Center Courtship (10 page)

“I was inside the apartment, I wasn't blessed with that vision.”

“He was a piece of work, Mae-Belle.” Arnold was the only person I allowed to get away with calling me by my full name.

“He's a piece of something, that's for sure,” we all chuckled. The memory of that night, and many others like it started to flood my memory. He had come up way more this weekend than he had since I couldn't remember when. I started to feel uneasy and needed to get to my apartment.

“You ok, hun?” asked Colette, knowingly.

“No, not really. I'm going to go to bed. I'll fill you in on today…tomorrow.” I rose and gave Arnold a kiss on the cheek and did the same to Colette.

Back in my apartment I plopped on my couch and Diesel was right on my stomach purring and begging for attention. He was the best medicine for a depressed soul. One minute I was petting my cat, the next minute, my cell phone's alarm was going off in my pocket. I had fallen asleep and hadn't moved from the night before. I was a lot more tired than I had realized.

After a bit of maneuvering the kinks out of my stiff couch-slept body, I quickly got ready for the day. I put my hair in a ponytail, forgoing the usual bandanna. I was anxious to get to work to check on how Steve had left the shop on Saturday.

Little José and I got to work forty-five minutes early and I was pleasantly surprised to find that nearly everything was as it should be.

The day went smoothly and near the end, Bonnie brought me a few pieces of paper she had found on her desk. The first was the list of cars that the two gentlemen had to sell me from Saturday.

“That's some list,” she said. “They're selling all of them?”

“I guess the guy's dad passed away and the city wants the land so they need them out of there.” I studied the list again. “If they're as good as the list says they are, they're not going to want ‘almost-rubble' dollars.”

“Is it a too good to be true kind of thing?”

“I don't know, but the car junkie in me wants to see them, if they're real, you know?”

“I do,” she said. Bonnie was a 65-year old, slender woman with short gray hair. She had been working at the shop since my grandfather owned it. She knew the business as well as anyone. Her love of vehicles nearly mirrored mine.

I sorted through the papers in my hand and found the flyers and Aaron's business card. “OH!! The guys might be interested in this,” I said as I looked at the clock. It was nearing 5 and I knew the mechanics had been busy because I only saw them when they took their break for lunch. On slower days, they usually came to the counter and talked with Bonnie and me.

I had installed cameras and monitors in the shop with our latest re-do so I looked at the screen that sat on my desk. I could see the entire property both inside and out with the twelve cameras. I could even zoom and pan if I needed. “Hmmm,” I said to myself as I saw the men were all still working. I grabbed the microphone that sat beside my computer. “Guys, you can clean up early. But before you leave tonight, I need you to stop at the front for an impromptu meeting. No one is in trouble,” I announced over the loudspeaker. I looked at the flyer. With Aaron's tickets, the guys would get to see Brothers Arena on the inside before the first game. I knew most of them had tickets to see the game, so this would be something they'd really enjoy, even if they weren't into Aaron's artwork.

I went out into the front desk area with Bonnie and looked around. She had straightened everything up. She was good about that. “Bonnie, there was a photo album that had been left here on
Saturday. Did you happen to see it? I forgot to call the owner to let him know it was here.”

“Oh, yeah, I put it on the table by the waiting room chairs and couch with the magazines. I wasn't sure where to put it.”

“Oh, wow, I don't think Aaron would want it out there,” I quickly retrieved it. “Did you look at the pictures?” I asked her.

“Yes, that's some interesting stuff,” she said as she logged out of her computer.

“He's going to be installing a piece out front for us,” I said. “In exchange for some of our scrap. Turns out I took a few classes with him at Stark State. He's a really sweet guy. His name's Aaron…” I looked at his business card, “Aaron Carver. There's an appropriate name for a sculptor.”

When five o'clock hit, I could hear the time cards being punched one by one around the corner from the office and the men filtered into the room. “Whatcha want, Mae?” asked Steve.

