“Go ahead. They're only a couple of rows up,” Fritz said, pointing with his thumb.
“Why do you do this to me?” asked Ashley. He sighed and shook his head. “You're supposed to be my friend. Don't I have enough trouble with them already?”
“It's okay, Ash,” Jane said. “It'll be fun. I haven't talked to sixteen-year-old girls in years. My daily fare is old white guys.” Jane walked up the three rows and introduced herself. Ashley buried himself in the game program. While Jane visited, Lois and George took seats in front of Linda and Fritz.
Lois said, “So where's your girlfriend?”
“This is a nightmare,” Ashley said, pressing his hands to his head.
Fritz said, “She's up there. Talking to the Dough Twins.”
Lois looked up. “Ooo. Looks like she's consorting with the enemy, maybe comparing notes.” Ashley glowered. “Poor Ashley,” Lois continued, patting his knee. “Conspirators, talking to each other.” She heaved a fake sigh.
When the game started, Jane came back, said hello to the McAllisters, and told them about Nicole and Rachel.
“They're very funny. Rachel asked me if we were together, Ash.”
“What? You mean like dating?”
“I told them I guess so. Am I dating you?”
Ashley continued to gush discomfort. He stared at his feet and shook his head, then put his face back in his hands.
“Of course you're dating,” Linda said. “Jane, he's being beaten up and abused by his friends. He's in a world he doesn't visit often.”
Ashley resurfaced. “Yeah, I guess we're dating. If that's what you call it these days.”
“What else would you call it?” asked Lois.
Ashley groaned. Pretending to watch the game, he listened to the conversation going on around him, his head shaking as if he were trying to disconnect it from his neck.
“Speechless, Ashley?” prodded Lois. Fritz listened, only then realizing, after so many years, that Lois could match Ash, line for line, and win more than a few.
Jane took his hand. He looked at Lois. “I can't believe you're embarrassing me like this.”
“It's just cuz we love you,” Lois said. “Right, George?” nudging her husband.
“What? Love him?”
“Be quiet, George, if you can't add to the conversation…”
“WOW, 42–7,” Jane said as the game's final seconds counted down. “Are they always this good?”
“We've had winning seasons for the past few years. But these kids could go undefeated,” Ashley answered.
“Want to go back to The Mill for coffee and dessert?” asked Fritz.
Ashley looked to Jane, who said she wouldn't mind.
Lois said, “We'll meet you there, won't we, George?”
“Oh, okay, sure,” George grunted.
On the way, Linda asked Jane about her talk with Rachel and Nicole. Jane said, “They were comical. I asked them how they got the idea to collect money. They told me that they decided in ninth grade to create characters that people would believe but who would emphasize their causes. Ninth grade! Rachel said she took the idea from Stephen Colbert. Nicole told me they actually write scripts and rehearse their parts. They collect money for a different charity every month. They get the same haircut intentionally. And they shop together for the same outfits. Rachel said you helped them with their original script, Ash.”
“So they blame me?” asked Ashley. “I didn't know what their characters were going to become. I thought they were doing an assignment.”
“They give you the credit for teaching them how to sell their ideas. Nicole said you told them not to be aggressive, to have modest goals. And to announce when they reached them. Rachel said you told them to send stories to the media when they handed over the money. She told me they've been in the papers a few times.” Ashley groaned. “They've been friends since they were five years old. I asked what they wanted to do when they graduate. Nicole said they had considered Hollywood, but they want to go to college together. They both want to work as fund-raisers. Rachel said they want to go to Harvard Business School.”
“They've had a plan since ninth grade? Incredible,” Fritz said.
“I hope I get to talk with them again. I bet they'll be successful.”
At The Mill, Mr. Marion sat the three couples in the middle of the packed dining room, which was noisy with happy football fans. Students, teachers, and parents stopped by. Everyone wanted to meet Jane, especially Ashley's students. Flustered by the attention, Ashley fidgeted and grunted greetings. But Jane had been through it before. Gracious and smiling, she shook hands and chatted with strangers and students as if she had known them forever.
