes that’s his future, I can help with that, too.” The army recruiter would do a back flip if she called to say she had a kid who wanted to talk with him. Debbie straightened in her chair and Rebecca could see her cooperative spirit draining rapidly. “But—” Rebecca put her hand on Debbie’s clenched fist “—we still have a year. He needs a diploma. I should have talked to him sooner. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you?” Debbie crossed her legs and gave one irritated kick of her foot. “Could have saved me a whole lot of shouting.”
That was the question that had been bothering Rebecca for days. She had no good answer. She could mumble things about budget cuts and too many students and Eric’s lackluster grades and so many other excuses.
The truth was that she’d missed Eric. He’d fallen through the cracks of her system and she had to fix that fast. How many others was she missing while she sat in her office? “I’m going to do better for kids like Eric.”
“The ones who aren’t smart enough for college, you mean? No amount of volunteering is going to help me.” Eric stepped out on the porch. “You can go.”
Debbie popped out of her seat. “Watch your mouth.” She brushed lint off his shirt and then gently touched a spot on his face. “I mean it.”
He was a foot taller and outweighed his sister by at least forty pounds, but the kid wilted around the edges. Whatever cocky swagger he had evaporated instantly. “Okay, sis.” He could have shouted, argued, stormed off or worse. Instead, he ducked his head. Eric might be nearly a man, but he loved his sister too much to disrespect her.
Were they all alone in the world? Rebecca quickly tilted her glass to hide her stinging eyes. Her strangled cough as the powerful tea hit the back of her throat made an excellent cover. Some of the tension on the small porch disappeared as she patted her chest and tried to catch her breath.
When Debbie backed up, Rebecca was impressed by the glare on her face. If it had been aimed her direction, Re
becca would already be in the car, reversing down the dirt road.
“Your counselor made a special trip out here. You will listen.” If you know what’s good for you. Debbie dropped down in her seat.
“Or what? You’ll throw me out?” Eric snorted. “Nobody buys that.”
“Or I will make you very, very sorry. I have blackmail, Eric. Don’t make me pull out the pictures of you dressed for Halloween.” Debbie’s smile had a touch of evil. “Think your gang will be impressed with your lustrous wig?”
“I was five, a kid.” Eric said each word loudly and clearly.
“That time.” Debbie raised her eyebrows. “And you still are a kid.”
Rebecca scooted forward. Was Debbie going to say more about these costumes? Why did she care? Hard to say, but Rebecca was riveted. Should she mention the drama program at the school?
When Eric glanced her way, there was murder in his eyes. Hoping that was aimed at his sister instead of her, Rebecca rubbed her forehead. “There’s no need for that, right, Eric? You’ve got some time to figure out the future. For now, we’ll get you back in school and knock out your community-service hours. That way, whatever happens next, you have a clean slate.”
“Why?” Eric held both his arms out. “Why would you help me?”
“It’s my job. This is what I love, helping kids.” Rebecca smoothed her hair behind one ear. “And I’m usually pretty good at it, but I need to do better.”
He shook his head. “I mean why would you help me?” He met her stare and then looked away. Rebecca glanced quickly at Debbie to see that his sister had no idea what Eric was talking about.
“I discovered you’ve missed school. That’s all. Standard operating procedure is to work with the truancy officer to get you on track.” And that was all she had to say about that. If the kid hadn’t told his sister about the fight, then she wasn’t going to get into it here. Things were going so well.
“Have you thought about it, what you want to do after you get your diploma?” Rebecca shifted her folder and bag around.
“Eat. Sleep.” He rubbed his forehead. “Nothing else.”
Debbie laid her hand on Rebecca’s arm. “Cars. The kid lights up like a Christmas tree every year when we get the muscle car calendar in the mail. You know, the one the dealership mails out? Drool. I’m not kidding.”
Rebecca couldn’t tell whether Eric was blushing, but he fidgeted with the rough edge of the railing and rolled his eyes.
Almost like a kid who’d found the toy he wanted but was afraid to ask for it.
“Cars.” Rebecca tapped her file. “The community college over in Baxter has a two-year program where you could get an associate’s degree in automotive service technology or a technical certificate. The job placement’s excellent, too. You might consider that in addition to the army.” If only Bobby Hillman hadn’t gone into self-destruct mode. She’d have had a real connection to a man with four different dealerships. “Tomorrow, let’s talk about your grades and getting you back on track. You stop by my office. After your last class. That you attend.” Rebecca pointed and waited for Eric to nod.
“Fine.” Eric didn’t move, but his attitude shifted. Instead of defensive, he seemed...younger. There was the faintest bit of hope on his face.
“And get him started on the volunteer hours,” Debbie said as she shook her head. “Kid needs one hundred by January.” Her side eye was as impressive as her mean glare.
“Well, I don’t know if you know this,” Rebecca said, and cleared her throat, “but I work with the animal shelter down the road. Paws for Love is the name.” Why was she so nervous about this? Eric and Debbie needed her more than the shelter needed him. “Your neighbor Cole Ferguson works there.”
“Yeah, I lost a bet.” Eric rubbed the dark spot on his jaw. “And a pretty intense pickup game. I gotta do some volunteering to help out.”
Debbie surged up to inspect the bruise on Eric’s jaw. “Did someone hit you? Did that criminal hit you?”
