I have to admit to feeling some smugness at the moment. Usually I do not try to make my charges go out of their way; up until now, I have not been very successful at such maneuvers. But I managed this today, to great effect.
Lauren had intended to head straight home after choir practice, but I reminded her that she had a few things that she needed from the local drug store. So she picked up her bag and went for a walk, the school being only a few blocks away from where she needed to be. And it just so happened that along the way, she turned her head at the right moment and spotted Jonathan through the window of a second-hand[1] boutique, arguing with the owner.
Curious—a feeling that I encouraged—Lauren crossed the street and went into the store. Jonathan and Mrs. Hobby didn’t look up, and Lauren ducked behind a rack of clothing, listening to the argument.
“—don’t understand why you’re so enthusiastic this year, Jon.”
“Because this year is when the budget is being cut, Erika,” Jonathan replied, an edge of exasperation on his voice. “They didn’t need the help last year.”
Mrs. Hobby sighed heavily. “I’ll think about it.”
“I don’t need you to think about it, actually. I need you to talk to your husband about it.”
“I know what he’ll say. He hardly ever makes donations.”
“Well, then, supporting the school is a good place to start,” Jonathan said.
Lauren’s heart was jumping. She peered around the rack of clothing to see Jonathan standing apparently at his ease, his hands resting on the counter. Mrs. Hobby was half-turned away, clearly wishing to be anywhere else.
“I don’t know, Jon. It hasn’t been such a good year—”
“Bullshit,” Jonathan said, making Lauren jump a little bit. He raised his brows at Mrs. Hobby. “I’ve seen the car your son’s been driving lately, and I don’t think he earned the money for it himself. You and Greg are having a banner year between this and the computer store. You have a little bit for the musical.”
Now Mrs. Hobby was angry. She folded her arms, so tightly that her elbows made sharp corners under her silk shirt. “Do you really think you can bully me into this, Jonathan Harris?” Her mouth curved up on one side. “I’ll call your mother on you, just you watch me.”
Only the tightening of Jonathan’s jaw showed that this affected him. “Go ahead,” he said, gesturing to the phone. “She’ll be on my side.”
Apparently Mrs. Hobby knew the truth of this, because she scoffed and pushed a hand through her graying hair. “You were so quick to talk about my son—if I were going to help the school, shouldn’t it be to something that will benefit him?”
“He’s on the football team, Erika. He’s already got all the support he needs.” Jonathan leaned forward. “But there are other kids in that school who don’t get what they need from sports. They’re the ones who will feel abandoned and betrayed if what they depend on, what makes them happy, is taken away from them. And it will not benefit Matt to see his peers shat upon by the school system any more than they already are, because they are all part of the same community—our community.” Jonathan threw out an arm to encompass the whole town. “These people support us, Erika. We owe it to them to give back.”
This impassioned speech affected Mrs. Hobby nearly as much as it did Lauren. She bit her lip, then sighed and threw up her hands. “All right, all right. I’ll talk to Greg.”
“Thank you,” Jonathan said, stepping back from the counter. “I’ll give you a call later this week, then.”
“I’m sure you will,” Mrs. Hobby muttered as Jonathan strode out of the shop.
Lauren, practically jumping in her excitement, bounded out after Jonathan and ran down the sidewalk to catch him. “Jonathan!”
He spun around, blinking at her. “Lauren, what—”
She threw her arms around his neck, nearly knocking him off his feet. He had only the briefest glimpse of her glowing eyes and flushed face before she seized him by the ears and kissed him.
The feeling that rushed through him surprised him as much as it did me. You all know, of course, that Jonathan is not given to strong emotion, and that I have found this frustrating, as it makes him difficult to read. This, however, was as plain as day. Lauren’s kiss suddenly threw open a realm of possibilities with her that he had not yet allowed himself to consider, and the relief of knowing that he could express these feelings left him feeling stunned, even after Lauren released him and dropped back onto her feet.
“What—” was all he could say.
Lauren only laughed and slipped her arms around his waist, squeezing tightly. “Thank you,” she said, pressing her cheek to his chest. “Thank you so much.”
Understanding cleared his head, and he detached her from him with some difficulty, his hands firm on her shoulders. “You heard that?”
“Yes, and I’m so impressed,” she laughed. “Everyone knows how tightfisted Erika Hobby is. If you can get money from her, you are so my hero.”
The words warmed him, but he pressed the feeling back, frowning at her. “Lauren,” he said slowly, “I’m happy to do this, of course—but I need you to know that I’m not doing this just to impress you.”
Rather that disturb her, this made her heart pick up even faster. “I know,” she said, “and that’s what makes me want to kiss you all over again. You’re not doing it for me—you’re doing it for the kids, right?”
Her eyes were so bright that he had to look away. Now there was a faint flush on his cheeks, too.
Lauren reached up and pulled his face back around to hers. “That is exactly what I find so sexy,” she murmured, and kissed him again.
Though he was still not quite sure that she understood him, Jonathan closed his eyes and pulled her close, hooking his fingers into her belt loops.
When he lifted his head, they stood for a moment looking at one another. That warmth that comes with a new relationship, the shared knowledge that everything has changed between two people for the better, was brilliant to my eyes.
Finally Lauren laughed and stepped back. “Of course, I hope that I was also a contributing factor,” she said, toying with the button on the cuff of his shirt.
That made Jonathan smile, too. “What do you think?” he asked, and bent to kiss her again.
She was, of course. Jonathan has always had this wish to help young people, but never before has he had the opportunity. Now, however, with Lauren as inspiration and example, he knows what to do, and he is doing it with all his strength.
I am glad at my part in it, and proud of my work. This may well be the reason that I was led to Jonathan in the first place. I hope that his good work continues as the relationship with Lauren develops. We shall certainly see.
[1] This phrase is applied to items that have been used and are now being sold again. They have passed from one hand, as it were, and will be taken up by another.