Tender Touch (24 page)

“Sure, Bill.” So that was it. Jade felt a
flood of relief. He was uptight because he’d not been able to talk
to her in private. “Why don’t we plan discuss it later, around
four. I’ll look for a small meeting room.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have a suite.”
Bill turned to sign the credit card receipt handed to him by the
desk staff.

Jade glanced at Damon. He was busy
registering. The last thing she needed was for him to hear Bill
inviting her to his room, no matter the reason.

Bill followed her gaze. He seemed about to
speak when Jade cut him off.

“See you later, Bill. Damon, I’m going to
take a short rest first.” Jade grabbed Damon’s arm and walked with
him to the elevator behind the bellboy pushing a cart with their
luggage.

Damon had a slight crease in his forehead.
“I thought we’d have lunch together at this little restaurant
nearby. They’ve got great soups and sandwiches.”

“Not just yet. I need to unwind.” Jade gave
his arm a squeeze before leaving for her room.

“See you later then,” Damon called after her
as he walked several doors down the hall to his suite.

By the time she came down for the first
speech, Jade was feeling much better. She scanned the crowd
streaming in to hear Marian Wright Edelman start them off with
words of inspiration. Everyone seemed excited at the prospect of
hearing from one of the leading children’s rights advocates in the
world. International leaders from at least six other countries
would speak on child labor, sexual exploitation of children and
poverty. Damon joined her, and both looked over the list of
workshops that would be presented over the next three days.

“I wish I could go to everything,” Jade said
in exasperation. “Look, a presentation on self-help groups for teen
mothers. And here’s a program in New York that arranges
after-school programs. Damn, they’re at the same time.”

“Yeah, and I wanted to hear the panel
discussion on Rwandan war orphans. I thought the kids at Gracie
Center might organize an aid drive. We could incorporate it into
our African studies program.” Damon flipped through pages of the
program.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Damon.” Jade
sighed. “How am I going to choose?”

“Tell you what; let’s divide up all the good
stuff. Then we can share information.” Damon led her to two empty
seats around a table with four people already engaged in animated
conversation.

“Perfect.”

For the next hour, they were riveted by the
dynamic woman who had come to symbolize all their aspirations to
improve the plight of children in America and the world. Jade sat
in awe of the speaker. Yet her thoughts strayed to the man beside
her. Damon was so intent on the words of Marian Wright Edelman that
he leaned forward as though he did not want to miss even one. The
profile of his strong jaw sent a tingle through Jade. Damon had
everything going for him. He was a member of a prominent wealthy
family—handsome, intelligent and a successful businessman. Damon
could easily have confined himself to once-a-year charity, like
most other men in his position. But he made time to really get
involved in the lives of people in a neighborhood far removed from
the way he’d grown up. Jade wondered why.

Later they sat in the hotel restaurant
having coffee before her meeting with Bill. Jade and Damon mapped
out their strategy for the conference.

“Now except for a couple of presentations,
we’ve got all the workshops covered between the two of us. That’s
teamwork.” Jade sat back satisfied and took a sip from her cup.

Damon placed a hand on her thigh underneath
the table of their booth. “Yeah, we’re a perfect fit in more ways
than one.”

“I’m impressed with you.”

“Oh?” Damon’s eyes glittered.

“You’re really dedicated to making a
difference. You want to be hands-on with the center.” Jade relished
the intimacy of being with him even in a strange restaurant
surrounded by people. She wanted to share even more with him.

“Why?”

“Warren Coates is why.”

“Who’s he?” Jade was intrigued with his
answer.

“A guy I made friends with while I was doing
volunteer work. Warren was something. He had fifteen brothers and
sisters, most of them in foster care. His mother was on welfare,
and his father was in prison. Three of his older brothers were
big-time drug dealers, a couple of others small-time thugs. But he
was trying to escape.”

“Sounds like he was a special young man,”
Jade said.

“He was real special. Warren had it rough,
but he survived with good humor. His foster mother was part of the
reason. He had a good heart, you know.” Damon smiled at the memory
of his friend.

