No Reservations

by Natalia Banks

  “I’m so proud of my parents,” Lorraine went on, “Laurence and Sally Devonshire, who were responsible for finding the location, brokering the deal and handling the accounting. And I’m so glad to say that they’re both staying on to manage the place, keep it staffed and running smoothly.”

  The crowd applauded as Larry and Sally waved to the crowd and shared a pair of proud, beaming smiles.

  Someone in the crowd caught Lorraine’s eye, stunning her silent and sending a bolt of fear through her body. His cocksure stride, a mean smile on his scarred face, he was instantly recognizable.

  Tony Gardner?

  But in the blink of an eye, he’d faded back into the crowd. Lorraine scanned the faces but couldn’t find him, until she wasn’t even sure if he’d been there at all.

  “I also have to say a few words about my friend, my former boss, Carmen Mendez Jenkins. She’s given so much to the people of Colorado, particularly here in Denver. She was the rock of the Hadley branch of the public library. She gave me my job there. She loved her husband so much, the late Albert Jenkins, and I know she’s suffering so much from his loss. I wish she could have been here today, but I wish her a speedy recovery, and a quick return to public service. Though her late husband Albert’s career has been cut short, her career will go on to be, I think, one of the greatest examples of democracy in action that Denver, or Colorado, or any state in the nation has ever produced.”

  Half the crowd clapped.

  Feeling the stares of everyone around her, Lorraine shook it off and pressed a smile. “The Albert Jenkins Branch will demonstrate how effective a society can be when we serve each other, when we care for each other, when we love each other. When we put aside the color of our skin, the size of our bank accounts, how straight our teeth or our posture are, how thin or how fat; we’re all part of the same family. And a family that spends time together, grows closer; the family that spends less time together inevitably grows apart. Thanks to our public libraries, we as a family have more places to spend together, more time to share. And thanks to these new learning centers, we’ll be able to do more than share our time. We can share our knowledge, our skills and our talents, our sympathy and our empathy. With this learning center, we the people of the United States of America declare for the whole world to see; we care about each other, we look after each other, we educate and raise and protect each other. By our example, I know others will follow, and the world will be a better place for our children … ” Lorraine gazed at her kids, gathered with Jeremy and Anton near the stage. “ … Our friends, our family, all of the members of our entire family. That means you, me, all of us, working together for a better world, a better future. When we work together, we cannot fail and we will not fail!”

  The audience cheered, Griffin wrapping his arm around Lorraine and pulling her close. Jeremy, Anton, Ashe, and Kayla looked up from the crowd, smiles beaming.

  Griffin whispered into her ear, “My God, I love you so much.”

  Lorraine turned, gently smiling as her lips neared Griffin’s, a long and beautiful kiss lingering between them. It was a promise, an oath renewed, a pledge before the entire world. The Phoenix family stood proud, together, bound together in love, no matter what or who would come against them next.

  THE END

  PART 3

  Chapter 1

  Lorraine Phoenix crept slowly down that dark hall, the gun in her hands, aimed at the ceiling but ready to lower and fire. Her heart was steady, blood pulsing through her veins. She’d lost track of both Griffin and Ashe, but she sensed that they were close.

  And they weren't alone.

  Thank God Kayla’s not here, Lorraine thought, imaging her little red-haired toddler, a miniature picture of her mother. Gotta get back to her! But first …

  A green light flashed at the end of the hall, neon cutting through the darkness. Okay, take it easy, Lorraine told herself, you can do this.

  But, images of terrible days from her past kept flashing in her memory: The good people of Denver, Colorado, scrambling for safety while Lorraine and her beloved, Griffin Phoenix, were bombarded with gunfire that very nearly took her life. She could still sense her organs shutting down, heart beating out its last few pulses as the sirens got louder, a clamor of activity around her.

  No, don’t get distracted, Lorraine told herself, and don’t be afraid!

  Lorraine stepped down the hall. She could hear activity close by, footsteps and cackling. But, not being able to see anybody gave her a chill, a feeling of isolation that brought her back to the library, before she and Griffin even met.

