Reye's Gold (Indigo)

by Robinson, Ruthie

  * * *

  Practice soccer fields in the city were hard to find. The center didn’t have land of its own, just an area out back that held a swing and a slide for the kids’ use during its operating hours. Reye needed land, not a full-scale soccer field, just enough for her kids. Most of the fields in this city belonged to soccer clubs that had negotiated large contracts for their usage for the entire year. Although she’d grown up playing in the clubs, it still annoyed her that children had to pay to play.

  Lucky for her and her team, Dr. Susan had connections. A friend of the director had given her the hook-up on a field located within walking distance to the center. Practice was scheduled for six, immediately following the after-school program. Reye had arrived at 5:30 to set up cones and her other equipment. She needed more balls and more training gear, but she was learning to be inventive with her equipment requests. Dissipating rapidly was her fear of approaching businesses, or anyone, for that matter, to ask for money. Amazing that when you felt passionate about something, it could drive you out of your comfort zone. Coaching her team had done it for her, making her fearless on the kids’ behalf.

  Sam walked over to her. She’d asked him to help her out today, a little nervous her first time coaching. “Thanks for coming,” she said.

  “Hey, you owe me, and I’ll collect, don’t worry. What do you need me to do?”

  “Nothing much. Help me when you think it’s necessary. Let’s see if I can manage by myself first.”

  Reye looked over the children and their parents who were here waiting for her to start. Nine kids so far: her six regulars from the program, all with their parents’ permission, plus the new children who’d recently joined the aftercare group. Seeing Shane standing among them was a surprise, having not yet received permission from his parents. They’d not responded to any of her calls, ever. She’d have to deal with that later.

  She called the kids over to her. “Today we are going to learn how to pass the ball to each other. I need you to line up side by side,” she said and waited as they moved to follow her instructions. “Nice line!” she said. “This is how we pass the ball.” Placing the ball at her feet, she demonstrated while she talked. “When you pass the ball to each other, you can use different parts of your feet, the inside, the outside, or the front, not with your toe, but with your laces.” Reye demonstrated, touching the ball using all parts of her feet. “Okay, let me try with one of you. Shondra, come here, please?” She waited while Shondra, who was dressed from head to toe in pink, walked over to her. “I’ll pass the ball to you, and I want you to pass it back to me. Okay?” Shondra nodded. Reye passed the ball and Shondra kicked it back to her, striking it with her laces. “Great, now again, using another part of your foot. Great! Now kick one more time with the other side of your foot. Awesome! Thanks, Shondra. Now let’s form two circles and practice kicking the ball back and forth to each other. Remember to use the three sides of your feet.” She and Sam walked to each child, helping them to practice the new skill, providing encouragement and correcting if necessary. “Okay, great work! Let’s take a break and get some water.”

  After the break, Reye spoke again, the kids surrounding her. “In soccer, you have to run and run, and run, and then run some more. So, in order for us to get used to running, we have to practice running, right? So every day after our drills, we are going to form a line and run. I’ll be the running leader this time and you all can follow me, but after this, one of you will be the running leader. This will be our way of getting in shape and getting used to running. Are we ready?”

  “Yes,” the kids said in unison. She took off and they all followed behind her. If any one fell behind, she would either slow down or fall back to help. At the end of practice Reye demonstrated several drills to help their bodies cool down. Before they left, she said, “We need a name for our team, so by next week, I want to hear some of your suggestions.”

  After all of the children had gone, Sam helped Reye pack up her cones and other equipment.

  “You are great with those kids, Reye. I do believe you have found your calling. Who would have thought it was possible?”

  “If that’s your version of a compliment, I’ll take it. Thanks for helping me today.”

  “You know, you could ask that boyfriend of yours to help you. He’s not as good as me, but he would do in a pinch.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend, and anyways, he’s busy with law school right now.”

  * * *

  Stephen sped through the night after having spent an exhausting day at school. He needed to go home and get some sleep, but instead he was once again headed to Reye’s. This attraction was troublesome, and exorcising her from his system wasn’t working like he’d expected. In fact, quite the opposite, it had began to mean more, encompassing more than just sex. The more he had gotten to know her, the more he liked her. She was compassionate, loving, spunky, and supportive. She excited him, moved him, and sated him like no other so far. Could he see a future for them? Was he even ready to settle down? He admitted she was the first that’d held his attention for this long, but that didn’t mean she would be the last.

  Dallas was different from Austin, more old school, more inflexible. As much as he disliked Joe, he suspected his parents’ reaction to Reye would be similar. He didn’t think he’d have to worry with the consequences of that; the likelihood of them meeting Reye was slim to none. She’d be long gone before that could potentially happen. Thanksgiving break was approaching, three days off, away from Reye. Maybe time spent at home would reacquaint him with his old life and help to clear his head.

  * * *

  Claire hung up the phone, hearing Stephen Sr.’s car pull into their drive. Her home office resided next to the kitchen, strategically placed to keep an eye on the kitchen staff and an eye on the landscapers. One had to trust, but verify; that held true for staff and children. She’d just finished the final details of her latest charitable committee assignment. It had taken up most of the morning.

