A Flower for Angela (17 page)

Ricardo glanced through the net, expecting to see a pair of disgruntled players. But the two men were laughing. Ricardo let out a breath. He'd made it, passed the mark.

The game continued, but at a relaxed pace. Everyone had a chance to join in, now that he'd been tested. Howard and Dave's team wound up winning the game, but Ricardo didn't mind. He'd won acceptance.

LATER THAT EVENING, after he'd parked his car in the visitor's lot at Angela's apartment complex, Angela mentioned the game.

"You didn't get upset when my brothers ganged up on you."

"That's what they wanted me to do."

"I know. You men play such ridiculous games. What did it prove, anyway? I mean, what if you couldn't play volleyball? Was I supposed to lose interest in you?"

"The issue wasn’t how I performed, but how I participated. I didn't let them intimidate me and I played fair."

"You were a good sport. I was ready to bash their heads in."

Ricardo laughed. He wouldn't treat Angela with dishonesty or unfairness. Her brothers would bash in
his
head if he did. They'd also established his integrity. Her father had understood, as well.

"I enjoyed your family. They were a lot of fun." Once the game had ended, they all had treated him as if he belonged. Ricardo appreciated that. "I miss my family. They're a lot like yours. Lots of teasing. Lots of laughs."

"And what about the food? I'm stuffed." She shifted as if in pain.

He empathized. "I haven't eaten like that since the last time I visited
mi
mama
. Your mom's a good cook. Do you take after her that way?"

"Don't get your hopes up. If a meal doesn't cook in five minutes, I don't eat it."

Ricardo began gathering her things before he got out of the car. "How do you manage that?"

"The meat goes on the gas grill. The potato in the microwave and then I make a vegetable or salad. Simple and quick. I promise it's nutritious and delicious." She stepped out as he opened the door for her. "Are you coming in?"

Ricardo hesitated, wanting to follow her inside. But he felt the need for breathing room, and he suspected Angela did, too, especially when she didn't argue his decision to go home.

"You're probably right." She stopped at her door and looked at him. "It is Sunday night. Tomorrow's work and I have a million things to do."

"I don't want the weekend to end." And he didn't. In some ways it seemed as if they'd been together forever. Their relationship felt right, natural. Maybe that feeling made him a little nervous.

Angela unlocked her door and took her bag from him. After setting her belongings on the floor she turned and smiled. "Thanks for everything."

He curved his hand around the back of her neck, his thumb stroking the soft skin. Her windblown hair curled around his fingers. Suntan lotion mingled with her scent and tantalized his senses. Maybe he would stay.

"Are you relaxed now? All the workaday stress forgotten?"

"Definitely." She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his. "Will I see you this week?"

He frowned, not liking to think about his schedule. "I'm going to the board meeting on Tuesday. Are you?"

She nodded.

"By then, I'll know what's lined up for work." He brushed her lips this time. "Keep the weekend open. We'll figure something out."

He rarely committed so far in advance, especially in a relationship as new as this one. But suddenly he wanted the assurance that Angela would be there.

When she smiled, he pulled her against him and kissed her. His arms wrapped around her as if they belonged there. She felt so good. Too good. He pulled away.

"If we keep this up, I'm going to change my mind."

The blue in her eyes had deepened in color, and her lids looked heavy, as if hiding a flare of desire. He groaned and kissed her again, trying to ignore the invitation in her glance.

Reluctantly, he let her go. "Sweet dreams,
querida
."

She looked about to say something but quickly stepped away. Ricardo hesitated, and then, with a wave headed down the path to the parking lot.

As he approached the black sports car he stretched his aching muscles.
¡Caramba!
It had been some day. What he needed was a soak in the Jacuzzi. But he had a feeling the hot tub wouldn't help him. There were too many memories in it now of Angela. Those memories were going to occupy his mind for many hours to come.

ANGELA SHUT THE DOOR after Ricardo disappeared from sight around the corner. In a daze, she put away her things. She hated to see him leave but she also felt relieved to have time to herself.

She couldn't believe she'd almost told him she loved him. When he'd kissed her goodbye, the words had seemed so right, they hovered on the tip of her tongue. How could she feel so strongly after just one weekend together?

He couldn't possibly feel the same way. If she'd actually said the words, he probably would've turned tail and ran as far away as he could get.

You didn't say them, so relax
, she chided herself. But while she switched on the stereo and began to tackle her chores, images floated in and out of her head. The picture of her in Ricardo's arms was too vivid and it was too easy to imagine saying, “I love you.”

A couple of hours later, Angela sat on her couch, droopy-eyed and tired. Her laundry was done, her hair washed and the apartment vacuumed. The idyllic hours spent with Ricardo seemed eons away.

Able to relax at last, she allowed herself the pleasure of relishing her memories of the weekend. Ricardo had made a hit with her family. She'd suspected he would. But more important than that were
her
feelings.

They weren't hard to define. All she had to do was think about the way he held her when they danced. How his fingers felt massaging her body. The firm nip of his lips as he kissed her.
Hmmm. Wonderful. Heavenly. Divine.

The phone rang, jarring her out of her reverie. Her muscles, stiff from all the unusual activity this weekend, protested when she struggled to rise.

"Hello." She hoped it was Ricardo, missing her already.

Mrs. Edwards’ voice came over the line instead.

Angela groaned and slumped onto the couch. Reality had returned too soon.