  Lorraine had come a long way from there, and now she was once again keeping her head down, gun in her hands, dodging bloodthirsty assassins and trying to find her family before all three were eliminated.

  Should have stuck together, Lorraine silently admonished herself, never should have let Ashe run off on his own.

  It was too late for regrets, too late to second-guess herself. The sounds got louder as Lorraine approached the end of the hall, glancing behind her to see that she wasn’t being followed.

  So far, so good. But, my luck won’t hold out forever.

  Only a few yards from the end of the hall, where it turned in a sharp ninety-degree angle, The footsteps got louder, Lorraine’s fingers craning around the gun, slippery in her palm.

  The screams of the terrified crowd in Central Park just a year before crept up on Lorraine from behind. She could still see poor Jeannie’s face as she bled out, the cold glare of Ki Fong as he readied the kill shot that would put Lorraine and poor Jeannie Gallagher both out of his misery.

  Take it easy, Lorraine told herself, Ki’s dead, Dennis Douglass, Jeannie, they’re not a threat to anybody anymore.

  But Lorraine knew she wasn’t facing any of those three former Phoenix Enterprises executives. Her adversary this time was a whole other animal, and survival this time seemed all the more unlikely.

  Lorraine reached the end of the hall, squinting to see the figures running down that stretch. She could almost make out their most vulnerable points, pointing her gun, one eye closed.

  “Sorry, sweetheart!”

  Lorraine turned with a snap, facing the hall she’d just crossed. She was no longer alone. He didn’t give her time to shoot either, two quick shots finding the center of her ribcage.

  It was all over.

  Ashe jumped out of the hallway from the second stretch, pointing his own gun and firing several times. The man who’d shot Lorraine, barely twenty years old, took three shots in the gut, the red lights on his plastic disk flashing.

  “That’s what you get for messing with the Phoenix family,” Ashe said, the fellow turning to shuffle off toward the laser tag range exit. Ashe turned to Lorraine as Griffin approached from the outer hall. Very seriously, Ashe asked, “Are you okay?”

  Lorraine looked down at the plastic disk strapped to her chest, red light flashing. “Actually, I think I’m dead.”

  Lorraine, Griffin, and Ashe went to Tom’s Restaurant, made famous in the sitcom Seinfeld. It was crowded with tourists, and the coffee shop atmosphere wasn't what the elegant and wealthy Griffin was used to or preferred. Ashe got a kick out of it and that was good enough for both Griffin and Lorraine. Reruns of the show was one of Ashe’s favorites, and it had been a positive influence on his burgeoning career as a writer and director.

  She asked Ashe, “How’s the casting for your play coming along?”

  He shrugged. “I can’t find anybody to play the mom. I wish you’d reconsider.”

  “Ashe, I’m swamped with things as it is, you know that.”

  “It’s not a big part,” Ashe said, “and I swear you’ll be safe. You won’t get hurt.”

  Lorraine had to smile. “Of course not, I’m not worried about that.”

  Griffin looked deep into Lorraine’s eyes, leaning back on his chair, a knowing half-smile on his face. With his dusty blond hair and blue eyes, his stare was mesmerizing. “Then what are you worried a
bout?”

  “Oh please, Grif, we’ve been all through that. I’ve opened up every PEEC project learning center personally, in front of lots of crowds.”

  “I’m not saying anything about that,” Griffin said, and Lorraine knew what he meant. But, it wasn’t something either of them wanted to discuss in front of Ashe. So Griffin went on, “Is it … because you’re worried about how it’ll reflect on your new position on the school board?”

  “Um, well, yes,” Lorraine said, “I guess a little bit, yeah. I’m part of the New York State Education Department, that’s … a position of respect.”

  Griffin raised his glass, filled with fizzling Coke and ice. “Here’s to the Office of Teaching Initiatives.”

  Ashe’s head slumped on his shoulders. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”

  “It’s not that,” Lorraine said, “not at all! I love you, Ashe, and I’m so proud of you and what you’re doing. I’ve been in your corner all this time, you know that.”

