Rashonna had come out of a really tough family situation which included an alcoholic mother and a sexually abusive stepfather. Working with the state, Changing Lives had been able to get the stepfather incarcerated for rape and the mother in Alcoholics Anonymous. Rashonna was now living with her grandmother who was provided with funding to financially care for the needs of the young girl and her two sisters.
Ronnie glanced at the girl now. One never would have thought she would clean up so well. Gone were the nose ring and tongue ring, multiple earrings, and short skirts. In their place was a pretty young girl dressed modestly in jeans and a loose fitting tee shirt. Her hair was neatly corn-rowed, and she wore only one pair of small gold earrings Ronnie had given her for her birthday.
Duane had a similar story, only his was not a result of a dysfunctional family life. Rather, it was from being negatively influenced by the gang culture pervasive in south central. Through the work of Changing Lives, he had come to recognize his academic potential and was now aspiring to become the first medical doctor in his family. Ronnie glanced at him now. While it was hard to hide the tattoo along his arm, he had traded his slouched jeans for well-fitting denim, there was not a peak of his underwear in sight, and the large, twin rhinestone earrings in his ears were gone. More important, his former profanity-laced vocabulary had been exchanged for one influenced by his extensive reading of the Bible and the Twentieth Century classics as varied as To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies.
Rashonna tapped Ronnie’s arm excitedly as an all-boy choir began to assemble on stage.
“Look, Ronnie, that boy’s in my class,” she whispered.
“Which one?”
“The cute dark-skinned one at the back with the afro and the gorgeous brown eyes.”
Ronnie smiled. Teenage girls. They were so sweet with their little crushes. She remembered that period in her life when if a boy you liked looked at you and smiled you had reached heaven and if he didn’t look at you at all your world was over. Thank God she had passed that stage.
Ronnie glanced again to the front.
A man had accompanied the boy group on stage. He was dressed in an oxford blue button-down shirt and khaki chinos and with tan leather loafers on his feet. There was a saxophone around his neck. Ronnie felt her heart pound and barely restrained herself from tapping Rashonna on the arm and saying, ‘Look, Rashonna, that guy’s my boss. That gorgeous, light-skinned one at the back with the curly hair and the amazing whiskey-colored eyes.’
The musicians began to play, but Ronnie’s eyes were riveted only on David Jones as he played his heart out on the saxophone. Ronnie immediately recognized the song. It was one of her favorites. A gospel soul song by Canton Jones entitled Love Song, asking how you could sing about love without singing about God. The boys began to sing. And they were unbelievable.
When the song finished, just before the group could leave the stage, Ronnie jumped to her feet in the middle of the applause and screamed, “We want more! We want more!”
Ronnie saw David’s eyes swing to her and saw how his mouth twitched with suppressed amusement.
There were a few chuckles in the crowd and then someone else called “We want more.” Another joined them, and soon it became a chant.
David whispered something to the group, and the boys began to sing Hezekiah Walker’s Every Praise as he played the saxophone. The other musicians joined in on their instruments.
Ronnie sighed with contentment. Of course, that song also ended too soon, but she had the presence of mind not to jump up and scream “We want more” again. Even she knew not to carry a joke too far.
The concert was all David had promised. It was entertaining and uplifting, and the acts were all wonderful. In an hour-and-a-half, it was all over. Someone announced that refreshments were for sale in the church hall.
As Ronnie filed out with the young people excitedly talking about their favorite performances, Anne looped her arm through hers. “’We want more,' eh? Are you trying to earn brownie points from the boss?”
“You have to admit he – they – were good,” she responded, careful to keep her voice pleasant but casual and her eyes center forward, lest Anne read what was in them.
“They were…but still…I’ve never seen you so animated. Why, if I didn’t know better I’d say–”
Ronnie turned to Anne.
“Look there’s a cheesecake for sale sign.”
“Cheesecake? Where?”
