“Her name is Miranda.” Jon practically snapped the words.
Kate quickly became apologetic. “I don’t know her by name. I only noticed the two of you dancing at the Christmas party. No disrespect intended.”
Jon exhaled. “Yes, of course. I don’t know why I’m so on edge. I didn’t mean to snap at you, Kate.” John knew precisely why he had gotten so testy at the perceived slight. It was because Miranda was so furious at him. He suspected that if he called her back she would hang up on him again, and it frustrated him that he might not be able to speak with her until he got back to Bismarck.
But he wasn’t about to share his personal woes with his boss. Instead he said, “I just spoke with Miranda. She said something about management doing away with that. It’s not that I doubt her or anything, I just wanted to make sure she hadn’t been misinformed. That’s really great news.”
“Yes, I figured you’d be happy to hear about it. And, Jon, I’m very glad that things worked out for you. You see, I have a personal interest in your situation.”
He frowned, not following. “You do? How’s that?”
“She won’t admit it, but I’m pretty sure one of those reports to Employee Integrity about you came from my daughter.”
“Your daughter? Uh, do I even know her?”
“No. Well, not really. Apparently she showed up at the dance studio for lessons the same night you did and was disappointed to see that you’d already partnered with Miranda. She could accept that as bad timing, but she was pretty annoyed when she gave you her business card and you didn’t call her. She and I were having breakfast at Peacock Alley when she spotted you there with Miranda and recognized her as your dance partner.”
Jon nodded. “And that’s when you realized that we were in violation.”
“No, not then. I thought I’d seen Miranda before, but I couldn’t remember where. It wasn’t until the Christmas party that I realized she worked out of rehab. I made the mistake of mentioning it to Christina, and she already knew about the policy.” Kate sighed. “Between you and me, Jon, she used to work here, and she was one of the women who slept with that VP in hopes of keeping her job. She wasn’t fired, but she was too embarrassed to stay, so she found another job, even though it paid less money.”
“Oh.” He knew it couldn’t have been easy for Kate to share that with him, and he felt a little embarrassed for her for confiding in him, as well as himself for having heard that secret. “That’s, uh, unfortunate.”
“Yes, it was. I told her she needs to concentrate less on looking for men and more on her work.” Kate’s tone became brisk. “All right, Jon. Congratulations to you for having the guts to speak out about a policy that wasn’t working. I think it was instrumental in the decision to reverse it. Now, can you give me an idea of when you’ll be back at work?”
Jon, lying on the bed in his old room looking at the ceiling, his hands cradling his head, trying to decide his next move when someone—it had to be his mother, for his grandmother certainly wasn’t going to walk down the stairs to the basement—knocked on the partially closed door. A morose Stormy, imitating his own mood as she lay at the foot of the bed, didn’t even bark at her approach.
“Jon? May I talk to you for a few minutes?”
“Sure, Mor,” he said, as he shifted into a sitting position. “Come in.”
Nina came in and sat on the far corner of the bed, resting her hand on Stormy’s belly. “Jon, now that Mormor is recovering here at home, I wanted to…there’s something you should know.”
“I was waiting for you to come and talk to me, Mor. I gather you’re now ready to tell me his name.”
Nina laughed. “I can’t believe this. How did you know I’ve been seeing someone?”
“It’s pretty obvious you’re at a happy place. You might as well be wearing a sign. Am I about to meet him before I leave tomorrow?
“Yes. He’s coming over this evening. But before he does, there’s something you should know.”
Jon made a playful groan. “Don’t tell me he’s an ex-con…or that he’s my age.”
“No, he’s sixty, five years older than me.”
“And his criminal record?” he prompted, grinning.
“He doesn’t have one, silly. He’s a semi-retired urologist, a widower.”
Jon shrugged. “I guess somebody’s got to step in and help when people can’t, uh, go.”
“Stop kidding around, Jon. I’m trying to tell you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Well, I already told you what he did for a living. And his name is Clifton, Clifton Washington.”
“Ah,” Jon said with a nod. “You’re trying to tell me he’s black?”
Nina’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know?”
He shrugged. “Just a hunch. I mean, the father of our great country aside, how many white people have you known named Washington?”
“I just didn’t want you to be shocked, that’s all.”
“Mom, there are interracial couples all over Minneapolis.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“Are you okay with Miranda and me?” he countered.
“Of course. The only feature I want in the girl you choose is that she make you happy.” Nina paused. “She does make you happy, doesn’t she?”
“She does…or at least she did.”
“Did? Past tense?”
He told her what had happened.
“Well, I can’t blame her for being upset, but it doesn’t sound like anything that can’t be fixed. Just explain your reasoning to her.” She wagged an index finger. “You know, Jon, you really should have discussed this with her. You could have prevented her from jumping to the wrong conclusion.”