  “That’s true, Son.”

  Ashe nodded. “I know. Sorry.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Lorraine said. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Ashe. I know you’ll find the right actor for that part.” She wanted to say more, to discuss the whole play in detail, but she already had and she hadn’t been able to dissuade Ashe from it. And she had to admit that it had developed quite well, that was something Lorraine wanted to focus on.

  “I have to say, though, the songs are really good. Rachel did an amazing job.”

  Ashe nodded. “Yeah, she’s really cool.”

  “She really is,” Lorraine said, sharing a knowing half-smile with Griffin. “Are you guys … exclusive?”

  “Mom!”

  “Just asking,” Lorraine said. “I don’t want any details … ” Ashe sighed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “Some people strongly recommend against dating somebody you're working with, especially in a creative endeavor like this one.”

  “We’re not … ” Ashe sighed again. “I guess we are kinda dating. But, I don’t call her my girlfriend or anything.”

  “Okay,” Lorraine said. “You don’t really need to commit to any one girl at this time in your life.”

  “Mom!”

  “Sorry, I was just saying … ”

  The waitress brought their sandwiches and salads; club sandwiches for the men, a Cobb salad for the lady.

  Griffin salted his french fries, crispy and golden brown. “Your shooting’s getting better,” he said to Lorraine. “You feel more … comfortable?”

  Lorraine knew what he was really asking, and it was certainly a reasonable question. Lorraine took a sip of her tangy pink lemonade and started poking at her salad. “It’s not something I want to keep reliving, but … I guess it’s helping a bit, yeah. It makes something that was so … so awful, so horrid, and sort of reduces it, makes it more harmless, even playful.”

  “Exactly,” Griffin said. “Take it on your terms, that’s the only way to get your arms around these things.”

  “Like my play,” Ashe said with a self-satisfied smile.

  “Exactly,” Griffin said.

  That night, Griffin and Lorraine had cleaned up and crawled into bed, Lorraine resting on Griffin’s muscular chest, his strong arm beneath her, the other draped over her naked back, moonlight streaming in through the bedroom window. She took a deep breath, his cologne flowing into her nostrils, a scent both familiar and exotic.

  “Hey, Lorraine, earlier today, we were talking about Ashe’s new friend — ”

  “Rachel.”

  “Right. Um, I’m thinking it might be better if we didn’t encourage that too strongly.”

  “Grif? Why? I think it’s great that’s he’s got a crush on her. First of all, she’s terrific. And that can only be good for his … y’know, recovery.”

  “My son isn’t sick, he never was.”

  “Our son,” Lorraine said. “But you’re right, that wasn’t the word. Anyway, he needed to come all the way out of his shell. The play’s a big part of that, the girl is, too. He’s finding his way, we shouldn’t shelter him, not now.”

  Griffin turned, reasoning as he spoke. “No, of course not. I’m glad he’s showing an interest in girls, doing this play. And a lot of that is because of you, Lorraine, your positive influence, all your support.”

  Lorraine shrugged. “He needs support, he deserves it.”

  “But, both these things are risky for Ashe, the play and the girl. I’m worried that if they get all wrapped up in each other, both things might wind up going south. You said it yourself, about dating people you work with.”

  “What about us? I worked with Phoenix Enterprises to get our PEEC program going, and that’s a huge hit. We’ve got twelve centers up and running now.”

  “After three of my top execs tried to murder you.”

  Lorraine looked up from Griffin’s chest, eyes catching him in a new light. “Are you afraid?”

  “Me? Afraid of what?” he expressed.

  “I don’t know; you tell me.”

  “Well, I don’t want my son to get in over his head and be humiliated in front of his entire school, how’s that? You know very well what it took to get him out of his shell the last time, and I don’t want him to backslide into his old habits. He didn’t speak for two years, Lorraine. You have no idea what that was like, how difficult it was for us both.”

  Lorraine leaned against his chest and sighed. “I know, Griffin, and I’m sorry about all that. Is … is that why you’re upset, because of the play?”