Ronnie pointed in the direction of a stall where a line had already begun to form.
“Better get over there quick before it all goes.”
Anne released her arm and headed over to the stall at top speed.
Ronnie breathed a sigh of relief. The only thing Anne loved more than cheesecake was more cheesecake.
She turned to the kids.
“Here’s what I propose, guys. Duane, you take the drink orders. Rashonna, you take the food orders. Adeko and Marco, accompany Duane to get the drinks. Aliyah and Samantha, accompany Rashonna to get the food and the rest of us will grab some seats.”
Ronnie gave Rashonna and Duane some cash, and in no time everyone had given their food orders, and six kids were off to collect the meals, and the other four and Ronnie were securing seats.
As the group dined, Ronnie barely picked at her own burger and fries as her eyes continuously scanned the crowd for David. She couldn’t get over the fact that David had chosen a song off the CD she had given him. No way could that have been a coincidence. And he was so talented. She was really impressed. She felt like they were kindred spirits somehow, he with his music, she with her photography. It made her feel hopeful for her own future too. Here he was running a Fortune 500 company, running for public office, yet he had a hobby that was clearly a significant part of his life. One didn’t play like that without practice. So maybe she could have it all – a legal career and also be a great photographer. Perhaps she didn’t have to choose one or the other.
Ronnie left the meal unfinished and excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. She rinsed her hands and then viewed herself with a critical eye. She was wearing a rainbow-colored checkered Valentino sweater, paired with faded blue jeans and purple, tangerine, and lime green suede Gianvito Rossi high-heeled shoes. She had worn her hair in a straight curtain down her back. Jewelry consisted of teardrop 22K gold earrings.
On the way to her table, Ronnie spotted David from the back. She began to make her way towards him when she noticed that he wasn’t alone. He was chatting with a woman, and she was stunning!
She was a Kerry Washington lookalike, average height, with skin the color of smooth milk chocolate, and a flowing mane. She was dressed in a white halter-neck dress that showcased a tiny waist and shapely hips. Ronnie felt her stomach immediately sink to her toes as she observed David and the woman interact.
David’s head was bent as he leaned towards her and looked at the ground with a drink in one hand, and the other in his pocket. Her head was tilted upwards and close to his ear as she spoke. Apparently, she was sharing something amusing based on the way his head shot up with a bark of laughter. Ronnie suddenly felt like an intruder. She was about to retrace her steps when David looked around and saw her.
His smile instantly broadened. He hailed her in greeting and beckoned her closer.
Ronnie willed herself to walk towards the couple, praying with every step that her face did not reveal her raging feelings of jealousy.
“Ronnie, I’m so pleased you and your young people made it to the concert.”
He turned to his companion.
“Linette, this is Ronnie Dickson, she works for Jones Law. Ronnie, this is Linette Laney, a friend of mine.”
Forcing a smile to her lips, Ronnie turned to the woman and took her hand.
“Pleased to meet you,” she lied.
“Hi.” Linette Laney smiled. “Are you an associate?” she asked, with just the right hint of interest.
“No,” David
answered for her. “Ronnie is my new legal assistant.”
Linette turned brown eyes on him with slight amusement.
“What happened to your old one?”
“She’s pregnant and having a rough time of it. Ronnie is helping out.”
Linette’s gaze skimmed over Ronnie.
“Thanks, Ronnie, for helping David out. Anything that frees him up for more time with me is good,” Linette said with a laugh.
David laughed too, but was it her imagination or did the laugh sound forced?
“I’ve got to get back to my kids,” Ronnie said apologetically.
“You have children?” Linette asked.
Ronnie noted how her eyes shifted to her ring finger.
“She means a group of young people she mentors at Changing Lives. She’s a volunteer.”
Why did he keep answering for her like she was four years old!
“Oh, how sweet,” Linette said patronizingly.
Ronnie stretched her lips across her face briefly, hoping it resembled a smile and not the snarl she would like to give.