“I was trying to work out something else. You see, Mor, Miranda’s not the type to just move in with me. She’ll see it as casual. But Mor…it really isn’t. I think that for the first time in my life I’m in love.”
Nina’s hand flew to her heart. “Oh, Jon! I never thought I’d hear you say those words. I’m so very happy for you!” She moved forward and embraced her firstborn child. “Are you actually thinking about marriage?”
“Not so fast. It’s a big leap between loving someone and making a lifetime commitment. But I don’t know how Miranda would feel about moving in with me without one. She’s not only independent, but she’s very traditional. She was raised in a two-parent household and remembers two sets of grandparents. That’s why I didn’t tell her my plan if the worst case scenario became the reality at work. It’s not an issue anymore since they lifted the ban on cross-level dating, but now I have to make her understand that I didn’t intend on leaving her to fend for herself once we were found out.”
His mother rubbed the back of his hand with her palm. “If she’s that upset, maybe you should wait until you get back to Bismarck and speak to her in person. Some things shouldn’t be said over the phone.”
Jon closed his eyes. “What a mess. The dance competition is next weekend. We’ve been practicing our routine since New Year’s.” He decided he’d said enough. His mother had come in to tell him about her new romance, and he responded with doom and gloom about the sorry state of his own love life. “Why don’t you tell me about you and Dr. Washington?” he suggested.
Nina took a deep breath. “We’ve been seeing each other since Christmas, and it’s been real nice.”
“Is it serious?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “We’re in love, Jon.”
He couldn’t deny the spark in his mother’s eye and hated to ask what was on his mind, but knew he had to look out for her. Interracial relationships had been around for a long time, but they came with a unique set of problems, often stemming from the disapproval of someone close. “How does his family feel about you?”
“It’s just his daughter and six-year-old granddaughter, and there’s no problem there. Not that it would make much sense for there to be. You see, Jon, Cliff’s first wife was white as w
ell, so his daughter is biracial. She was a gynecologist, and so is his daughter.”
“Hmm. A urologist and a gynecologist. Between the two of them they’ve got you covered below the belt, don’t they? How’d you meet him, Mor?”
“His granddaughter is a talented student of mine. She shows real promise, Jon. She’s not afraid to perform, she’s sure of herself, and her rhythm is spot on.” She paused. “I guess I can tell you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’d actually wanted you to meet Amanda—that’s Cliff’s daughter—when you were home for Christmas. She’s a lovely girl, divorced. I did end up going over to her place that evening, and that’s when I ended up meeting Cliff.”
Jon gave her a dubious stare. “Let me get this straight. You wanted to set me up with a biracial woman who’s got a kid?”
“Why not? I thought she might be a good match for you, and that being around a woman with a child might make you want to settle down. She has one child, Jon. That hardly makes her the old woman who lived in a shoe. Of course, that was before I knew about Miranda.”
His lips curved into a smile at the mere sound of her name. Damn it, he just had to smooth this over…
Nina’s hand closed around his forearm. “It’ll be all right, Jon. You go see her when you get back.”
Jon stopped off at a Taco John’s in Fargo. Today was Thursday. League bowling had ended last week, and the awards luncheon would be held on Saturday afternoon, with cash for all participants and trophies for the champion team, as well as high achievers on other teams. It would be one last chance for the league members to be social before the new season started in September, and it would be an ideal place for him to talk to Miranda. She was too dignified to make a scene in public. Even if he had to wait another two days to see her, it gave him an odd sense of comfort to know that he would be closer to her physically once he got back to Bismarck.
As he munched on his chicken burrito and glanced at the headlines of a local paper someone had left behind, Jon thought about how happy his mother had seemed last night as she presented him to her boyfriend. Cliff Washington seemed like a nice enough man. Jon liked the easy fondness with which he and Nina treated each other. He’d never seen his mother look so happy, and he hoped it would last. All of the women in his family had gotten divorced while still in their twenties, but none had ever remarried. He wondered if his mother might be the first.
It was almost ironic, that his mother had found love while scheming to fix him up with Cliff’s daughter. Jon knew his mother was almost desperate for him to get married and be the one to break the unhappy tradition of divorce in their family. It had been a cute idea, but he had no interest in his mother’s pick. The only one he wanted was Miranda.
Jon stopped chewing, an idea starting to take form. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, pulled out his cell phone, and dialed a number in his directory. He cleared his throat while he listened to the Voicemail greeting, and at the beep he said, “Hey Garrett, it’s Jon. Glad we could get together for that drink while I was in town. Listen, my mom is interested in getting a really good digital camera like the one you showed me, so she can take pictures of the annual recital at the studio. She’s been really busy with rehearsals, so would you be able to swing by the studio and show her yours? If she likes it she can write down the make and model number. Besides, she’d love to see you. The best time would probably be around ten Saturday morning. Thanks, man.” He depressed the End button, a deep chuckle escaping from his throat. Maybe his mother could get some matchmaking done after all, with a slight change in the lineup.