“Jane, you've made Ashley a superstar,” Lois said. “It won't be just Rachel and Nicole. All the boys will be jealous, and all the girls will make eyes at him.” She flashed a devilish grin at Ashley.
“Oh, stop,” said Ashley. “We only went to a football game.”
“Not to mention an embassy party,” Linda said. “Did he behave there?”
“He did. A perfect gentleman. Except for challenging the president to a basketball game. The vice president loved it.”
“You didn't,” Lois said.
Ash grimaced. “Yeah, I did. I think I can beat him. He started trash talking a bit, and…”
“It's a good thing they didn't have a ball there,” Jane said.
Fritz asked, “When are you going to Geneva?”
“Wednesday, but we can't talk about it here. Too many people. I'll tell you more tomorrow.”
WHEN ASHLEY and Jane walked in the back door, Linda said, “Ashley, one of these days, I may have to kill you. I'm not dressed.”
“But I brought breakfast. How bad can I be?” He held up the eggs and bacon to prove it.
“Good morning, Jane. Please excuse me while I put something on. And get a baseball bat.” On her way past, she swatted the back of his head.
“Do you want your eggs scrambled or fried?” he asked. She ignored him.
“I told you we should call.”
“Don't worry. We're used to him,” Fritz said. “But you should know better now, Ash. Linda's not getting enough sleep. In case you hadn't noticed, she's pregnant.”
“Really? Who's the father?”
Fritz offered Jane a seat. “Want some coffee?” When she said yes, Ashley went to the counter to get it.
“How are you feeling, Jane. How are your injuries?”
“I'm scarred for life.”
“I'm talking about your wounds, not him.”
“Thanks, Ash,” she said and put the cup down. “They're healing well. The docs sewed me up perfectly, and they don't hurt now.”
Linda came back, and Ashley filled her plate. Jane told them she didn't want to go to the meeting, but the president wanted her there. She was concerned about security, even in Geneva.
“What's wrong with Geneva?” Linda asked. “It's a great city and has great security already.”
“Geneva's fine, but it's hard to set up surveillance. Their security guys have their own way of doing things, and we wanted some added protection. So we're bringing our own, which is why I'm going. The president wants me to keep an eye open for anything that seems strange. Sometimes, I wonder what job I'm supposed to be doing. But how do I say no to the president? One of their guys asked if I was planning the banquet on Saturday.”
Ash said, “Well, Director of Events Planning is a little misleading.”
“The president told me pick a title that didn't tell anything. That way, I'll have access and pretty much be invisible. But I'm worried. I just have a feeling.”
“You think there will be trouble?” Linda asked.
“There has been a continual increase in Muslim immigration into Switzerland since the breakup of Yugoslavia, although not a lot from the Middle East. The CIA guys are sniffing the ether to see if anything smells … worrisome.”
“I wish you weren't going,” Ashley said. Jane's smile was d
ifferent somehow, Fritz noticed. Grateful, intimate. Ashley smiled back the same way.
Without disclosing details, Jane told them about the schedule. The meetings would go almost nonstop for three days, with a Saturday night banquet at the end. She said that most of the attendees would be staying at nearby hotels. “Geneva is really small compared to some other cities. And our embassy is in Bern. That's two hours away. There's just so much that can go wrong with everyone so close.”
“Doesn't sound like you're going to have any fun,” Fritz said.
“I have a couple of hours off on Friday. A friend from college teaches at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations in Geneva. We may have a chance to get together. I might even have a pint.”
Fritz said, “Tony Almeida's coming up while you're gone. He said he's been studying how the portal works and wants to compare notes.”
“Tony's a smart guy,” said Jane. “Take notes. I'd like to know more about what he's found. The portal has been a real gift to a lot of people.”
