The Outsider

by K'Anne Meinel

  Robyn didn’t know, not on the scale she could see Joy worked. What was going on outside, the beeping of the large machines, the enormity of the project, she couldn’t see. She only wondered what had been planned for the centers she worked in, the ones she had seen Joy visit. “Why are you doing it?” she started to deflate in her anger.

  “I want to give back to the community. I was very much a part of this at one time,” her hands encompassed everything outside the office. “I was told that my money had gone to improve things, but not a dime reached the centers,” she admitted. “Nothing,” she added in a woeful voice of the lost souls her money could have been helping all these years. “I know this is probably overcompensating, but when I heard there was a way to eliminate homelessness, I had to try.”

  “Eliminate…?” Robyn frowned, trying to imagine that. Her career would be over if that was the case.

  “Yes, didn’t you hear what we are doing?” She smiled kindly at the now calm brunette.

  Robyn shook her head, realizing there was a lot she had assumed and didn’t know at all about Joy or her project.

  “Here, take a look,” she gestured to a table and walked around the desk towards it where Robyn joined her, being careful to keep a foot or more between them. “We’re building homes for the homeless, their own space so they can breathe and start over.” She pointed out on the map and then showed her the pictures that showed the little houses, some just big enough for a single person, others for families. “The theme up in Medicine Hat was something like home first,” she explained. “They really got the concept that these people need to have a home first to deal with their other problems. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, or unemployment, if they have a home first, they seem to deal with the rest of their problems better.” She explained what they had seen up in Medicine Hat. “It’s really a great concept and I’m certain we can duplicate it here. I took it a step further and we are creating a bio-city right here in the center of it all so they can grow their own food, take care of their own environment, and be independent, not living off the government, which is a blow to anyone’s pride. We are also going to offer jobs in the form of building their own homes and the bio-resources we are bringing in.”

  “So, you are providing them with jobs too?” she mused, seeing how this had really been thought out.

  Joy nodded. “They have to feel useful, develop skills they might not have had. Hell, some of them are actually highly-skilled, they were just down on their luck. Have you ever studied what FDR did in the depression?”

  Robyn blinked at the rapid change of conversation and nodded slowly. “I remember studying it back in high school,” she began slowly, wondering what it had to do with the current project.

  “Well, the CCC or Civilian Conservation Corps put a lot of people back to work on the government’s dime. That’s how all the parks got built throughout Milwaukee and the state. They put people back to work building them and they learned useful skills they could use elsewhere. We’re doing something similar here with a workforce that is building their own homes, their own mini-city,” she explained.

  Robyn was impressed. It was dawning on her that there was nothing devious about what Joy had done or was doing. She really cared about these people and putting them back to work. That reminded her, she owed Joy a thank you. “I need to thank you for all the supplies you had delivered to the shelters. They helped us enormously,” she said with a slight blush.

  Noticing the red on the woman’s cheek, Joy let the laughter bubble up. “I hope you do not mind I had them delivered in your name?” she commented with a grin, her eyes dancing.

  “That was a funny trick,” she admitted.

  Snickering, Joy nodded. “Well, you did tell me to do something,” she pointed out.

  “That you did.” She pointed to the plans they had been going over. “That you are doing.”

  “Yes, I hope to make a point of showing it can be done and then maybe in other spots as well,” she mused as she looked back at the plans and envisioned it. It gave her a purpose she had not realized she lacked.

  “Oh, you are going to do it elsewhere?” she asked innocently.

  “Well, if it works here, maybe we can show the country that it would work in other cities too,” she started to enthuse.

  “So, you won’t be staying in Milwaukee?”

  Joy looked up at Robyn, “I have no reason to stay here after the project is done.”

  “Don’t you have any family–” she began, only to be cut off rather abruptly by Joy.

  “No!”

  The vehemence startled Robyn, but she nodded as she understood, or thought she understood.

  “We’re going to need counselors and project managers. Know anyone who might want to apply?” she asked, changing the subject before the atmosphere her declaration had immediately created ruined what had become a good conversation.

  “Are you hinting I should apply?”

  Joy immediately nodded. “I think you should, and anyone else you know. We are going to need them to help us make this succeed for everyone.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she hedged, suddenly feeling shy around this more successful and forceful Joy. She really had made assumptions about the blonde so long ago, and now she was going to have rethink things.

  “How about I explain more over dinner?” Joy ventured to ask. She held her breath, not sure she should have dared to ask the other woman out. Maybe she had misread her interest before.

  Robyn’s eyes came up from the table and looked the blonde in the eye. “Are you asking me on a date, or is this about the job?”

  Joy nearly blew it, but let out the air in her lungs carefully as she answered just as carefully, “I’m asking you on a date to discuss the job, but if you want to keep them separate we can.” As she articulated slowly, as she had been taught, she was grateful for the teachings that allowed her to hide how awkward she was feeling.

  “Is this a romantic date or just for the job?” she clarified.

  “I would like a romantic date, but I would also like you to apply for the job because I think you’d be good at this,” she waved at the plans.

  “Okay, so we are clear, the job has nothing to do with me going out on a date with you?”

  “Are you always this difficult to ask out on a date? Or are you always this difficult in your job?” Joy suddenly felt amused enough to ask.

  Robyn caught the amusement and realized how difficult she had been. It had been a long time since anyone she was interested in asked her out and never someone as pretty as Joy, obviously successful and rich, if the scope of this project was any indication. Suddenly, she got a horrible feeling in her stomach. What if Joy thought she was only after her for her money? “I’d like to accept the date,” she acceded graciously. “I would also like to talk more about the job, but not on the date, if that’s okay with you?”

  Joy nodded, suddenly feeling happy that she had been bold enough to ask, and Robyn had been bold enough to accept as well as clarify things. “Where would you like to go?”

  Robyn shrugged, “You tell me, you asked.”

  Joy had never asked anyone out before. Even the dates she had gone on in Europe, both men and women, had always had a group atmosphere before they ended up pairing off. Even then, they usually asked. “I guess I should ask if you would like to go casual or formal.”

  “You tell me,” she repeated, not letting her off the hook.

  “Well, we did go informally before,” she pointed out.

  “I didn’t consider that a date.”

  “Yeah, I guess it was not. Okay, since this is officially a date, we should really start out casually so we are both comfortable, don’t you think?”

  “That sounds reasonable,” she admitted, suddenly feeling like her heart was pounding. This had gotten serious, quickly. She liked how Joy thought though.

  “Okay, let’s do casual. Tonight?” she asked.

  “That’s quick,” she said aloud before she thoug
ht.

  “If you want to wait…” she quickly put in, in case she had offended. Joy did not know the protocol.

  “I don’t,” she assured, just as quickly. “Where would you like to go?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea. Wanna wing it?” she asked, trying to sound like she was hip by using slang.

  Robyn laughed. She’d realized that Joy spoke a certain way and the slang of ‘wanna’ as well as ‘wing it’ just didn’t fit her vernacular. “Winging it sounds fine.”

  “You want to meet somewhere or would you like me to pick you up?”

  “You really are making this casual, aren’t you?” she teased and immediately regretted it when she saw a hurt look come over the tall blonde’s face.

  “Well, I just want to be sure of the etiquette…” she began, sounding unsure.

  “That’s fine,” she said quickly again, not wanting to offend the first date she’d had in a dog’s age. “Here, I’ll write out my address and you can pick me up. Then we can decide where to go,” she suggested. She started writing on one of the pads on the desk.

  “Sounds good, say about seven?”

  “That sounds good, and thank you,” she said shyly, suddenly feeling awkward. She had come here to lambaste someone she had thought was a fraud, only to end up with a date. How weird was that?

  They parted with shy little smiles and Joy quickly put the address in her pocket so as not to lose it. Later, she put it in her phone along with the phone number Robyn had left.

  * * * * *

  “Where can I take someone out to dinner that is casual?” she asked one of her foremen who had stopped in to look at something on his set of the plans.

  “How casual are we talking?” he asked, suddenly smiling at the woman who was giving them all some badly needed work in a tough economy. Even the idea that most hadn’t liked, that they hire homeless people, was working out to their benefit. The ‘on the job’ training was actually going well with several of the people. The skills that a couple brought to the job were astounding. He and others had realized that there, but for the grace of God, went they. It really was a matter of circumstances.

  “Well, I do not want McDonalds, if that’s what you’re asking,” she smiled back.

  “There is always Culvers,” he teased back. Culvers was actually a lot nicer, but still a fast food restaurant offering better fare. He then proceeded to give her a few suggestions as well as a few other places if she wanted more than casual later. She appreciated the input as she hadn’t dined at places like that in Milwaukee for years, and other than cooking for herself now that she lived in an apartment, she only sat in coffee shops. Another foreman came in while they were discussing the relative merits of different restaurants and joined in. Joy knew keeping her people happy was a big bonus and she knew they had come in, not only to look at the plans, but for the gourmet coffee maker she had set up for them in the corner.

  “So, who are you taking out to dinner?” was one of the questions, but Joy wouldn’t tell them. Not that she was ashamed of going out with Robyn, but she knew Milwaukee was rather provincial, the whole Midwest seemed to be. Whether she dated a man or a woman, it really was not anyone’s business. She wouldn’t have thought twice about telling them if they’d been in Europe, but even there, there were just some places you did not mention that you were dating the same sex.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  As she pulled up in front of the address Robyn had given her, she checked the number twice before getting out of her car. She was met halfway up the walk by Robyn.

  “Hi, saw you pull up,” she stated unnecessarily. She didn’t tell the blonde she’d been watching out the window for the last half hour, just in case she was early.

  “Are you ready to go?” she asked just as unnecessarily. She wouldn’t be out of the house and greeting her halfway down the walk otherwise, would she?

  “Yep, all set,” she said, looking at the clothes Joy deemed casual and feeling a bit underdressed. The designer jeans, and what looked like designer boots, were matched by a jacket she swore she saw in Ms. Magazine. Under the jacket was a silk blouse. This was casual? Her own Levi’s, oxfords, and polo shirt paled by comparison. Joy didn’t even seem to notice as she escorted her to the car, opened the door, and held it for the bemused Robyn who got in as though someone held doors for her all the time.

  “Here you go,” Joy said in a kind voice as she handed her the seat belt.

  Robyn took it, feeling awkward. No one did things like this, at least never for her. She’d only read about it in romance novels and even then, only those between hetero couples. As Joy slid into the driver’s seat, Robyn sniffed the air, noticing the intoxicating perfume her companion was wearing. It was really a delight and probably something very expensive, she thought. She looked at the car, wondering why it was not a Mercedes or something like that. Still, an Audi was a nice car.

  “So, where are we off to?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

  “I thought we’d try Culvers and then later a movie, if that’s okay?” she glanced over to see her companion’s reaction.

  “That sounds great!” Robyn enthused. It really did. Joy had said casual and that was not too strenuous. She did wonder what formal would be like, but probably couldn’t afford what formal would be for someone with Joy’s means.

  They started chatting as Joy asked about the apartment Robyn lived in. The houses in this area were post World War II and cracker boxes divided into four or eight apartments depending on if they were one or two stories. The area seemed safe and comfortable.

  “Well, where do you live?” Robyn asked after a while.

  “I rented a furnished apartment down near the lake. It seemed to make sense as I did not want to have to buy furniture and there would be no maintenance. I do not even know if I remember how to mow a lawn,” she joked.

  “You used to mow the lawn?” she tried to draw the woman out, wondering about her more and more. The manicured hands were back and she spoke so refined, it made Robyn assume things about her and she really chastised herself for her thoughts. It was a form of reverse snobbishness, she thought, to assume that since Joy was financing the construction that she had always had money and refinement. Still, some of the things she said made her wonder about the woman more. She had, after all, been on the streets. That was one story she really believed. It was getting harder though as she saw the nice car, the nice clothes, and the scope of the operation she was managing.

  The whole evening went well, chatting about this and that, and eating a decent meal. Joy had a salad while Robyn ate a roast beef sandwich with fries. They both indulged in strawberry sundaes made from custard, Joy’s with cashews and Robyn’s without. They laughed over their differences.

  The movie they chose to see, which Joy allowed Robyn to choose, was a musical and they both sang along to the current songs as they watched the actors dance their hearts out. It was loads of fun and then Joy danced down the steps of the theater, showing off her moves to a delighted Robyn who watched in awe. “I don’t think I could do that,” she laughed in pleasure.

  Still, the overall night was an absolute success for both of them as Joy slowly and carefully drove her home. She swore under her breath at more aggressive drivers and this made Robyn laugh. It was so unlike the tall blonde. “You could cut them off,” she teased.

  “Just what I need, a traffic ticket or an insurance claim,” she lamented as she watched the idiot who had cut them off speed down the road.

  “Why don’t you drive a different car?” she finally ventured to ask.

  “What do you mean?” she looked around at the car, which was a lot nicer than the one she had driven and donated to the shelter.

  “I mean, you could drive a Mercedes or…”

  “And have people assume I’m made of money? Nuh uh,” she answered back so easily it could only be the truth.

  Still, Robyn wondered. Obviously, Joy had money if she was financing the foundation that was building all
those homes and providing all those jobs, but she did not act like she had money. Other than her clothes, there was no real sign of wealth.

  As she drove up to the apartment houses, the talk died down.

  “Did you want to come in?” Robyn asked, hesitantly, not sure what state she had left it in, but willing to invite Joy in.

  “No, it’s getting kind of late. I would like if we could do this again sometime?”

  “Yeah, I’d like that,” she answered, feeling awkward. She didn’t know if she should lean in for a kiss, or ask, or…

  “Okay, call me,” Joy answered back with a smile and leaned over just as Robyn turned and opened the car door. She ended up with a little wave as the brunette closed the door and yelled, “Bye!” She waited until she saw Robyn unlock her door and go in before driving away. She thought about the end of the date. She was not sure if it was her, but in Europe she would have at least gotten a peck on the cheek and a thank you for the night. Maybe she should have walked Robyn to the door. That invite might have been more than she realized. Maybe American women had code that she did not understand? She analyzed it all the way home and well into bedtime before falling asleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “Hello, may I speak to Joy Parker?” Robyn called the only number she could find for the foundation.

  “Ms. Parker isn’t available; may I take a message?” the nasal voice twanged.

  Robyn left her name and number and nothing more. It annoyed her that she didn’t have Joy’s number. She had, after all, given Joy her number and address, and she had no other way to reach the woman unless she showed up at her work address again. That would be a little rude. Still, she wanted to see her again and Joy had told her to call her. She realized after she had walked inside that she hadn’t thanked Joy for the date and was feeling bad about that. That was the second time she’d been slow on the gratitude and didn’t want the woman to think she was ungrateful or rude. Joy’s manners were impeccable and subtle. She’d held doors, let Robyn go first, and bought popcorn and candy as though it was nothing, consulting Robyn on what she wanted and simply paying for it. It all had been subtle, sweet, and kind, and Robyn was annoyed with herself that she hadn’t even thanked her. Her attitude went to work with her as today she was working in the office, trying to help people.