Immediately after locking his front door behind him, Jon went straight to his phone and checked his Voicemail, hoping there would be a message from Miranda. Sometimes people called when they knew there would be no answer because they preferred to leave messages than talk.
Not only had she not left any message, but more disappointment lay in store for Jon. Miranda did not show up for the league’s luncheon on Saturday. Jae, who sat at the same table with Jon along with Brian and the other bowlers on their team and their spouses who had purchased tickets, accepted her envelope on her behalf.
“Where is she, Jae?” he asked quietly.
She touched his forearm. “She’s very upset with you, Jon. I think she feels you made a fool of her. That’s hard for any woman to live down. I do know she didn’t come here today because she thought you might be here, and she didn’t want to see you.” Jae increased the pressure on Jon’s arm. “For what it’s worth, I told her that she needs to speak with you, talk it over. I told her it wasn’t fair to either of you to just continue avoiding the issue.” She sighed. “She said it hurts too much right now.”
“Damn,” Jon muttered.
“Come on, Jon,” Brian said. “It doesn’t sound that bad. Miranda told Jae it hurts too much for her to talk to you now, not that she just doesn’t want to talk to you at all, ever.”
“I know I look like the villain in all this, but Miranda and I have been through a lot together. I just didn’t expect her to shut down on me like that, to not even want to listen to what I had to say,” he said, his voice numb. “I like to think I’ve always been there for her when she needed me. Surely that counts for something.” He made a humorless chuckle. “One time she even called me her hero.” It seemed like a very long time ago…
“Listen, Jon, Jae and I both know that you care very much for Miranda,” Brian began. “Sometimes it’s easy to sense these things when you’re on the outside looking in. But Miranda is on the inside, and things aren’t always clear when you’re that close to a situation. So my question to you, my friend, is this: Does Miranda know how you feel about her? Because if she doesn’t, this is probably a good time to fill her in.”
Jon put down his fork. The roast chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables were passable, but hardly the best he’d ever had. “I always thought it’s the actions that speak louder than the words. And I know for a fact that I’ve always shown Miranda respect and loyalty.”
Jae nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Jon. Words can be pretty empty when they’re not backed up by supportive action. But it’s also very easy to forget all those positive gestures if you don’t hear the words that go with them, so don’t underestimate their power.” She hesitated before resuming. “You have to look at this from Miranda’s point of view. You’ve never been shy about your pessimism regarding relationships with women. If Brian and I know how you feel, then Miranda knows as well. Trust me, that’s at the forefront of her mind right now.” She smiled at him. “I think Brian is right. Miranda will come around. You just have to give her some time. It probably won’t be more than a few days. In the meantime,” she added with a devilish grin, “I’ll be happy to relay a message to her for you.”
Miranda accepted two envelopes from Jae. One had her name printed on a label at the center. The other was blank. She held it up. “Jae, are you sure this is for me? It doesn’t have my name on it.”
“I’m sure. It’s from Jon.”
Miranda flashed her friend stricken look.
“Now, don’t go looking at me like that, like I betrayed you or something,” Jae said defensively. “He was very disappointed when you didn’t come. He felt this was the only way he could communicate with you.”
Miranda grunted. “He hasn’t even tried to call me.”
“Come on, Miranda. Would you have spoken with him if he did? Or would you have just hung up on him?” Jae let her words sink in. “I think you and I both know the answer to that one.”
Placing both envelopes down on a tabletop, Miranda said, “I’m thirsty. Do you want a pop?”
“I’ll take one.” Jae followed Miranda to the kitchen. “Where’s Chelsea?”
“She and her boyfriend went rollerblading over at Lions Park.” With the onset of warmer weather, parks all over the city had come alive with people eager to enjoy outdoor activities after hibernating most of the winter.
Jae nodded. “Ah, r
ollerblading. I won’t be doing any of that this spring.” She pressed her lips together. “All right, Miranda, how long are you going to let this thing with Jon go on? Are you even going to read his note and see what he has to say?”
Miranda handed Jae and is-filled glass of Sprite. “Of course I’ll read it. When I’m ready.”
“Don’t torture yourself like this, Miranda. I saw Jon yesterday. I saw how devastated he is over this. You could probably put an end to this just by sitting down and hearing him out. You know Jon. Do you honestly believe that he would just leave you hanging, with no job and no money?”
A Kiss of a Different Color Page 29