“Amazing how some children can survive hell
and come out beautiful, caring human beings. I’ve seen it before,
working with abused kids.” Jade remembered her days working with
child welfare agencies through the Louisiana Children’s
Cabinet.

“That was Warren. He was working after
school and helping old folks get home-delivered meals on the days
he didn’t work. He got a scholarship through the United Negro
College Fund with help from a black fraternity. He was going to be
an engineer.” Damon spoke with pride as though Warren was his
brother.

“And he inspired you. So Warren is somewhere
helping to run a place like Gracie Street Center in his spare
time?”

Damon’s face became stiff and grim. “He
probably would be if... Warren never gave up on his brothers. One
night he was standing in their old neighborhood, talking to one of
his younger brothers, Quince. Seems Quince had a feud going with
another dealer. A car drove up and there was gunfire. Warren died
on the comer of Gracie and Eighteenth Streets.”

“Oh, no, Damon. I’m so sorry.” Jade put her
hand over his on her thigh. She hated to see the pain in his eyes.
“Quince was hurt, too, I suppose.”

“No, not a scratch.” Damon took a deep
breath. “He’s on death row at Angola State Penitentiary. He killed
one of the boys who took part in the drive-by shooting.”

“Violence is a vicious cycle, isn’t it?”
Jade felt a kind of despair at the waste of life.

“Kids, Jade. Quince was sixteen; the boys
who killed Warren were between fourteen and seventeen.” Damon
looked at her.

“Doing nothing would have been like saying
Warren meant nothing to me. Trying to make a change in the
community is how I honor his memory.”

“I understand,” Jade said in a soft
voice.

“The first time a kid I helped graduated
from high school and go to college, I was hooked. It was such a
good feeling.”

Jade was hooked, too. No words could express
the love she felt for him at the moment. But no words were needed.
Damon pulled her to him, and the rest of the world just went away
for a few magical moments.

“You’ve made a difference. And with the
grant, you’ll be able to do even more.” Jade wanted to smooth away
the sadness from his dark brown.

“We’re sure going to try.” Damon gazed at
her, his brown eyes lit with affection. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For listening, for being here, for being
you.” Damon brushed his lips across her forehead.

Jade closed her eyes. “Anytime, babe,
anytime.”

Damon drew back. “Speaking of time, don’t
you have a meeting to attend?”

“Damn it.” Jade groaned. The last thing she
wanted was to discuss work. “I wish we could start our tour right
now.” What she really wanted was to make love to him hard and
fast.

“We’ll be together in just over an hour from
now.” Damon touched her lips with his fingers. “And tonight is
going to be all ours. Now go on and help steer the ship of state.”
He gave her a gentle nudge.

“From the look on Bill’s face, I’d say we
might need to start bailing water hard and fast,” Jade quipped.
“Wish me luck.” She waved goodbye as he gave her a thumbs-up
sign.

* * *

“Come in, Jade,” Bill said. He glanced at
the gold Rolex watch on his wrist.

“Sorry I’m late.” Jade felt a flicker of
guilt, showing up fifteen minutes after their appointed time. She
was surprised to find Mike Testor with Bill. “Hi, Mike.”

“Hello, there,” Mike said. He managed to
make a simple greeting sound like a dirty suggestion.

“As I was saying...” Bill shot Mike a testy
look of warning. Mike cleared his throat and wiped the slight leer
from his face. “The latest round of cuts will have a big impact on
the mental health clinics. Advocacy groups have been swarming over
the capitol, collaring every legislator they can get their hands
on.”

“So?” Mike seemed unconcerned.

“Our increase in hospital beds is being
questioned. The Mental Health Alliance says we should be
concentrating on community-based services.” Bill looked at
Jade.

“Providing services in the community is the
trend nationally, Bill. Best practices in most helping fields is to
avoid institutional placement.” Jade made a mental review of the
literature she had read in the last year. “Some of what we’re doing
is inconsistent with that.”

“Well, that’s just one issue we have right
now.” Bill waved away the issue. “Howard wants us to submit a
truckload of documents to the inspector general.” His brows came
together, and he rubbed his temples.