  “No, you know I’m in favor of him doing a play, and having a girlfriend and a new collaborator, but not all three at once! I’m afraid it’s just too much.”

  After an awkward silence, Lorraine said, “Not because of what the play’s about?”

  Griffin sighed, fingers idle in Lorraine’s short, red hair. “Yeah, that worries me, I won’t lie to you.”

  “Grif, the school counselor said it was a good way for Ashe to work through his demons.”

  “Yeah, and it’s also wallowing in the past. If he can’t leave his mother’s death in the past, how is he ever truly going to get over it? And this, writing a play about it, recreating it on stage in front of all those people, I’m afraid he could snap.”

  “Or you could?” Griffin glared at her like he wanted to contradict her but couldn’t. “I admit, Griffin, I have my doubts, too. You think I wanna play the role of the mother, his mother, and die in front of him night after night for two weeks? It’s just … it’s weird, y’know? I wanna be myself with him, not a shadow of poor Kayla.”

  “Yeah, I get that. And I can see how hard that would be to explain to Ashe.”

  Lorraine lay there, images of Ashe flashing in front of her mind’s eye. He was growing fast, becoming a man, finding his way. And Lorraine was grateful for the opportunity to help him do that, in any way she could.

  “I suppose if I did play the role,” Lorraine said, thinking as she spoke, “I could keep an eye on him … and Rachel, I mean, make sure things stay on track and everybody’s, y’know, kosher.”

  “Kosher.”

  “Yeah, kosher. I do most of my work for the department at home anyway. Two meetings in Albany won’t interrupt the rehearsal schedule much.”

  Griffin smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you,” was all he said and all he needed to say, except, “I love you so much, my beautiful wife.”

  Lorraine smiled, but it faded long before she fell asleep.

  Chapter 2

  The Capitol building in Albany had a gothic air, four stories of cathedral-style windows, grey stone under a blue shingled roof. Like a lot of Albany, it shared Manhattan’s sense of grandeur and mystique, without sharing its almost suffocating traffic and congestion. The early spring sky was bluer, cleaner, filling Lorraine’s lungs, tickling the back of her nostrils with the smells of her college years in Denver; oleander and poplar, a heady and rustic scent.

  Casp
er Newkirk leaned back in his leather chair at the head of the long conference table, shaking his head as he dropped a manilla folder onto the table in front of him. With his round, white head and heavy set torso, he looked to Lorraine like a balding egg in a suit, Humpty Dumpty come to life. Lorraine and the rest of the members of the staff looked on in tense silence. Everybody knew what was on the agenda, and which way the decision was going to go.

  “We’re down for another straight quarter,” he said, his voice surprisingly high in pitch, almost womanly, despite his big body and swollen throat. “Test scores throughout the state are down by … what is it? Seven percent.”

  A sad silence took over the table, Lorraine glancing at the quiet men and women in the room, all of them sharing one thing Lorraine did not share. They needed to keep their jobs, and that ensured their silence.

  Treena Torasco looked at their boss Casper, but her eyes kept shooting across the table at Lorraine, as they often seemed to do. She didn’t know precisely what Treena’s problem was, but she knew it could be one of any number of things.

  Lorraine glanced back at Treena, who turned away immediately and kept her eyes on Casper.

  He shrugged his hunched shoulders. “I just don’t see that we have much of a choice. We gotta take it outta the staffing.”

  Lorraine said, “Casper, if I may … ” Casper turned to Lorraine with a fake smile and crooked eyebrows, but he did not disallow her from speaking. Lorraine went on, “If we keep firing teachers, how are the kids’ scores going to go up?”

  “Luckily, Mrs. Phoenix, we’ve got your PEEC project learning center, and it’s not really having the kind of positive effects we’d all hoped for.”

  One corner of Lorraine’s mouth curved up, digging into her cheek. “We only have one in New York, in Harlem, and I think you’ll find grades are up in that area, while truancy and crime among minors is down. They’ve had great results in other cities, too; Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle — ”