Perfect Match (45 page)

Roscoe reluctantly got away from the crowd, and made his way
up to his loft, lying down, trying to recoup his energy. He’d read the
literature and knew that a kidney donor didn’t get back to normal strength for
about two weeks. He realized he’d been pushing himself too much, but he felt
driven by his goals. As he dozed off, he could hear the muffled beat of the
music from the street. He smiled.

After a two hour nap he heard the fall of heavy footsteps on
his stairs. He thought, I’ll have to get that security latch and camera
installed on the downstairs street door. His door at the top of the stairs
opened. “Roscoe, it’s me, Rachel.”

“Come on in. You’re always welcome.”

She placed a container on a trivet on the kitchen counter
top. “I brought you some homemade chicken stew, cornbread, and a salad. Where
are you?”

“Just took a nap, but I’m ready to get moving again.” The
clock by his bed blinked 6:40 p.m.

“Not so fast. I need to check your vitals.” She came down
the open hallway that ran along the five arched windows on the right side of
the building, letting in the north light. To the left were open spaces, with
walls separating a bedroom with enclosed bath, another bedroom, and a quieter
sitting room at the end of the hall.

Roscoe, still in his clothes, was propped up on two plump
pillows, resting on the single bed that Jerome had built.

Rachel pulled her stethoscope and blood pressure monitor out
of her nurse’s kit. She gave him a stern look. “Don’t move.” She proceeded to
listen to his heart, lungs, arteries along the neck, took his temperature,
looked in his eyes, ears, nose, and throat. She palpated his chest and
abdominal area, and felt his pulse at different pressure points on wrist, legs,
ankles, and feet.

She straightened up and asked him a series of questions.
With hands on her hips, said, “Everything checks out, but you must slow down.
You’ve got to pace yourself, Roscoe. You’re still recovering, you’re healing
inside. You’ve had a kidney removed, in case you’ve forgotten.”

He looked at her blankly.

“Okay, will you take it easy? Just do it for me. Please?”

He nodded, meaning it. “I promise. I want to try that
chicken stew, while you give me the word on Imogene. Was she hurt bad?”

They moved to the kitchen.

“A very slight graze on the side of her hip by the bullet.
She’s at home, madder than a wet hen, but she’s glad that Tojo and his gang are
off the street. Jerome said several people are going testify, and three women
are going to charge him with being the father of their children, and seek child
support. That’s never happened before. People have been too afraid.” She
studied him a moment. “Thanks, Roscoe, for standing up to Tojo. Brave but
risky.”

He waved his hand. “Our neighborhood has too much at stake
to let a couple bullies control us.” He paused, while he took another bite of
chicken stew. “Now you see why I wanted to get away from that toxic hospital
food? This is delicious.”

7:30 a.m., Sunday

“Selena, more coffee?” Madison held the pot up.

“No thanks. The strawberry pancakes were delicious, Mom.
Beats hospital food any day.”

They both laughed.

Madison joined her at the kitchen table, reaching for a
section of the Sunday edition.

“I wish you were going to be at my graduation.” Her face was
somber.

Madison sighed. “I’m sorry, but this legal matter came up
late last night.”

“Why can’t you postpone the meeting?”

“I tried Selena, but I’m wedged in by either a meeting at
resolving the matter or going to court and costing the company a lot of money.”
There was a bite to her voice.

Selena crossed her arms, looking at her mom. “I’m only going
to graduate from high school one time. I almost didn’t make it, in case you’ve
forgotten.”

Madison snapped the newspaper down on the table. “That’s
uncalled for, and you know it. I’ve had a lot on me with this job promotion.
Most of my extra work was caused by an irresponsible son-of-a-bitch who had the
job before me.” Her voice got louder. “I can’t change that, all I can do is try
to fix it.” She stood and slid her plate and cup across the counter top.

“Mom, you don’t have to get so upset.” Her eyes were
brimming. “It’s…it’s…just that I miss you during special times. You weren’t
with me when I had the kidney transplant. You were in Hong Kong. You can’t be
with me this afternoon at my graduation. You’ve got to go to Atlanta. Sometimes
I feel like I’m all alone…” Her voice drifted into silence.

