One Way or Another
Page 23
“Whatever,” Tarik said, when the indifference had returned. “It was good knowing you, Bayne. Guard?”
Adam watched as the guard by the door moved to Tarik’s side. Without a look back, Tarik walked out of the room and out of Adam’s life. But Adam knew the young man’s words would stay with him for much longer. Just like the feelings of failure that they had brought with them.
Chapter 32
“Hey, man. How’s it going?”
Adam turned away from his computer screen to the window so he could give Chauncey’s phone call his full attention. It’s not like he had been getting much work done anyway.
“It’s been better,” Adam answered with a heavy sigh.
“That bad, huh?”
“It feels that way,” Adam said. “We just lost another one to the system.”
Adam gave his friend the Cliffs Notes version of the Tarik story. Even though it had been over a week, his disappointment in the young man and in himself still felt fresh. The other boys had seemed to sense his foul mood and were giving him more space than usual. He felt bad for neglecting them, but he just needed a minute to recover. Before Tarik it had been almost eight months since they had lost a young man from the program. He had almost forgotten what that kind of failure felt like.
“Man, I keep going over the last year and a half and wondering what we could have done differently.” Adam leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes.
“Don’t beat yourself up, Adam,” Chauncey said. “There’s only so much you all can do, and if I know you like I think I do, you probably did all of it and a little more. At the end of the day those young men have to make up their own minds. I know nobody could have told us anything when we were actin’ a fool and playing like we were grown.”
Adam nodded. “I know that’s right.”
“And like you said, Tarik’s been the only one this year so far. That’s something to give God thanks for. In fact, I’ve been checking around and the success rate for Jacob’s House is unprecedented. The YMCA tried to start something like this in Detroit back in the nineties and they shut it down within three years. They weren’t the first either. A bunch of other groups have tried similar setups all over but most of them go under within a couple years.”
“Yeah, Pastor R. clued me in on the YMCA and a few other programs when I just got here,” Adam commented. “He said when he became pastor at Immanuel one of his top priorities was to make sure that the center stayed open and stayed successful.”
“Well, he should be proud of himself,” Chauncey said. “I don’t know what it is, but somehow you guys have stumbled onto the winning formula.”
Adam sensed his friend’s pause.
“Which leads me to the reason for my call.”
Adam chuckled. “And here I was thinking you just wanted to check in on a brother.”
“Yeah, that too,” Chauncey said. “But I’m hoping that some time in the near future I’ll be able to do these check-ins face to face, like in the office we’re preparing for you at House of Judah.”
Adam had known that sooner or later he would have to give his friend a definite answer. The weeks since he had left Baltimore had flown by, but throughout House of Judah had stayed a constant in the back of his mind. If he didn’t know better he would have thought Chauncey had been reading his mind. He sure had picked an opportune time to call.
“I’m still thinking about it,” Adam said. “It’s not going to be easy to pick up and leave this place.”
“I know,” Chauncey said. “You put a lot of your heart into those boys. But if those couple weeks you were away proved anything, it was that they can manage without you.”
“Is this your way of making me feel special, Chaunce?” Adam asked, only half jokingly.
“No,” his friend answered. “This is my way of telling you that they could use you there, but we really need you here. You’ve got the background and experience to run this program in its pilot phase. And being native to Baltimore, like most of the young men in the program will be, will definitely give you an advantage connecting with them.”
Chauncey was saying all the right words at the right time. Running a pilot project would be challenging. But at the moment it seemed easier to Adam than staying at Jacob’s House, especially now that he’d let the boys down so badly.
“Give it to me straight, Adam,” Chauncey pressed. “What’s holding you back?”
“I don’t know, man.” Adam closed his eyes for a moment. “Atlanta’s all I’ve known for the past three plus years. I haven’t even lived in Baltimore in almost ten. I’m sure the scene has changed since then.”
But Chauncey wasn’t buying Adam’s diversion. “Adam, you’re holding out on me. It might have been a while but I still know you well enough to know that. Give me the truth. What’s making you hesitate?”
Adam looked up as the door to his office eased open and dark inquisitive eyes peeped in at him. “Busy?” She silently mouthed the word, immediately drawing his attention to her pink-hued lips.
“I just need more time, Chaunce.” Adam’s eyes never left Toni. “Let me give you a shout at the end of the week.”
“All right, brother,” Chauncey said. “Talk to you then.”
Adam hung up the phone and watched as Toni let herself into his office completely.
“So the boys tell me you’ve been channeling the Grinch this past week.” Her arms were folded and her face set in the almost-annoyed expression she seemed to reserve only for him. She was wearing another of those shirtdress things with leggings. He wondered if she knew the kinds of problems he had when she did that.
“The boys or just Jerome?” he asked.
“No, Rasheed mentioned it too, on Saturday at church,” Toni said. “Hence the reason I had to sacrifice my lunch break to come down here.”
“So what’s your plan?” Adam asked. “You’re gonna beat me back into a good mood with today’s copy of the AJC?”