“So far,” Linda said. “But too many people know about it. And it really worries me that the government knows. No offense, Jane. It's been used wisely up to now. But not all presidents would use it only for good, and too many other egos in Washington always connive to get an upper hand. And that's not good for us. I don't want Fritz to be threatened to use it for evil.” And with that, she changed the subject. “Ash, when are you planning to start cooking?”
“I started yesterday. The recipe says I should season the meat and let it sit for twenty-four hours. It should cook for about an hour and forty-two minutes. So I guess I'll put it in the oven around four. That will, well, it'll make you drool when you walk in the house.”
“That's a goal?” asked Fritz. “All that sanitizing down the drain.”
“Fritz, leave him alone.”
“It's okay, Lin. He's hereby uninvited. You can still come, though. I've been trying to get you alone for years.”
Linda said, “They're scary, aren't they, Jane? Still adolescents, really.”
“Yup. I think they may be the male version of the Dough Twins.”
She'll fit in just fine. Ashley's puppy dog face replaced the Cheshire Cat. Yup.
AT FIVE THIRTY, the Russells pulled up in front of Ashley's house just as George and Lois reached the door. They walked up the sidewalk, which had grass sprouting in its cracks, and past the uncut lawn strewn with leaves and unkempt shrubbery. Linda said that the house smelled good enough to eat.
“Seriously Ashley, I really like what you've done here,” said Lois.
“You mean clean?” Fritz asked.
“Why are you here? I said you were uninvited.”
Linda and Jane were immune as targets of the teasing. Jane as the newcomer, Linda as the designated adult. Although parties often end up in the kitchen, Ashley's started there.
“Who else is coming?” Fritz asked.
“Maybe the president and vice president will come. Actually, I hoped there would be one less. Why?”
“Hold on. You didn't really invite them, did you?”
“Well, you were too chicken to call them.” Ashley shrugged.
Fritz looked at Jane. She didn't know.
“You're kidding, right?”
“Wait and see, smart ass. I'm not the poultry around here.”
When Ashley took out the roast, Fritz started laughing. A perfect standing rib roast with a bubbling brown crust sizzled. The portal, Fritz thought again.
Ashley had won the evening's cooking contest, but he had never carved a roast. “Does anyone know how to cut this sucker up?”
“I'll do it,” Jane said.
Much of the conversation focused on the portal. Linda watched Jane and Ashley while the talk ebbed and flowed. Jane's candor about the president's interest in the portal surprised them. She told them that he had no political uses in mind. He wasn't running for office again. He had told her that he was glad “nice people” were involved. Ashley brought up their trip to see Shakespeare, which started an argument with George, who hadn't known about it. Lois stopped the fuss when she asked what Ashley was serving for dessert.
By ten, everyone was tired and talked out. On the way home, Linda said, “I enjoyed that. Fritz, did you notice that they said good night like a couple?”
“I noticed you watching them all night. Do you think she's the typical Ashley girlfriend, or is he falling for her?”
“I don't know about him yet, but she's asking herself that. It sure looks that way to me. She didn't just look at him. She watched him constantly, except when she talked about work.”
“Even with Sandy, he held back. But he's not even subtle with Jane. He blushes, he stutters talking about her. I think there's something in their future. This is going to be fun to watch.”
“You need to be nice, Fritz. If he is serious, he's going to want your support, and he's going to need you to reassure him.”
“I have a feeling he won't need me this time. Imagine. He made dinner.”
AS THEY WALKED into school together on Monday, Fritz said, “You've been invisible. How did the rest of the weekend go?”
With more sparkle in his eyes than Fritz had ever seen, Ashley said, “Fine.”
Chapter 12
BY THE TIME Fritz and his ninth graders went to meet the principal, Ted and Susan had joined the committee. Fritz told them to present their plan just as they had discussed it.
“Mr. Russell,” asked Samantha, “do you think he likes the idea?” That was the question stamped on all the kids' faces.