I looked around the room and did a quick head count. All twelve of us were present. I could sense some stress coming off the men. I hoped what I was going to say would make them smile.

“This past Saturday, an old friend of mine came in and took some of our scraps in exchange for putting up one of his pieces in our front lot. In return, he offered me and all of my employees tickets to Brothers Arena's grand opening this Saturday. He just needs to know how many tickets we need. We're already closed that day for the big game and I know most of you have tickets, so I thought you might be interested in going to this, too.” I held up the flyers and passed them around for everyone to see. “All I need from you is how many tickets you need.”

As soon as I stopped talking, the men began talking between themselves. They seemed happy, a few even high fived each other. The paper was quickly taken from my hand and everyone wrote down their requested numbers.

Steve stepped up to the counter, “I think someone here is forgetting to tell the REAL news about her weekend,” he said loudly. “Our own Mae got to meet the one and only Elsu Benjamin on Saturday!”

The men all gathered around as if I was about to share the secrets of the world. I told them about Brandon and very briefly
talked about the evening. I completely skipped the needing gas part. After fielding a few more questions, my employees left for the night. I stayed behind to do some paperwork. All of the lights were turned out in the building except for the fluorescent that buzzed above my head. I quickly gave Gina a call.

“How's Brandon?”

“We're actually loading into the car right now, Mae. We're coming home!” I could hear the combination of relief and joy in her voice.

“This late?”

“Yeah, the doctor wanted to make sure before releasing him.”

“That's awesome, Gina, I'm so happy for you all!”

“Mae, I can't thank you enough for everything you did this weekend, you made Brandon the happiest boy in the world! He hasn't stopped talking about the team's visit since they left!”

“I didn't do anything.”

“Ok, then tell that Carl guy thank you. It was nice of him to set it up.”

“Gina, it wasn't Carl either. It was all Elsu.”

“That's not what Carl said.”

“Carl's got an agenda. I heard it from the hospital's PR guy that it was Elsu who called. Not Carl.”

“Well, you need to thank
Elsu
the next time you see him.”

“Yeah, we play poker every Thursday night, Gina,” I said sarcastically. “I doubt I'll be seeing him again.”

“Stop it, he really spoke highly of you. He kept talking about how impressed he was with how much you love the boys and what you were willing to do for Brandon on Saturday. Not that
I'm
surprised, but he seemed very fond of you.”

I blushed. Alone in my office and I was blushing like a school girl. “Well, he seems like a very nice guy,” I said. “I assume Brandon's not going to school tomorrow?”

“No, we're getting him a tutor for a few weeks while he recovers. Elsu even offered to pay for it! Can you believe that? But the school has tutors for this kind of thing. With the broken leg and broken arm it would just be too much for him.”

“Maybe I can slip out sometime tomorrow and drop off the stuff that Elsu signed. I'd love to see Brandon.”

“I'm sure he'd love that, too. Come after Mitchell gets home, or he'll be jealous he didn't get to see his favorite aunt.”

“You bet! Goodbye, Gina. Give everyone a kiss from me.” I hung up the phone and looked at the piece of paper that had everyone's count for tickets on it. The paper looked like it had been through the war and not through the hands of 10 grease monkeys and Bonnie just minutes ago. I tallied the numbers and picked up the phone again.

“Hello?” I heard Aaron's friendly voice.

“Hi Aaron, it's Mae,” I said.

“MAE! I was just putting the finishing touches on your piece.”

“I can't wait to see it! Two things, Aaron,” I said. “You left your album here on Saturday.”

“THAT'S WHERE IT IS! I have been looking everywhere for it. I couldn't believe I wouldn't have taken it back and was starting to have a heart attack. Some of those pieces are in private collections now and I can't get those pictures back!”

“Well, come on over and get it whenever you want. Part B of this phone call is about Saturday,” I said, as I sat back in my chair and looked at the list of my employees.

“Yes! How many tickets do you need?”

“Is this just for my employees or can they bring guests?”