Toni wrinkled her nose. “Is that the best you’ve got? Wow, you are in a funk.”
Adam rolled his eyes.
“I had a feeling this was going to require a big sacrifice on my part,” she said with a shake of her head. “But I’m willing to do it, for the sake of the boys.... I’m going to let you ride my baby.”
Adam’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open. Even when she held out the keys to clarify what she meant, his shock only moderately decreased.
“What?”
“You heard me,” she said, jingling the keys to the motorcycle in front of him. “I’ve seen you checking her out. I know you want to.”
He closed his mouth and hoped he hadn’t drooled all over his desk. “But Trey says you never let anyone ride it. You barely let him get on it.”
“Yes,” Toni said, a hand on her hip. “Consider yourself lucky. So are you coming or what?”
She didn’t have to ask him twice. He grabbed the keys from her outstretched fingers and was up and around the desk before her hand even fell to her side. He could hear her laughter behind him as he strode quickly through the house to the parking lot.
However, when his eyes landed on the gleaming red and silver high power sporting machine, he couldn’t help but pause. It was almost as beautiful as its owner.
“You do know how to ride one of these things, right?” Toni asked, coming up behind him.
Adam grinned as he got on the motorcycle and slipped the key into the ignition. “Get on.” He watched her eyes turn into saucers.
“But I only have one helmet,” she almost stammered.
“We won’t go far.”
Without further protest, she got on behind him, resting her hands on his waist. Her grip tightened once he started the motorcycle and pulled out onto the road.
He had almost forgotten what it was like being on two wheels on the road with the wind directly against him and the world right up close. Even with the dangerous distraction of Toni’s body so close to his, he could still appreciate the feeling of freed
om that came from the experience. He was almost sad to have it end minutes later when he pulled back into the Jacob’s House parking lot after going around a couple blocks.
He set down the kickstand but let the engine idle. He knew Toni had to get back to work, but he appreciated her letting him take her baby out. It really did make him feel better, if only for a moment.
“I’m kinda mad,” she said with a pout, after getting off and removing her helmet. “You’ve only known her for a minute and she already seems to like you better. Where did you learn to ride like that?”
“Back home,” he said with an easy smile, still straddling the bike. “And then in the army.”
She smiled. “Was it as good as you remembered?”
“Better.” He shook his head as his eyes roamed her face. “How did you know I would enjoy this?”
She shrugged. “Just a feeling I had.”
“Thanks,” he said quietly, hoping she saw the sincerity in his eyes.
“You’re welcome,” she said with a wink. “But get a scratch on her and I’ll kill you.”
He raised an eyebrow as she handed him the helmet.
“She’s yours for the afternoon.”
His mouth fell open again. “You’re going to leave me alone with her?”
“Yeah,” Toni said. “I think you need her right now. Don’t worry. I’ll get a cab back to work.”
In that moment all Adam wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. But instead he dug into his pocket and pulled out his keys. “Take my car,” he said. “And don’t worry if you scratch it. I probably won’t notice anyway.”
She grinned and accepted his offer. “Duly noted.”
“Thanks again.” He stood up to put on the helmet and put back the kickstand. “I think Baby and I are gonna take the afternoon off.”
“Well, get on with it then,” Toni said mischievously, giving him a quick slap on the butt. “And while you’re out there try to relax and have a good time.”
Adam grinned as he gunned the engine. That he could definitely do.
Chapter 33
“I’m here to see Silver Maxwell,” Toni said, walking up to the reception desk, ignoring the two other persons sitting in the lobby. One of them, a heavyset caramel-colored woman with pretty eyes and a mean scowl, glared at Toni.
“Relax, I’ll only be a minute,” Toni said with a smile.
“Excuse me,” the receptionist said, the attitude apparent in her voice and in the movement of her neck. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No,” Toni said. “But I think he’ll want to see me.”
“Miss, if you don’t have an appointment then you can’t—”
Toni cut her off. “Tell him it’s about the Platinum Foundation.”
“Ma’am, you can tell him yourself when you make an appointment.”
Toni sighed and tried not to roll her eyes. “Look,” she said, lowering her voice and trying a smile. “Just pick up the phone and tell him Toni Shields is standing in the lobby asking about the Platinum Foundation. If he doesn’t want to see me, I promise you I’ll leave.”
“Ma’am ...”
“Uh, Michelle,” Toni said, glancing down at the nameplate on the desk, ”it’s just one call. Please?”
Toni tried a bigger smile, and it seemed to work. The receptionist glared at her for a moment longer, before reluctantly picking up the phone and punching several numbers.
“Mr. Maxwell, I have a Toni Shields in the lobby? She is here from the Platinum Foundation? I told her to make an appointment but ... Oh.”
Toni smiled as the woman looked up at her curiously.
“Okay, I’ll let her know,” the receptionist said, her voice dropping. “Thank you, sir. No problem, sir.”
Michelle hung up the phone and cleared her throat, shuffling a few papers around on her desk. After she had made Toni wait long enough, she looked up again. “Mr. Maxwell will see you now,” she said in a clipped tone.