“Mr. McAllister will ask what you want to do. Make sure you tell him what you've done already and why it will be good for the school. Let him know you realize how much work it will be and how responsible you will have to be. If you make your case, I think he'll approve it.”
George was waiting at his office door and invited them in. The piles of papers and files had been moved to a folding table in the corner. “Good afternoon, students. Mr. Russell tells me you have a project you'd like to present. Why don't you begin by telling me your names?” Fritz shared their discomfort sitting there, although for a different reason. “Now tell me exactly what you have in mind.” George sat back as Susan began.
“We were playing history baseball in class, Mr. McAllister, and someone asked why we didn't play football instead. My sisters had told me about Mr. R's baseball. Since so many students already know about it, I thought it would be fun to have a history-baseball tournament.”
Jay took over. “So that weekend, a bunch of us talked about how to set up the tournament, and all we would need to do to make it work.”
Ted joined in. “I called the Phillies and asked Mr. Montgomery, he's a friend of my dad, if they would consider being a sponsor. He said yes.”
“We know that it will be a lot of work, Mr. McAllister,” Samantha said. “But we're ready to do it. We already have a committee working on plans.”
Fritz stood in the corner, smiling at the youngsters' composure. George glanced at him and then turned to Ted. “You've already got the Phillies? What if you can't make it work?”
“I told Mr. Montgomery we still need your permission,” he looked at Fritz, “and that I'll call him if you say it's okay.”
Susan added, “And Mr. McAllister, I think that we can get newspapers and TV to cover it and local business sponsors. It's so different. I think people everywhere will be interested.”
George said, “And when do you plan to have this tournament?”
“We need to start right away.” Jay explained their organizational plan, the schedule, and the rules. Samantha pointed out all the ways it could help the school. “Maybe someone from the Phillies could be the pitcher?”
George put his elbows on the desk, leaned forward, and pressed his fingers together. He looked at each student. “This is a very impressive project. And it seems you've planned it with care. Let me consider it a bit longer, and I'll let you know.”
“Mr. McAlli
ster,” said Samantha, “there's a lot to do, and we should get started. When do you think you'll know?” Fritz chuckled. His kids had George cornered.
George did his best “huff and puff, I'm the principal” act. “Here's what I'll agree to. If you can get the teachers you need, then I'll give you my approval. So now it's up to you.”
“So … if the teachers agree, we can do it?” asked Susan.
Pinned down, George pursed his lips. “Yes.” He shook all their hands, and they thanked him. As Fritz followed them out, he caught a grimace from the principal.
JANE LEFT for Geneva with Tom Andrews and Mel Zack on Wednesday. The advance team had already arrived to set up security at the hotel. Jane called Ashley when she arrived, and he told her he would have his phone on until she came home. Right after school, he brought the leftover roast to Linda, and she prepared as good a meal as Ashley had served them at his house.
“This is still good,” Ashley said.
“That means you didn't ruin it since Saturday,” Fritz said.
Ignoring him, Ashley asked Linda for the leftovers. “I can reheat it, can't I?”
“There's a rib and some meat left. Wrap it in foil and warm it up. It'll be fine,” she said, frowning at Fritz. “What did Jane say?”
“Not much. The president arrives tomorrow. So do the rest of the world leaders.”
“Did she say anything about being worried?” asked Fritz.
“No, but she was guarded, so I didn't ask. I hope nothing happens.”
Fritz changed the subject. “Tony Almeida is here. He's coming over tomorrow night. Wanna come? Linda promised lasagna.”
“Then I'm definitely coming.” Ashley did his best to visit when she made her amazing lasagna, and she always reminded Fritz to invite him.
“So, are you in love or in … fatuated?” Fritz asked.
“Seriously? I think there might be a future. But like you said before, I don't know if we can find a middle ground between her career and mine.”
“Have you talked about it?” asked Linda.
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