  Stephen Jr. would arrive home tomorrow. He’d finally called her yesterday. Nothing like giving his mother advance notice. He knew she’d wanted to entertain Beth and her family, she’d told him so. How could anyone make plans with only a day’s notice? Thankfully, she knew her son well, and had already tentatively scheduled coffee and dessert with Beth’s family for Thanksgiving evening.

  She had this sixth sense when it came to Stephen, and had kept tabs on him by any means possible. That meant the cleaning people, who’d reported his place clean, barely used for the last month or so. This bit of knowledge was confirmed by Henri, via his mother. Unlike Stephen, Henri had always been close to his mother, dutifully keeping in touch weekly. In contrast Stephen kept in touch with his dad weekly; two peas in a pod those two were, speaking in their own language. Stephen Sr. was always telling her about a conversation he’d had with her son.

  Mothers weren’t always close to their children; more than a few pushed their parents away. It was her job to protect him, and she did it in her own way. Having grown up with nothing, the baby of six children, she’d had parents who worked tirelessly and never had enough. She knew what it meant to rise to her current position in society, something both father and son took for granted.

  She figured out early that she needed to find her own way in the world. She assumed the reins for her future in eighth grade. She’d talked her parents into applying for a private high school scholarship, which she’d received. An innate sense of style had helped her get the most out of her limited wardrobe, and she picked up the essential social graces and skills by watching others. She made friends with those who could help her. She would never be on the outside again. After high school another scholarship and a few small student loans helped to finance college; she was the only one in her family to attend.

  Some considered her cool to the touch and unfriendly. Not so; she chose carefully who to befriend. Friendships were not to be squandered on those with no future. She joined the right soro
rity and went to the right parties, hosted and attended by the up and coming in Dallas. She’d met Stephen’s father at just such a party.

  She wanted the best for her son, only the best, and Stephen needed to be reminded of what that was. She was slightly worried. This staying with some girl was highly unusual for him. She knew and understood men and their needs, having grown up around her brothers. She was sure that he just needed a reminder of their standards and all would be well. He’d see Beth again, and she would be a big reminder.

  Chapter 9

  “I am going to miss you,” Reye whispered into Stephen’s ear. He was quiet, his breathing deep and even. She lifted her head from his chest and turned to look at him. He’d fallen asleep; they were both tired, both looking forward to the Thanksgiving break and the three days off from school. He would be in Dallas, she would remain in Austin. She didn’t even want to contemplate how much she would miss him, so she turned, laid her head down, and snuggled into his chest.

  It didn’t happen much, but from time to time she’d persuade him to lie down. She’d switch off the lights, turn on music, and light a few candles. They would lie there, she on top, and discuss the events of their days. Mostly she did the talking and he’d listen, occasionally commenting. The center’s after school program and coaching supplied her with more than enough stories and anecdotes to tell him, and it helped her work through issues. She felt really close to him on nights like these, dodging the reality that he didn’t share much about himself. Sure, he talked of his days at school, but he never mentioned anything personal. He hadn’t shared anything on the subject of his family or friends. Starting to feel anxious, she pushed those thoughts from her mind.

  He would leave for Dallas tomorrow, so she’d just enjoy now. She gave some thought to waking him but decided against it. He needed the rest. So she took this time to admire him, pretending that he would be hers forever. She didn’t really believe that’s how this would end, but she was way past the point of no return in her feelings for him.

  * * *

  “Mom, I’m home,” Stephen shouted as he entered the front door of his parents’ home. The drive down I-35 had been uneventful, but tiring. Driving between Dallas and Austin offered little in the way of sights, just small cities packed with fast food and outlet malls, sandwiched between flat, wide-open spaces.

  He wanted a shower and a bed, in that order. He walked in through the garage, toward the kitchen located in the back of the house. His parents had lived here forever. The décor had changed frequently during his childhood, every five years or so, making it feel new. Decorating, along with volunteer work and gardening, was a hobby of his mother’s. He was her single most important hobby, making sure his life marched according to plan; his or hers, he hadn’t decided yet.

  “Mom,” he called out again, walking into the kitchen. Finding her sitting at the table, casually but faultlessly dressed, supervising the cooking staff. As far back as he could remember, there had always been staff in their home. It was too large for one person to manage, and, even if it had not been, his mother was not up to such a task.

  He’d tried to be lenient in his regard for his mother; he knew she had grown up poor, a fact that she reminded him of frequently—especially when she’d thought he wasn’t living up to his potential.

  “Hello, Stephen,” she said, lifting her face to him for his kiss. “I am glad you made it home safely. Did you stay within the speed limit?”

  “Yes, of course I did,” he said, smiling at her.

  “Are you hungry? Sonia made some soup and fresh bread for dinner tonight, but you can have some now if you like.” Sonia, an older African-American woman, looked up and smiled. He returned her greeting.

  “No, I’m okay. I ate something before I left.”