Madison’s shoulder’s slumped. “Sometimes I feel all alone
too, Selena.”

They looked at each other, knowing what the other was
feeling. They reached for the other, and shook as they cried over their
emptiness.

After a few minutes, Madison asked, “Do you still want to go
to early church service?”

“Yes, Pastor Ramona was there that night. I want to thank
her.”

Madison smiled. “We’ll still have time for lunch, before my
flight leaves. You’re sure Trevor is going to pick you up for graduation?”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to that. He’s really a nice guy.”

Madison nodded. “And Luella will stay with you until I get
back. If the meeting goes well, I’ll get back late tonight; otherwise I’ll catch
the first flight back Monday morning.”

Roscoe’s street door chimed. He walked over to one of the
front windows, looking down at the sidewalk. Trevor was pacing back and forth
deep in thought. Roscoe unlatched the window. “Door’s open, come on up, Trevor.”

He bounded up the steps and let himself in the foyer door at
the top of the stairs.

“Just in time for breakfast. Coffee?”

“Sure. What else you got?” He chuckled.

“Eggs are ready to hit the frying pan. Already got bacon,
country ham, the works.”

“Let’s do it.” Trevor took a seat.

Roscoe rustled up the breakfast, putting the full plates on
the table.

“You’re looking healthy, Roscoe. I see you got a little tan
going.” He slathered butter on his toast. “Hey, I saw the TV this morning about
the big event on Rainbow Street. Coverage was good, very positive.”

“Yeah?”

“You bet. After the initial arrest, the police got
additional leads and raided three other sites, bringing the number arrested to
thirty-six gang members. It was the big headline in the paper this morning.”

Roscoe smiled. “Haven’t had time to hook up TV or subscribe
to the paper.”

Trevor reached in his pocket, pulled out a small envelope.
“Brought you something.” He slid it toward Roscoe, and then loaded his fork
again with bacon and eggs.

Roscoe took a long swallow of coffee, and opened the
envelope. “Well, I’ll be darned.” He smiled.

“Don’t ask me how I did it, but I got you a ticket to
Selena’s graduation this afternoon. Can you go?”

Trevor crammed in another bite. Roscoe thought a moment. “I
don’t know whether it’d be a good idea or not. Trying to maintain anonymity…I
don’t know.”

“You can sit anywhere you want, hide on the back row, or
whatever. I know Selena would love for you to be there.” He took another bite.
“Her mom can’t make it. Selena’s kind of down about it. I got a text from her
while on the way over.”

Roscoe looked at Trevor. “What’s the deal with her mom?
Where does she work? What does she do? I never saw her at the hospital, and
when I’ve asked Selena about her mom, Selena seems a little jumpy, or elusive,
or something…” He shrugged, and then reached for his coffee cup.

Trevor chewed another bite, while thinking. “She’s really a
nice lady. First off she worked for this company as a secretary, and then one
day—”

Trevor’s phone vibrated.

“Uh-oh, a Code Tech One. I setup a private code system for
the tech guys, and this one means Joey Smith will be two hours late.” He
stuffed more breakfast in, and through a full mouth, muffled, “Gotta cover for
Joey. Thanks for breakfast. Better see you at the graduation. I’m taking
Selena.”

Trevor was down the steps. Roscoe walked to the window
again, watching him drive off in his car with the right bumper sagging three or
four inches.

He studied the graduation ticket, before making his
decision.

While waiting for her flight to Atlanta, Madison was
watching the top-of-the-hour news on one of the TV monitors at the Asheville
Regional Airport. They gave full coverage to the Rainbow Street event
yesterday.

She recognized D. R. Fallington immediately, but the
reporter referred to him as Roscoe. He looked handsome. His face was a bit
thinner, but tanned. His full head of black hair had sheen in the afternoon
sun. Madison was speechless as she listened to the praise that D. R. or Roscoe,
or whoever he was, gave to the old black woman, and the hug he gave to the
Hispanic man.

She’d just finished paging through the newspaper, reading
the written account, and she caught the full-page ad announcing the Grand
Opening tomorrow of Romantic Renovations. The ad led with the caption
How
Many CEO’s Does It Take To Run A Company?
There was an explanation of
services available, business location, phone numbers, and then professional
photos of five people with the title of CEO. One of them was Roscoe Fallington.
She wondered, are these two different people?

