He pushed open the door and found Wanda on the phone. Her hair was in its usual tight braids against her head, and her eyes rolled with frustration against whomever she was arguing with on the phone. When she saw him, however, her smile flashed white in her dark face, even as she continued to lambaste whoever was on the opposite side of the phone.
“Listen. I don’t care what they say. I’m telling you every can they sent me was banged up and damaged. Just ’cause these people are in a shelter don’t mean they gotta eat bad food. Now send me a new shipment or I’ll call the news on you and run your name all over the television.” She slammed the phone down with obvious relish. “Ha! That’ll get ’em moving.” She stood up and moved from behind the desk.
“Dr. Tash. How are you?” They hugged, and he kissed her warm lavender-scented cheek.
“I told you to call me Tash. No need for titles here.”
She patted his cheek. “And who do we have here?” She turned to Randy, and Tash watched her eyes gleam with approval. “Is this fine-looking man a friend of yours?” Without waiting for an answer, she stuck out her hand. “I’m Wanda, honey. What’s your name?”
“Randy, ma’am. I’m here to help Tash with the mentoring program.” He took her hand and shook it.
Her dark eyes flickered between the two of them. “Well, lookie here. You’re a Southern boy, aren’t you? Where are you from?”
“No, ma’am. I-I’m from Pennsylvania.”
Tash knew Randy enough by now to see the alarm flaring in his eyes, and decided to change the course of the conversation before Wanda started her usual third degree. “Randy’s a third-grade teacher in Bushwick.”
Respect and admiration dawned in Wanda’s eyes. “You are? That’s wonderful. Ain’t many young men like you willing to put themselves out for the kids these days. Most of them go to Wall Street where all the money is.” She shook her head. “Like my poor Luke. They work my boy half to death over there.”
She turned to Tash. “I got a few texts from the two of them. They had such a good time; I’m so glad Luke got to meet Jordan’s parents, and they had some time for themselves as well. I can’t wait to see them tomorrow. Jordan told me he got me a present from Paris.”
“That’s great, Wanda. I’m looking forward to hearing about their trip.” He didn’t begrudge them anything. The two men had fought long and hard for their relationship. Tash knew, however, that neither Luke nor Ash would ever truly be happy until they found out what had happened to their younger brother, Brandon.
“Randy has agreed to help with the mentoring program we want to start here at the shelter, in conjunction with the community center. He’s already taken it upon himself to help kids after school who not only need extra help, but ones who get teased for liking school and doing well.”
Wanda’s eyes took on a new light. “You have to be a special young man to want to do that.” She took Randy by the hand and sat him down in the chair in front of her desk, taking the one opposite him. “Tell me, why did you choose to do this? I get the feeling it’s kinda personal for you, am I right?”
To his shock, Randy answered her. “Yes. I believe the best way to live your life is paying it forward. All my life my heroes have always been my teachers. I found my escape in school and books. They helped me through rough times.”
Wanda took his hand in hers. “You had some rough times, honey? But you’re strong because you didn’t let it break you. And you took what you learned, and it made you stronger and now you’re helping others.”
Tash watched as the older woman and the young man gazed at each other, forging an understanding he knew he couldn’t be a part of. He hadn’t had a rough life. He’d always had whatever he needed. But that was his reason for giving back. He wanted to give as many people as he could reach the opportunity to climb out of their own personal hells, to make it in the world.
“Tash, you hold tight to this man. He’s a keeper.”
He chuckled as Randy’s face flamed. “Ahh, Wanda, we aren’t together. He’s here to help. He’s a friend.” Randy’s eyes burned into his with a yearning he knew matched the one Tash had in his heart. It was no use, though. The two of them were at different points in their lives, and Tash recognized it even if Randy didn’t. “I knew he’d be perfect for the mentoring program so I wanted him to meet you, and then I’m going to bring him to the center tomorrow afternoon. He met Drew last night, and Jordan and Luke should meet him as well. They told me they’d be over in the afternoon, after they pick up Sasha from Rachel and Mike.”
“Sasha? Is that their daughter?” Randy asked.
Tash laughed. “No, their dog, although they spoil her like a baby.”
Wanda slipped her arm through Tash’s. “You gonna hang around for dinner? Both of you. It’s turkey night with candied yams and cornbread.” She shifted her attention to Randy. “Real Southern style.”
Tash nodded. “I’ll help. How about you, Randy?”
“Of course. Sounds great.” His smile wavered slightly as Wanda continued to stare at him. “Is something the matter, Wanda? Did I do something wrong?”
There was a sadness to her smile. “Oh no, honey. I was remembering back to the time when Luke showed up here all hungry and skinny. We were serving turkey dinner that night too, and he ate so much I thought he’d get sick.”
Randy said nothing further until they approached the kitchen. “I didn’t know Luke had lived in a shelter. I thought he worked on Wall Street and was one of those rich hedge-fund guys.”
“He works there now but lived in the system for years. He’s a real inspiration. I know you two will hit it off.” Tash opened the door to the heat and bustle of the enormous kitchen.
Randy shrugged. “I doubt it. I mean, I’m a poor schoolteacher. I don’t travel in those kinds of circles or, to be honest, even your circle.”
Surprised, Tash stopped short, just inside the doorway. “Don’t be ridiculous. There are no circles. You’ve no reason to think anyone would look down on you or treat you differently because you aren’t a doctor or a lawyer or don’t make a ton of money. These people aren’t like that, and you shouldn’t prejudge like you don’t want them to do to you.”
Randy’s face fell, and he kicked the floor with his sneaker. “You’re right. It’s that I get a little nervous meeting all these new people at once.”