"Sorry to bother you so late on a Sunday night," her principal apologized. "But I tried to get through to you all weekend."

"I was still up. What can I do for you?"

"I need to see you first thing in the morning. Looks like the board is considering a staff reduction. You might be on the list to be laid off."

CHAPTER 11

WHEN ANGELA ARRIVED at school the next morning she was a nervous wreck. The strain of the sleepless night showed in the dark shadows under her eyes. Irritable before the workday had even started, Angela entered Mrs. Edwards' office.

"Sit here, Angela." The principal gestured toward a chair. "Before you get all upset, keep in mind the decision hasn't been made yet to enforce the R.I.F."

A reduction in force. "When will they know?"

"They're waiting for confirmation of government funds. If they come through, we can keep our staff. If not…"

Angela knew what that meant. "But why me? I've been here five years. Surely I'm high on the seniority list?"

"True. Your name's just below the cutoff point. If enough people above you retire or resign, you’ll be okay."

This couldn't be happening. Not after all these years! She didn't think she could stand to lose her job a second time. What would she say to her family? Her last layoff had been associated with a scandal, making it an emotional strain as well as a financial one. The R.I.F. would be determined by lack of seniority. But still, she'd have to ask for financial support from them until she landed another job. Who knew when or where that would be?

"Is there anything I can do about this?"

"Just wait. We aren't announcing the R.I.F. officially until we know for sure. No sense getting the parents in an uproar."

Somehow, Angela couldn't work up any sympathy for the community. Not with her world falling around her. She'd just hurdled the attack by Ricardo over the whole language program, and now this. Angela pressed on her stomach, willing the jitters within it to settle down.

"I'm notifying everyone here who's affected. We'll operate on the assumption you're going to be offered a contract for next year. But, just in case…"

As the principal's voice droned on, Angela barely registered what she said. Agitated and anxious, she remained so for the rest of the day.

She'd hoped that the hustle and bustle of her class might help take her mind off the R.I.F. or at least that the children would keep her too occupied to think about all the negative possibilities. To her dismay, being in the classroom had had the opposite effect. Two children had been injured on the playground and the accident upset the rest of them, turning the day into a disaster. She was relieved when the bell rang and her students finally went home.

"What are you moping around about?" Maria, entering the room, startled her.

Angela abruptly raised her head from her arms where she’d been resting it, sat up at her desk and peered at her friend.

"Did the kids wear you out today or do you miss that gorgeous hunk of manhood?" Maria teased.

Feeling defensive and definitely grumpy, Angela stood up. The silk folds of her purple dress slid into place around her slender figure.

"Come on, I'll buy you a cola." Angela grabbed her purse and strode to the door. Maybe conversation with Maria would distract her. She didn't think she could cope with discussing the possible layoff. She needed time to sort her feelings.

"You aren't getting away with this,” Maria informed Angela as they sat and stretched their legs out on the extra chairs of the empty teachers' lounge. "Something's got you down. You know talking helps."

"I suppose you're right. Have you heard about the R.I.F.?"

"At lunch. You aren't on the list, are you?"

"You hit the nail on the head."

Maria straightened, nearly sending her can of soda across the room. "You're kidding! But you've been in the district for…"

"I know, I know. Five years. That fact has been repeating itself in my brain all day. I just can't believe this is happening to me."

For several minutes they discussed the issue, but both knew talk was pointless. There was nothing anyone could do.

"Have you told Ricardo?"

"No. And I don't intend to."

"He still has influence over the board. Maybe he can speak on your behalf."

Angela rolled her eyes skyward. Hadn't her friend figured out that asking Ricardo for help was the last thing she'd do? "I can just see it. History repeating itself. All I need is for some teacher to accuse me of dating Ricardo to secure my position at school."

Maria's brows rose.

Angela cringed.

"What happened this weekend that I don't know about?"

Normally, Angela would've been more reticent, but she was really down today. Besides, Maria was her best friend. She'd find out sooner or later.

"I love him."

Now she had said the words, the stress of the day was banished from her mind and all she was left with was the sweet promise of love.

Maria, too, forgot about the R.I.F. "That's wonderful! How does he feel? How can you be so sad?" A million questions popped out of Maria's mouth before Angela could answer a single one.

Heaving a wistful sigh, Angela shushed her friend and told her what had happened, not the intimate details, but Maria wasn't dense. Angela could tell by her sly grin that her friend had filled in her own version of the facts.

"If he cares for you, then you must know he's going to want to help you."

Vigorously, Angela shook her head. "If he does, that will be the end for us. I can't risk a second scandal." The thought saddened her. She'd just found love. Would she lose it so soon?

"I think you should talk this over with him. You should clarify your position for yourself as well as for your job."

"You're right," Angela conceded reluctantly. Her friend's logic did make sense. "I'll think about it."

"Open the path of communication. You might be surprised. I see the way he looks at you. Maybe he'll ask you to marry him and you won't need the job."

"Maria!" she protested, but the idea had appeal. "You're jumping the gun. Besides, I still want to teach after I marry, no matter what."

Angela stretched. She felt drained and stiff. Memories of Ricardo's magic fingers easing her tension initiated ripples of longing within her.

A rustling noise from the next room alerted Angela. She looked at Maria. "What was that?"

"Sounded like someone in the workroom." Maria rose and headed toward the connecting door.

"Maria. What if someone overheard what I said?"