After a little wave and a mumbled, “Yes…well…have a good night you two,” Ronnie turned and walked back to her waiting group.
~*~*~*~
Over the course of the next few weeks, Ronnie rarely saw or interacted with David due to the number of meetings related to either business or his race for state senator.
Tracey confided to Ronnie that David often came in after hours or weekends to do work he couldn’t attend to during the regular work day. On the occasions he did show up at the office, it was Tracey with whom he interfaced, not Ronnie.
Ronnie convinced herself that it was for the best because it made it easier to forget about him if she didn’t have to see him every minute of each day. It was a fragile argument, however, and soon found itself shattered whenever he did show up and her heart pounded in her chest at the sight of him. He could breach her flimsy barrier with just a look. She was in a very poor state, and she knew it.
During those weeks, Ronnie also found that instead of things getting better for Tracey’s pregnancy, they got worst. On a number of occasions, she had to leave early in the day due to excessive fatigue. One day, Tracey didn’t come to work at all. It was during the last week in May.
David summoned Ronnie to his office. His face looked grim.
Ronnie immediately assumed the worse.
“Has something happened to Tracey?” she asked anxiously.
“She called to say that she had been spotting. Her husband had to rush her to the hospital. They admitted her immediately.”
“Oh, no! She didn’t lose the baby did she?”
“No, thank God. But her doctor has ordered her on immediate bed rest until the baby is born. He said if she doesn’t she could lose the child.”
“How stressful for her and her husband.”
“Yes. This is their first child. They tried for years without success, and now that they seem to be having their desire fulfilled it’s being threatened. How cruel life can sometimes be. Anyway, this means I now need an executive legal assistant. Are you up for the job?”
Ronnie’s mood had been dampened somewhat by the news about Tracey, but it didn’t reduce her desire for this job.
She squared her shoulders.
“Absolutely! Over the last few months, I’ve learned everything I could about the duties associated with the position. I believe I can handle things.”
“That’s all I needed to hear. Congratulations! You’re my new executive legal assistant. I’ve seen you work, so I know you can do it.”
“You’ve seen me work? I hardly see you when I’m at work,” Ronnie blurted unintentionally.
She felt her face heat up. She hoped that hadn’t sounded like she was complaining.
Throwing her an amused look, David’s replied, “Ronnie, you’ll soon come to learn that few things get past me. I told you I’d be monitoring your work. I wasn’t kidding. Monitoring didn’t mean standing over your shoulder if that was what you thought. There are more effective ways to monitor a person’s work than that. You can be assured that if I weren't impressed, I would not have offered you the position I just did.”
Ronnie beamed at the knowledge that David was pleased with her performance.
“I’m certainly glad you approve of my work. I’ll continue to give my best.”
“I know you will,” he said quietly.
~*~*~*~
June 3rd
Chicago Hilton Hotel
David Jones Fundraising Event No. 8
David Jones took the stage to applause.
“Thank you. It warms my heart that all of you have taken time from your busy lives to hear me out. It really means a lot.”
He turned to Rod Meisler, the president of the Chicago Bar Association.
“Thank you, Rod, for your kind words of introduction. Not even I knew I was that good of a lawyer.”
[Laughter]
“I want to thank all the wonderful people who helped to make this evening possible. I look out among the audience, and I see a lot of folks without whose support I wouldn’t be where I am today. I see Greg Knowles. Greg was my first boss. Yes. He was the one who took me under his wing at my first job as an intern at Jones Law Chicago. He’s now gone on to be a solo family lawyer. But he’s the one who taught me the ropes. So, if you don’t like the way I conduct business, blame that guy...”
