Ester didn't smile.
Theo got out and opened her car door. He held out his hand. "No one cares. Let's go."
Ester blushed and took his hand. "Try to act normal. Let's come up with three things."
"Three things?"
"It's this thing Rayanne tells me to do when I get nervous about talking. I'm supposed to think of three things I can say."
Theo could barely hide his amusement. "We won't need three things. We met early to have coffee with Professor Stone."
"That makes no sense," Ester said. "What did we talk about?" She squeezed his hand with a mighty grip.
"No one is going to ask," he said.
When they arrived, the only person in the office was Arnie, whose reaction to the two of them arriving together was, "Theo! You can save me."
"Save you from what?" Theo said.
"I have a job for you," Arnie said.
"Arnie, let him study or he'll never come back," Ester said. She went straight for the coffee pot and poured them each a cup.
"Another time. I need to finish homework," Theo said, imagining the job Arnie would have. It was either moving furniture or carrying heavy boxes.
"Where is everyone?" Ester asked.
"They are at the longhouse discussing elder lunch. They said, and I quote, 'Tell Ester to get her tardy ass over there if she wants to live.'"
"Rayanne?" Ester asked.
"Who else? Linda would never say something like that."
"She wouldn't," Ester agreed. She gave Theo a nervous look. You okay with this?
Theo recalled the sight of her bouncing on top of him, her head lolling back and forth. He held her eyes until she blushed and backed out the door.
Arnie waved him over. "Let me show you." He fanned out a packet of documents: newsletters, printed webpages, meeting minutes, everything related to an inter-tribal government conference. "I have no staff and I need this now. My nephew is too busy. Katie said you are a terrific writer. I'm adequate but slow. I need a press release and an article we can put online."
"You want me to write things?"
"You're good at writing things," Arnie said.
He'd already met two Arnies. Family-man Arnie on the rez and then public-executive Arnie at the protest. This was another Arnie, a man who accomplished things. He needed something done and he would find someone to do it. He was asking but he would make it tough for Theo to say no. "Do you have samples?"
Arnie pulled a couple of sheets out and slid them over. "Plain and simple."
"When do you need it?"
Arnie chuckled. "Last week? National Association of Tribal Governments is meeting in our city soon. I'm overextended and then some."
"I can relate," Theo said. The issues were unfamiliar. He had no experience with tribal government, but he could follow the format easily enough. He checked the time. If he took care of Arnie's project, he'd be underprepared for class, again. However, he couldn't help being pleased that Arnie had asked.
"I'll give it a try," he said.
Arnie sighed with relief. "Thank you." He packed up his bag and put on his coat. "I have to run. I almost forgot to ask. Did you two see the movie?"
"We did," Theo said, not sure how much to say. "She's a good filmmaker but Ester and I had a few questions."
"Great," Arnie said as he headed out. "She's showing it to me when I can get a minute. Tell Linda the good news."
So this must be Arnie the aggravating communicator that Ester had described. Theo didn't work for the center. Let Ester tell her about the film.
The door popped back open and Arnie stuck his head in. "You're getting paid, by the way. Keep track of your time."
Getting paid for writing. That was a new one. He immediately got to work on the article. By the time Ester and the others returned, he had finished what Arnie asked plus turned the material into one of his articles for class.
"I heard Arnie got you," Linda said, sounding genuinely apologetic.
Ester studied the screen over his shoulder. "What did he make you do?"
"Press releases. I enjoyed it. He asked you to send those to him. I gotta run. Can you walk me part way?"
He didn't miss the I want to know everything look Rayanne shot Ester as they headed out. He took her hand when they were outside.
"You don't mind I did a job for Arnie?"
"Why would I mind?"
"This is your place. I wanted to run it by you."
"No reason you can't be part of the place. He paying you?"
"He is. He told me to get his contact info from you. If he has more work, I'm interested."
Ester squeezed his hand. "Good. You'll be around."
They arrived at the media building. He pulled her close. "I'm always around for you. It's going to be tough figuring out when we can spend time together. This quarter is almost finished, but until then I'm buried."
He leaned down to kiss her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him close, rubbing up against him until he had to break away. "Hold that thought, I like it," he said.
"Next weekend?" Ester asked.
"Come hang out at Frenzy's. My place after."
"I don't mind dancing around by myself," Ester said. "But what if I get hit on? I don't get hit on a lot but when I do, it's always the creepiest goofball in the bar."
"I won't let anyone hit on you," Theo said.
"You'll be working," Ester said. "Can you do a weeknight?"
"Yeah, but then we gotta get going early. It would be nice to wake up on a Saturday morning and do morning-after activities." He held her chin and kissed her.
"I remember morning-after activities," Ester said.
"More relaxed. Make breakfast, fluff up the pillows, that kind of stuff."
"Next weekend," Ester said.
23
The Native professionals’ mixer took place in the lobby of a new building downtown. Linda crossed the polished floor and stopped to admire an intricate light-fixture, like a fishing net spun from copper and frozen in midair. Miniature light bulbs hung like water droplets from the structure. Networking events weren't terrible but the tall sheets of tinted glass that made up the walls and church-door-sized abstract art pieces made her feel like she was in the wrong place. A temporary bar stood in one corner and about two dozen people milled around the room.
Audra spotted her and brought her a name tag.
"You made it," she said. Audra had on a business suit, heels and red lipstick, all looks Linda had tried and failed to pull off. She'd worn her same blue dress. She had a closet full of frumpy, and this one dress. Curse Rayanne for making her self-conscious about her wardrobe.
Audra wrote out Linda's name. "How do you spell your nation?"
"Y-U-R-O-K."
"Is that the same as Rayanne?"
"Nope. Downriver."
Audra laughed. "I'm sure that means something to you." She handed over the name tag. "Virgil will be here."
"We're still seeing each other," Linda said, but she understood Audra's caution. One of the pitfalls of setting up friends was if things didn't work out, the inevitable run-in.
"I wasn't sure," Audra said, seeming cheered by this information. "How are you two getting along?"
"Fine. Does it have to be all planned out or can we get to know each other? Can we enjoy not eating alone?"
"You can do whatever you want. Just making conversation."
"Sorry," Linda said. "Rayanne's been attentively quizzing me. She's a lovely girl but when she has an idea in her head, she can be ruthless."
"Share as you wish," Audra said.
They grabbed a glass of wine at the bar. There was another table with cheese and crackers and fruit but Linda never figured out how to balance a plate of food and eat while she had a glass of wine. "We talked about a trip to the coast for the weekend," she said.
"We're still talking about Virgil?"
"Yeah. I love the idea of getting away and having some nice dinners and wandering around on the beach."
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"But not long nights alone with him?"
"It feels soon. But then I haven't done this dance in a while. Maybe I'm too uptight."
"Or he's the wrong person," Audra said."
"I can't figure it out tonight."
"Did I tell you I saw Arnie Jackson looking cozy with that filmmaker the night of the protest?"
Linda caught her reflection in the glass. She looked unfinished, or like a person resigned to defeat. Something quick and cold squeezed her heart. When she answered, she was ashamed by the quaver in her voice. "Really?"
"You didn't know?"
Linda forced a laugh. "I got that impression but I don't keep up with Arnie's social life." Now that Audra confirmed it, she wondered why she'd doubted.
"Does it bother you?" Audra said.
"I don't care if Arnie is dating," Linda lied, bothered by how much she cared. "The entire time I've known him he's run around with women like her. Do I think it's a good idea he's canoodling the woman working on our film? No. But he's always had a way with ladies, he knows what he's doing." She reminded herself that she was wearing matching underwear and had a perfectly nice man waiting for her.
A random memory popped into her head: Arnie in college. One night he'd had a few too many beers and tracked her down at her dorm room where she was wearing sweatpants and reading for class. He talked her into walking over to the plaza near the student center to study the stars. From anyone else it might have sounded like a line, but she knew him well enough to understand he needed to talk. That didn't stop a little bit of hope from growing in her heart during their walk across campus.
The plaza was empty. He pointed to a park bench and they lay head-to-head, watching the sky. Arnie never stopped talking. He told stories about home, the rez, his grandma. He talked about his favorite dogs and what it was like picking huckleberries with his cousins. He had a favorite swimming spot, and he missed hunting with his brothers. He spoke as if these were things they were going to do together someday.
The night had been clear, and they were far enough from the light pollution to get a sense of the stars and haze of the milky way.
"What are things you miss about home?" he wanted to know. She'd known he meant her tribal place not her parents' place. She told him about hiking down to the river on a hot day and sitting with her grandpa and counting buzzards circling high up in the sky on a sunny afternoon.
"That's why I had to find you," Arnie said. "I didn't want to be around someone who doesn't understand what it means to be truly homesick."
It was going to be a long painful life if she was going to pine about Arnie while she was working with him. If she couldn't put it behind her, she had to pretend she could.
"Virgil is here, I'll leave you alone," Audra said.
Virgil crossed the room to join her. "Nice to see you," he said. He had an honest smile and had a sweet manner, like he would be terrific with kids or puppies. He wore suits. She liked a man in a suit. He was a good man, but there was no denying it, there was no spark. She wished for more certainty, but then, they were still getting to know each other. This was how people did that.
She tried to imagine herself as the kind of person who went off to the beach with a man she'd been out with a handful of times. He had a nice mouth. Strong jaw. Maybe.
"Nice to see you, too."
"Let the mixing begin," he said, rubbing his hands together. Linda was comfortable at networking events, but Virgil was a pro. He steered her through the room, introducing her to folks he worked with. She recognized a few faces and made a point of talking to them, too. The evening flew by. By the end of the event, she had a number of contacts, new ideas for funding, and a couple of possible inter-tribal promotions. Plus she'd met several people who would be great for the center if she ever got it running the way she wanted. She would drag her entire staff to the next get-together. Rayanne could bring Henry and Ester could bring Theo. Everyone would benefit from more connections in the local Native community.
At the end of the night, she stood at the bar with Virgil. Audra came and found them.
"Did you ever get a name from Paul Douglas?"
Linda shook her head. "Nothing we could use. I've given up on Paul Douglas. He's getting the run around, too. I need a new plan."
"Did Virgil tell you about his meeting?"
Virgil shook his head. "Listen to this, I have a tribal client. They mentioned this week they had a similar issue to your organization. They were supposed to collaborate on the use of a park located on officially city land but was once tribal territory. The city disappeared in the middle of the negotiations. No correspondence exiting the negotiations, they simply stopped answering calls."
"What does that mean?" Linda said.
"It means playing nice and patient is a worthless strategy," Audra said.
"We know that," Linda said.
"I'm not familiar enough with your organization to be certain," Virgil said, "but a snarly intent to sue letter might shake something loose."
"But if they ignore the letter then we need to follow through," Linda said.
"I think we have a decent argument they are in breach of contract," Audra said.
"Decent argument," Linda repeated.
Virgil smiled. "Decent argument is pretty good."
He had a nice smile.
"I'll give it some thought," she said.
"I'm saying goodbye to some folks. Meet you at the front door," Audra said.
She'd spent the last couple of hours at Virgil's side and had warmed to his company. He had a goofy charm to him.
"I'm traveling the next couple of weeks. Let's grab dinner when I get back," he said.
"That sounds great," Linda said. A couple more weeks to sort out her feelings.
24
The line for Frenzy's stretched down the street and around the block, much earlier than usual, no doubt due to the milder weather. Theo contacted Pete on the radio in case he wanted to swap spots earlier. Most evenings Theo didn't notice the time but now that he waited for Ester, his eye kept scanning the block, looking forward to seeing her curly hair and funny walk headed toward him.
Pete came out and took the radio. He would let her in when she arrived. The entire time Theo had worked there he'd never asked to let someone in. Pete promised he'd keep an eye out for her.
He took his time walking through the club. It was business as usual except for a shrieking bachelorette party that waved him over and insisted on taking his photo with the future bride. One of them tried to give him a twenty with instructions for the DJ.
"The DJ would rather talk to you than my ugly mug," he said, pushing the money back into her hands.
Fran worked the back bar, and he made his way to her. She rang up a customer and cleared the counter of empty bottles. When she finished, she plunked a glass of water in front of him.
"What's going on?" she said.
"I'm close to finishing the film project," he said. "You want to see it?"
"I don't know. Do I come off like a weirdo?"
"Not even close," Theo said. His kept his eyes fixed on the main door, willing Ester to arrive even though he knew she wouldn't be there for another hour.
"I recognize that look," Fran said. "But not on you."
"There is no look," Theo said, doing his best to adopt his all-business bouncer face.
"Your friend is more than a friend." It wasn't a question.
"Could be," Theo said with a small smile. "Why do you say not on me?"
"You meet tons of women but you never pause over a single one. Now you have an elated shine coming off you like you won the lottery. You really like her, the one from the park?"
Theo leaned forward. "She's smart. She's sweet. She's funny. And she's red like me."
Fran laughed. "I didn't realize that was important to you."
"I didn't either. She's way too good for me but I will enjoy it as long as it lasts."
"Why wouldn't it last?"
"I have nothing
to offer. Not even time. No way to make it work."
"People who like each other figure out how to make it work," Fran said.
"It's not that simple," Theo said.
"It never is," Fran said.
Theo didn't elaborate. "She's coming in tonight. Can you keep an eye on her while I work?"
"Does she need keeping an eye on?"
"Let me try again. Can we save her a seat so she can hang out at the bar and not...?" He made a motion with his hand.
"And not get swept away by some other dude with shiny shoes and a slick pick-up line?" Fran had a playful look on her face but he wasn't in the mood for jokes.
Fran picked up on it. "You got it bad. She can sit back here if she wants. Why don't you bring her to Pete's tonight? She can hang out with the group."
Theo gave it one second and then shook his head. "We don't get to spend that much time together. We're gonna pass."
"You mean, you're new. You can't keep your hands off each other," Fran said. Before he responded, she said, "I get it. I'm envious. You still owe me for the film. Can you bring a couple buckets of ice back?"
Theo followed orders.
Ester took the bus downtown and walked to the nightlife area. Every other doorway was a restaurant or bar. Different music drifted out from open doors and smokers stood out front puffing into the night. She walked around the block to Frenzy's.
The line was huge and Theo wasn't the bouncer at the door. She stood on the sidewalk, not sure what to do.
"Ester!" The other bouncer was Theo's friend, Pete. He moved from his place at the door and flapped his hand at her. Everyone in the line turned to look at her. These were all the cool people with their fine outfits and intelligent use of accessories. She wore black pants and a bright blue ultra-soft sweater Rayanne had picked out and her usual ratty coat. It didn't matter because the goal was to impress Theo, not these people.
She walked to the front of the line. Pete nodded at the door without saying another word.
Ester went in with the sound of dismayed voices rising behind her.
It was strange walking into the club alone. The vibration of the music grew stronger as she walked down the dark hallway. She recognized the song and hummed along, a bounce coming into her step. She came into the packed main room. A smoky haze hovered over the crowded dance floor. The place hadn't been so busy on Jack's birthday. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the murky light.
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