“When?” Mike sat up straight. He lost his
disinterested glazed expression.

Charles Dumaine had been appointed inspector
general in response to the public’s outcry that little changed in
the huge state bureaucracy even with reform governors. Dumaine was
well known as a stickler for following the law. A former economics
professor at Louisiana State University, he’d been advisor to two
presidents and three governors. Lobbyists and other influence
peddlers gave up trying to gain his favor within the first year of
his appointment.

“That will overwhelm poor Aline without me
there to help.” Jade had no doubts about the propriety of their
actions to date.

“Just let me know what he wants.”

“Documents related to the psychiatric
hospitals, home health care rules we’ve proposed and a few other
things.” Bill clenched and unclenched his hands. “Like the grant
monies we’ve gotten.”

“You mean memos and executive bulletins
related to policy decisions?” Jade was writing notes as she
spoke.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Jade looked up at the two men. A
prickle of apprehension raised chill bumps on her arms. Bill and
Mike seemed worried, very worried. “Is there something else we need
to do?”

“You don’t think he—” Mike stared at
Bill.

“It’s no big deal really,” Bill cut him off.
He forced a smile. “Mike and I can tell Aline what to do. Dumaine
wants them in the next two weeks. You don’t have to worry about it,
Jade.”

“Are you sure? I’ve handled quite a few of
the projects with you. I really should help gather those
documents.” Jade was baffled by his attitude.

“No, we’ve got day-to-day details that I
need you to handle.” Bill gave her a nod of confidence. “That’s
where you could be the most help.”

“But, Bill...”

“Jade, Dumaine is on a search-and-destroy
mission. I’m where the buck stops on these issues.” Bill squared
his shoulders and looked grave. “He’ll be expecting me to answer
the hard questions, and I’m fully prepared to take the heat.”

Jade felt a little relieved. Maybe she was
imagining things. Working in state government had made her too
suspicious. The fact that Bill was going to handle the inspector
general’s request made her feel better.

“Listen, let me handle the details. I’m
wrapping up work on the new program for public health. That way
you’ll be free to meet with the assistant secretaries.” Jade saw no
reason why she should not at least prepare his report.

“We do have that big health care forum
coming up, Bill. Remember, we’re gearing up for a pilot project to
test managed care for Medicaid recipients,” Mike put in.

“We can probably anticipate any questions
based on what’s gone on before,” Jade said. “As long as Dumaine
gets his questions answered, he’s satisfied. Bill, I really can
make this easier on us all.”

“She’s got a point.” Mike nodded.

“Besides, the grant project is well under
way. Eddie’s proposal sailed through the review committee. It
complies with all of the requirements,” Jade added.

“You’ve spent a lot of time on that one.”
Bill stared at her.

Jade shrugged with more than a touch of
embarrassment. “There were a lot of details to work out.”

“Hmm.” Bill sat unmoving for a while. “Sure
more overtime at the office won’t put a cramp in your social
life?”

“Oh, Damon understands—” Jade broke off.
Bill’s eyes narrowed for an instant. “I mean, it’s okay.”

Bill’s lips stretched tight. “Fine. Mike and
I will just tie up a few other things now.”

“Of course. I’ll see you at the first
session tomorrow morning.” Jade gathered her notes and left.

“I don’t like it,” Mike blurted almost the
instant the door closed behind her. “Dumaine doesn’t sniff around
unless he’s onto something.”

Bill sat brooding, his eyes on the door.
“Forget Dumaine. I’ve all but neutralized him. The great Chester
Howard happens to hate his guts, a clash of the mighty
self-righteous egos. We’re going to pull the rug right out from
under that windbag.”

“Then that’s good,” Mike said with a
lopsided grin.

“Yeah, sure.”

Mike paused in the act of pouring himself a
shot of vodka. “Now what’s wrong? And why the act in front of sweet
stuff?” He jerked a finger in the direction Jade had
disappeared.

“Damon Knight is a problem.”

“So he’s a do-gooder. So what? He’ll get his
payoff and not think twice about anyone else, just like all the
other hypocrites.” Mike took a gulp from the shot glass.