Rebecca stood up and moved closer to the porch steps. Defending Cole from assault might be her next challenge.
“Accidental elbow. Mike’s.” Eric brushed Debbie’s fingers away. “I’m fine, but Cole thought the shelter might have some hours for me.”
Rebecca noticed the way he clutched his sister’s hand and squeezed it. Debbie instantly relaxed. Whatever their story was, the two of them were tight.
“Come by after school. Talk to Shelly. She’ll be waiting.” Rebecca slowly walked down the steps. “The day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we’re going to talk about your future.”
Eric sighed loudly and jumped down to stand next to her. “Fine.” With all this space and bright sunshine and the power of his sister nearby, Eric Jordan didn’t scare her. That was a nice discovery. Here, he was one of her kids.
“If you could do anything, what would it be?” Rebecca couldn’t let the idea of someone living life without a dream go. It couldn’t be true.
“Buy a car.” He braced both hands on the railing. “That’s it.”
Rebecca nodded. “You know, I understand that. When I was sixteen and riding the school bus, all I could imagine was that one day I’d have my own car and I wouldn’t miss that noise one bit.”
Eric shot a glance at Debbie. She snorted. “Yeah, I hear her.” She waved a hand between them. “We’ve had this conversation a million times.”
“Eric, walk me to my car?” Rebecca said as she offered her hand to Debbie. “I’m sorry you had to miss your shift. I imagine getting the hours from Dinah can’t be easy. I think she sleeps behind the counter of the Shop-on-In.”
“Yeah.” Debbie nodded. “But her daughter’s planning a monthlong tour of Europe. Dinah will have to have extra help so she’s anxious to train someone now.”
“Cece’s taking her to Europe? Wow.” Rebecca tried to imagine talking her own parents into a trip like that. The argument would be heard in outer space. When she’d won the lottery, she’d started sending her father links to nice houses on golf courses. At first, he’d played along.
Then she’d gotten a snippy phone call from her mother because no one needed houses like ones she was choosing for them. They were perfectly fine in their two-bedroom bungalow and any child of theirs would spend her money on something more important. There were children starving all over the globe, after all.
“She’s going to be the babysitter, but a trip to Europe could convince me to sign up for nanny duty.” Debbie’s wistful voice convinced Rebecca that both Jordans knew how to dream. Whether they believed they could make their dreams come true was another question altogether.
“Other than working at the Shop-on-In, what kind of things would you like to do?” Rebecca asked. Debbie frowned at her. “I mean, if I hear something, I could pass it along. Dinah’s great, but that’s not going to get you to Europe.”
“I should go buy a lottery ticket.” Debbie raised an eyebrow.
So that conversation was done. No problem.
“All right. I’d like to talk with you next week, but I’ll drop by the store. We can catch up on a break and you won’t have to miss the hours.” Debbie should be in college or starting her own career. Where were their parents? Did she have any help?
And what could Rebecca do about it anyway?
So many problems had no solution.
At her car, Eric shoved both hands in his back pockets. Rebecca pulled on her best expression of authority. “If we do this, you’re going to come to school. Every day.”
Rebecca waited with one hand on the car door, her nerves making it difficult to stand still.
Eric stepped back. “I will.”
Rebecca had to clear her throat. “Good.”
He shifted forward and then back. While she waited on him to decide whether or not he was going to speak, Rebecca tossed he
r bag on the seat. Finally, he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you.”
Rebecca studied the greenery on the porch as she tried to figure out the right way to answer that. Softly, she said, “I accept your apology, but it shouldn’t matter who it was. You know?”
He nodded once. “Won’t happen again.”
His face was serious, caught somewhere between a frightened kid and an angry man.
“You and Debbie, you seem tight.” Rebecca dropped her briefcase beside her bag and watched his sister snapping off dead leaves. “Where are your parents?”
Eric rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Gone. Car accident. Three years ago.”
Rebecca willed away the tears that sprang to her eyes. He said it so matter-of-factly.
“That’s when the trouble started,” he said as he ran a hand down his nape. “With me. Doing the wrong thing. Whatever I do, it goes wrong. She’d be better off if I left, but I can’t do that, not without a job.”
Rebecca inhaled slowly. “You better not let her hear you say that, young man.” The urge to hug him was nearly overwhelming. Instead, she patted his shoulder. “Debbie and I both think there’s a better choice than you quitting. Give me a chance to find it, okay?”
He lifted one shoulder as if he didn’t care, but Rebecca studied his face carefully. This time she could see the color of embarrassment on his cheeks, so she offered him her hand. “We’re going to make a powerful team, Eric Jordan. Wait and see.”
Eric hesitated and then carefully wrapped his hand around hers. He didn’t agree or disagree, but there was the gleam of interest in his eyes.
In her experience, that interest was all she needed to get a kid on track. This was going to work. He’d been beaten, but Eric wasn’t lost yet.
After she slid into the driver’s seat, Rebecca thought about stopping at Cole’s place to gloat. He’d said she was wasting her time, but she could make this happen.
Driving past his trailer took strong will. All the windows were up. He had to be home. She could say she was stopping by to pick up her apron and then casually work into the conversation her coming victory.
Keeping Cole's Promise Page 9