[More laughter]
“…major influence. I also want to acknowledge Zachary Buchanan. Zach, raise your hand. Let the folks see you. This guy is a real friend. He’s always the one urging me on, supporting me…encouraging me. He was instrumental in getting me nominated in the first place. Did a phenomenal job with my campaign. Did a great job in helping me get all those valid signatures…”
[Laughter]
“…I’m so grateful. Another person, stellar public servant Senator Fred Pope…big supporter. He’s someone to bounce ideas off of because he’s been in this a lot longer than I have. Clearly.”
[Laughter]
“Sheldine Goldman. Outside of my mom, Sheldine is one woman who I can unreservedly say has worked tirelessly in the community to help the most impoverished among us. In fact, she worked right alongside me when I began my first community program called Fresh Start. An initiative which sought to get people the technical skills they needed to be able to support themselves and get off welfare. Then there’s someone who used to work for me not too long ago, but he quit to become a politician and is now a big shot.”
[Laughter]
“Joe, how are you? I understand you and your wife are expecting your first child. Congrats. He’s doing better than me. I haven’t even got the wife yet…”
[Laughter]
“But I’m working on it. And no, Ladies, I’m not accepting any applications…”
[Laughter]
“The closing date has passed.”
[Laughter]
“I’m seeing guys I went to school with, people I’ve served with in the community, at church, on various boards. Even one or two former students are here. People who taught me at Sunday school. Who I played sports with. Who I beat so badly at basketball it’s a wonder they’re still able to show their faces around town.”
[Laughter]
He took a deep breath and nodded.
“You’ve all played such a significant role in my life and been with me through the journey. It’s because of you that I’m here this evening. It’s because of you that I’ve decided to pursue this goal. So, you’ve brought me here.”
He paused and looked all around the room, touching on faces.
“Now I’m asking you to go one step further with me. I’m here tonight to ask for your tangible support. I need you to put your money, your time, your energy, your passion, where your mouth is. I hope you see it the same way I do. As an investment. An investment in our cause. I’m assuming that you’re here because you believe in what I want to do. Because you feel the same way I do abo
ut the change this state needs. And because you believe the same as I do. That I can make a difference. I want you to know that you’re not gambling here. Your investment in me is just that. A solid investment that will pay dividends for all of us. Because we have a common goal. We want to fix what’s broken in the country we love. In the state we love.”
David paused.
“I’m always out there in the community. Talking to you. So I know what’s on your mind. What makes you feel frustrated. Angry. Sad. Helpless. The crime that seems to be so pervasive. The violence that terrorizes and threatens our peace. The unemployment that breeds a sense of hopelessness, worthlessness. The Education system that is failing our children. High taxation of the middle class, the backbone of our state. Jobs, quality education, safety, fewer taxes. These are the issues you have. These are the issues I have. I live here. This is my home. And I want to see these issues dealt with as much as you do.”
He paused for a moment to study the sea of faces, and then continued with the same passion.
“I once heard it said, ‘Judge a man not by what he says but by what he does.’ The word of God puts it more succinctly, ‘By their fruits you shall know them.’ So, here’s what I’ve done. Here are my fruits. Four years ago I co-founded a community empowerment program called Mission: Possible. It was rolled out across Chicago and was aimed at empowering poor communities to change their own lives. Each community was organized to establish a democratically-elected committee trained in project management and social mobilization to lead development projects relevant to their community needs. Some of the successes of the program have been improvement of education skills, enhancement of economic opportunities at a local level, fewer incidences of teenage pregnancies, and more teenagers graduating high school and going on to higher learning. Three years ago I founded Sports-For-Life, a program aimed at helping at-risk young men. It was based on findings that juvenile crime rates are consistently reduced in neighborhoods where sports-based youth development programs are improving the leadership, teamwork, and self-governance of at-risk teens. Already, we have seen evidence of the programs’ positive effects. Police have reported that juvenile arrests dropped by nearly one-third since the city began the program. The implications of this are huge. If we can replicate this across Chicago, across the country, think what it will mean. Reduction in gang activity and drug use among that sub-section for starters.”
A Case For Love (Royals Series Book 3) Page 8