“Since it's my thing, I can bring as many people as I want. There are different events happening from about nine in the morning until when the game starts at seven at night. My event happens about four o'clock. The tickets can be used all day or just come whenever you want. It's completely up to you and your employees.”

“Ok, well, I have eleven employees and they want thirty tickets all together,” I said, holding my breath. “If that's too many I can let them know.”

“Don't be silly, the more the merrier. How many tickets do
you
need, Mae?”

I sighed. This whole thing sounded like a nightmare just waiting to happen. “Aaron, I can't do crowds like that. I don't think that's the best place for me. But I'm proud of you, I really am.”

“Bull, Mae. I know I don't know you well, but I know you're going Saturday even if I have to come over there and drag you!”

“Have you ever watched the A-Team?”

“The A-Team? That old show from the 80s with that weird mohawk wearing guy with the chains?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, it was one of my grandfather's favorite shows. He had the seasons on DVD and he watched them. A lot. The only way to get Mr. T, that's the weird Mohawk guy's real name, by the way, to get on an airplane was to knock him unconscious. That's me, but in crowds.”

“I don't think my time will be that crowded, Mae. Come and support me. Then we can leave before the game starts. Go get a beer, catch up on old times, and watch it on the big screen somewhere.”

I immediately remembered the tickets I received from Elsu. “You're not going to the game?”

“I wasn't able to get a ticket when they went on sale,” he said. “Pro sports aren't my thing. I prefer college sports.”

“Even if they're not your thing, don't you want to be there for the first one? Most of the city will be there.”

“Eh,” said Aaron. “Speaking of which,” he said, obviously attempting to change the subject. “How did Saturday go?”

I had honestly gotten tired of repeating this story. “Aaron, the story is long. And it goes on for two days,” I said.

There was a long pause in the conversation. “WHAT DID YOU DO, MAE?!”

“Oh, my God! That is NOT what I meant,” I said as I put my forehead in my palm, embarrassed that I had accidentally insinuated anything. “I'll explain over that beer.”

“Deal!”

When the paperwork was done, I locked up the building and headed to Little José. Once inside, I slumped down, happy that the day was over. Putting Little José in gear, I noticed there was something stuck under the windshield wiper. I reached out the window, grabbed it and found a picture of Elsu and me posing together. “
Millard forgot he had this on his phone, printed it out and dropped it off on my way to practice. Hope you had a great day. See you Saturday., Elsu
”

I sat, staring blindly at the picture. I quickly turned off the truck and rushed back to my office. I turned on the monitor and flipped through the camera feeds until I found the one that was pointed at the parking lot. Rewinding through the video, I finally watched as an Escalade pulled up around two in the afternoon, blocking my view of Little José. I watched as Elsu emerged from the back seat, walked around his vehicle and to what I assumed was mine to place the picture. He returned to his door and before he reentered his vehicle, looked towards the shop as if he was thinking about something. Someone from inside the car caught his attention and he got in and they drove away. I continued to stare at the monitor. “Who does that?” I asked myself.

I soon realized I had been repeatedly hitting the rewind button, watching Elsu get out of and into his car over and over. Pausing as I watched the look of puzzlement come and go across his face. What was he thinking? What was
I
thinking? I quickly shook my head, attempting to remove
that
thought from my head.

I turned off the monitor, hung the picture on my bulletin board and went home.

As soon as I got off the elevator I went straight to Colette's door and began pounding. “I need to talk to you! If you're not alone, he has to leave!” I shouted between my incessant banging.

The door opened quickly and Colette stood before me wrapped in a towel, her hair in a shower cap. She was still dripping wet. I walked past her without being invited. “Go finish what you're doing, I need to talk to you.”

Colette quickly changed into her pajamas and returned to her living room where we sat together on her couch. “Ok chick, spill.”

“So, yesterday Elsu and most of the team show up at the hospital. A complete surprise to everyone. Elsu didn't come till a little later than the rest of the team and instead of going to see Brandon first, he found me and greeted me by rubbing my shoulders!”