“Thank you.” Toni resisted the urge to gloat.
When she got to Silver’s office he was already waiting for her. “Hello again, Ms. Shields,” he said with a small smile from behind his desk. “It seems I underestimated you.”
“Most people do,” Toni said with a smile.
Silver laughed. “I can only imagine how well that works for you. Please, have a seat.”
“That’s okay. I’ll stand,” Toni said. “I know you have other visitors waiting, so I won’t stay that long. I just wanted to come by and say thank you.”
Silver leaned back in his leather monstrosity and clasped his fingers together in front of him, but said nothing.
Toni continued. “I had to go down a lot of rabbit holes, but I know what you did. I know you’re the Platinum Foundation, and that you’re the one who made that big donation to Jacob’s House.”
Silver continued to smile at Toni, but said nothing. She had suspected that he wouldn’t admit to anything. He had gone to great lengths to detach himself from the charity organization, which was nothing but a name registered in city documents. But once she discovered the truth, she knew she would have to see him personally.
“I also know that you were the one responsible for Jerome’s case getting dropped.” She lowered her voice as she stepped closer to the desk and leaned forward. “You have no idea how many people you made happy,” she said sincerely, hoping he understood the full depth of her gratitude. “Thank you very much. I really really appreciate it.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Shields, I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Silver said quietly, in a tone that told her the exact opposite. In his eyes she saw the “you’re welcome” that would never reach his lips.
Toni nodded. “Okay. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone and I’ll keep it that way, if that’s what you want.”
Silver nodded and Toni knew that they had somehow reached an agreement.
“Thanks for your time, and for ... everything.” She turned to leave.
She was halfway to the door before she gave in to the urge to say her last words. “I don’t understand you, Silver.” She shook her head. “Any other politician would have gotten a camera crew and called up every major media house to be there when they handed over a check like that. But you—you don’t even want the people you helped to know.”
Silver looked down at his desk for a long moment before he spoke, then said, “Tell your brother thanks for taking me up. I really appreciated it.”
Toni smiled as she headed toward the door once more. “It was great seeing you again, Silver.”
“Always a pleasure, Toni.”
Toni nodded at Michelle as she headed out of the office. As soon as she got to the parking lot she pulled out her cell phone.
“Hey, it’s me. Okay, you can go ahead and run it, and leave Silver out. Like we suspected, he doesn’t want any recognition.”
Toni ended the call and got into Adam’s car, a feeling of satisfaction suffusing her. It was almost over.
Chapter 34
“Yo, I know this ain’t none of my business, but I gotta ask. Why you holdin’ out on Bayne?”
Toni looked across the shirt rack at Jerome and put her hands on her hips. “You’re right,” she said, “it isn’t. Didn’t your momma ever teach you not to stick your nose in grown folks’ business?”
Jerome’s face darkened as he turned away from Toni and headed to another rack of shirts. “Nah,” he threw behind him. “She was too busy workin’ for all of that.”
Toni bit her lip, wishing instantly that she could have taken back her words. They were in Sean John trying to find a suit for Jerome to wear to Immanuel’s summer banquet. The annual youth event, which ended the summer, was the biggest thing next to the prom. Their shopping day had been going well so far until Toni mentioned Jerome’s mother.
“Have you spoken to her lately?” Toni asked as casually as she could. She kept flipping through shirts so that it didn’t seem like such a big deal.
Toni glanced over at him. “What did she say?”
Jerome shrugged. “She said that it was about time I started doing well at something.”
Toni gritted her teeth and tried not to let the annoyance show on her face. “Have you thought about going to see her?” she asked.
Jerome waited a long time before he answered. So long that Toni almost thought he hadn’t heard the question. “I don’t think she wants to see me,” he said quietly after a moment, avoiding Toni’s eyes.
“Did she tell you that?”
“No.”
“Then why do you think that?” Toni asked, coming over to stand near him.
Jerome braved a look at her and Toni’s heart almost broke with the sadness she saw in his eyes. She would have given anything to take that away.
“She’s never asked to come see me, or asked me to come visit,” Jerome said. “If she wanted to see me, she would have said something.”
Toni sighed and pulled Jerome down on one of the cushioned seats in the store. “Sometimes, people who have been angry for a long time have a hard time knowing how not to be angry,” Toni said slowly. “They care, but they’re so used to not using their emotions, that they don’t really know how to tell someone that they care about them.”
“You mean like you and Bayne?” Jerome asked.
Toni rolled her eyes. “I mean like you and your mom. She probably doesn’t know how to tell you she misses you since she hasn’t seen you in such a long time. She might feel like you’re doing so well here, that you don’t need her anymore.”
“That’s dumb,” Jerome said with an air of annoyance. “She’s my mother. Of course I need her. I’ll always want her around.”
“Yeah, well, things that are clear to you might not always be so clear to another person, you know?”
Jerome nodded and looked down at his hands. “You think I should ask her if I can come visit?” he asked nervously after a long moment.