  “Then we will have dinner when your dad gets home. He said he would be here earlier than usual. Oh, and I invited Beth and her parents over later for drinks and dessert. I’m sure you’ll want to see her.”

  “I’m going to go up and catch up on some sleep. I’m exhausted,” he said. “Wake me for dinner if you don’t hear me moving around.”

  “Of course.”

  * * *

  Stephen sat down on the bed in his old room and answered his cell. It was Reye. “Hey,” he said.

  “Are you there? I was just checking to make sure you’d made it.”

  “I’m here. I was just about to get in some sleep. My mother has dinner plans for this evening.”

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. You do sound tired, so I’ll let you go.”

  “It’s okay.” He paused. “Look, Reye, I might not have a chance to call you much. I’m sure my mother has a thousand things planned, she usually does.”

  “No worries. I’ll see you when you get back, then. I’ll be busy with my family, too. Take care.”

  “I will. You, too,” he said, hanging up.

  * * *

  Thanksgiving at the Jackson family’s home was big, loud, and loving. “What else do you need help with, Mom?” Reye asked. So far they had prepared enough dessert and food to feed the Fifth Army, which was a close description of her family when all were present. Her three oldest brothers were married, with three children each. There seemed to be a competition to see who could reproduce the fastest, and each and every one of them was coming for dinner.

  “Let’s see, we’ve got two potato pies, one pecan pie, chocolate cake, your father’s favorite, peach cobbler, and a coconut cake that I’ve not prepared yet. That should be enough, don’t you think? We still need to make the cornbread dressing, and you need to wash and cook the greens,” her mother said.

  “Okay,” she said, smiling at her mom. She was the only girl, so during the holidays, kitchen duty primarily fell on her shoulders. She became the head sous chef, dish washer, and errand runner. The boys had been recruited when they lived at home, but they learned how to get out of the kitchen fast, sometimes sending their girlfriends in to serve as replacements; the ones they didn’t mind losing, that is. Working with her mother was demanding stuff. She had very rigorous standards and she didn’t put up with foolishness, as she was known to say. Her brothers had lost many a girlfriend in the mines of her mother’s kitchen. Only the strong survived.

  Reye placed the stopper in the sink and allowed water to fill to begin washing the greens, her least favorite chore.

  “So,” her mom asked. “How is school?” Did she mention that this was also the time her mother grilled her about her life, school, and love? Anything and everything was open for discussion.

  “It’s going great. My professor asked me to volunteer at the community center in their after-school program.”

  “Is that so? Which center?”

  “You know the one, the East River Community Center over off of First Street?”

  “I know the one,” she said, stopping in her stirring of the cake batter and looking at Reye. “Is that a safe place for you to be?”

  “Is there really any unsafe place in this town?”

  “No, but some are safer than others.”

  “I’m no longer a volunteer,” Reye continued. “I’m getting paid for working there. I’m also working every day instead of three days of the week. The best part is that we’ve started a soccer team for the kids, and yours truly is the coach.”

  “Hmmm,” her mother said.

  “What hmmm?”

  “Do you have time to work, teach soccer, and study? I don’t want you to forget why you are in school.”

  “That’s not likely, as this is my last year. I wouldn’t jeopardize graduation.”

  “With all that going on, do you have any time to meet any young men? You realize it gets harder to meet nice men after you leave college. I bet you’ve not given that any thought.”

  “Hey, Mom,” Sam said from the doorway. Thank the Lord, Reye thought, a reprieve.

  “Hey, baby girl,” he said to Reye, winking at her. He walked over to gather their mom into a hug.

  “I a
m so glad you’ve come by early. Isn’t that nice, Reye?” her mom asked as she returned Sam’s hug.

  Reye rolled her eyes and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Sam. She turned back to the sink and concentrated on the greens. Would it hurt for her mom to say “great job, Reye” just once, she wondered as she worked on the veggies. Let her grill Sam for a while, she thought, let her prod and probe him about the state of his life and loves for a while. And as far as meeting young men, she’d met one, all right. She just chose not to share that info with her mother yet. First, he wasn’t serious, and second, he wasn’t serious. Meeting her mom came with questions that only a man serious in his pursuit of her would be open to answering. She knew race wasn’t an issue. She was secure in that knowledge. She and her brother had friends and girlfriends of every hue, of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Her parents had treated anyone who came over with warmth and friendliness. She suspected they would treat Stephen the same way. Her dad and brothers would be tough, but for reasons other than race. They would be hard on any of her beaus because she was the baby girl.

  * * *

  Dinner that evening at the Stuarts’ was a quiet affair. His dad had arrived home earlier in response to Stephen’s homecoming and they’d eaten in the main dining room, which was large enough to accommodate twenty-four of his parents’ closest friends. His dad and mom hosted many dinner parties related to the family’s law practice or his mom’s volunteer commitments.

  Stephen had gotten his height and looks from his dad, who wore his age well.

  “How are your classes?” His dad didn’t wait for a response. “I spoke with Professor Laycock last week. He was in Dallas for a seminar at the office and he reported that you were doing quite well in his class. He was impressed by your range of knowledge.”