Her brow questioned, as she thought, this can’t be the same
person that I know, the one that has caused me to miss my daughter’s graduation
because of his sorry-ness. Oh, and the one who now wants to help illegals
become U. S. Citizens. Humph! Her anger was boiling, as she strode for the
gate, mumbling loud enough for those around her to hear, “And he hates
Hispanics.”

Roscoe was dressed in a summer navy blue suit with off-white
shirt and muted blue tie, when Ned pulled up in his pick-up truck, and Roscoe
got in.

“Where to this time? This must be a snazzy occasion. Want to
go back to the hospital?”

Roscoe cut him a look, but laughed. “This time I’m going to
Saratoga High School Graduation.”

The truck veered a little. “Look, Roscoe, I ain’t gonna
question a man about what he does on his day off, but if you’re going over
there to hit on underage girls, then you can count me out. I don’t want to get
in any kind of trouble.”

“All you have to do is take me there, drop me off, and pick
me up in…uh…three hours. You won’t get in any trouble doing that.” He chuckled.
“I heard they got some good looking teachers. Thought I’d check them out.”

They both laughed.

The truck bounced along across town.

Roscoe got as close to the front rows of the outdoor
bleachers as he could. A stage had been set, front and center. He’d slipped his
camera in his pocket.

As the ceremony crawled on he thought back when he’d
graduated. Only his grandmother was present. He’d felt pretty lonely that day,
but he remembered masking his feelings with thinking about getting out of
school, and heading off to the beach. He’d even had two beers to drink before
graduation started. He’d paid no attention to any of that day’s activities.
Looking back was like a haze long ago.

Soon special awards were given and Selena received the
Community Service, and the coveted Creative Writing awards. He stood and
snapped a couple of photos. Selena looked his way, recognizing him, and her
face radiated.

When the ceremony was over, Roscoe milled around, hoping to
see Trevor and Selena. They were off to the side. Selena was talking with a
spike-haired woman, who was smiling and pointing. Selena smiled and the woman
walked off latching onto the arm of a Hispanic man. Roscoe thought, well, now I
know that’s not Selena’s mom.

He walked in their direction and caught up with them. Selena
met him with a hug. This was the first time he’d seen her stand or walk. What a
stately young woman.

“You came. How’d you get a ticket?”

“Remember, I never reveal my sources or connections.”

She laughed. “Thank you for being here. I saw the news this
morning. You must have some pretty good connections. I love the Romantic
Renovations ad in the morning paper.”

He smiled. “I’m so proud of you. Both of those awards are
just outstanding.”

“Wish mom could have been here.”

There was an awkward moment.

Roscoe said, “Let me take a couple shots of you and Trevor.”

Then Trevor said, “My turn. Roscoe get over here with the
new graduate.”

Selena slipped her arm around Roscoe; he placed his arm
around her shoulder. Trevor snapped away with both cameras.

After the picture-taking, Roscoe said, “So are there big
celebrations this afternoon and tonight?”

“Trevor and I are having dinner with two of our best friends
at Medino’s, and then Trevor and I are going to watch a movie. Although my
recovery has gone really well, I’m still getting adjusted to my meds, and
learning to monitor my energy. Each day is better.”

Roscoe pleased, nodded. “You’ll have plenty of time to catch
up on everything. Just be patient and pace yourself.” Yeah, Rachel just told me
that yesterday. “Have fun, keep me updated.” He checked his watch. “I’m to meet
with one of my co-workers in a few minutes.”

She rushed to give him a hug, and kissed him on the cheek.
She held his eyes. “I’m so excited you saw me graduate.”

“Me too.”

Selena was asleep, when Madison got home around midnight,
and her sister-in-law was watching TV with her new man friend. Luella filled
Madison in on some of the details of graduation, before leaving.

Madison looked in on Selena, studying her maturing body
sleeping peacefully. She walked back to the living room, sinking down on the
sofa, exhausted from her quick turn-around trip to Atlanta. She’d verbally
beaten a settlement out of the sexual-harassment attorney representing one of
Fallington’s employees. Both the client and the attorney caved in.