A Christmas Song (6 page)

Denise shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not. But one of the local radio stations and some of the television stations will be there broadcasting for those who can’t attend.”

The mayor arrived and the news reporters set in on him and some of the people in his party, giving Denise time to breathe.

Martin squeezed her shoulders gently. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for the kids.” They walked away from the reporters and joined Bernard and Keisha.

“No thanks needed. It’s for the kids.” Maybe her past Christmases as a child would have been a little merrier if someone had done a benefit for them.

Martin took her hand in his. “And I’m looking forward to dancing with you tonight and meeting Three-Ringed Circus. I have all their CDs.”

“You’re going meet them soon. They’re on their way here now for the tour.”

Martin looked excited. “Here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just found out, and I wanted the fellows to see how much you’ve done for the place without fans here disrupting the benefit. Some fans have already found out they’re at the hotel and they’ve been hanging around trying to get a look at them.”

“Smart plan.”

The band arrived shortly after the first tour started. Martin had stayed behind with her, while Keisha and Bernard took the first tour.

Vince entered the lobby first. “Wow, will you look at this place. It looks like a palace compared to the way it looked when we were kids.”

Dante and M. J. entered behind him.

Denise waved them over. The three men dwarfed her and Martin. “Guys this is Martin Jefferson. He’s the new director of Huntington and a big fan of yours. Martin, this is Vince Nielson, Dante Valero, and Michael Julian.” It felt strange calling M. J. by his given name.

Martin extended his hand to M. J. first. “I’m so glad to meet you guys. Denise has told me so much about you. Where’s Trent?”

“He’s out front signing autographs. The fans have found out we’re here and they pounced on us as soon as we got out the van,” Dante said.

“And you just left him?” Denise asked.

“Heck yeah. He’s not as fast as we are and he has all that hair holding him down.”

Trent entered, looking lost and frustrated. He’d dressed up a bit putting a T-shirt under his vest so his sexy chest wouldn’t show. He also wore a pair of skin-tight jeans that left very little to the imagination.

Denise ran her tongue over her bottom lip. The man did look delectable. She walked over to him.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I got mobbed.” He ran his hand through his long brown hair to straighten it out.

“It’s okay. Come on. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” They walked back over to the group. “Martin, this is Trent Lansing, the lead singer of Three-Ringed Circus. Trent, this is Martin Jefferson, the director of Huntington.”

Trent towered over the black man. He outweighed Martin too. Martin was a true businessman in every respect and she couldn’t ever recall the man not wearing a suit. Trent on the other hand liked jeans and T-shirts and probably had to have suits made for him since he was so broad in the shoulders and chest.

Another tour guide appeared and some other guests had arrived.

“I guess it’s our turn,” Martin said, taking her hand.

Her eyes followed the path of Trent’s gaze down to their conjoined hands. Then one light brown eyebrow raised in question. It didn’t make sense to remove her hand from his since Martin always held her hand. It had never felt uncomfortable before, since being around Martin was like being around Dante, even though Martin wanted it to be more. However now that she’d “reacquainted” her body with Trent, it just felt wrong. Not wanting to cause a scene, she just let him hold her hand, but knew it was time for her and Martin to have a serious talk that she had been putting off.

The tour began first at the administrative office and then on to the kitchen and cafeteria areas. Martin talked about how the orphanage could use a more up-to-date kitchen and appliances and it still had the same antiquated dishwasher it had back when they were kids. It still worked, but it was getting harder to find parts when it needed to be repaired.

The tour guide took them out to the play area. A few of the smaller kids were out on the sliding board and swings. Some of them looked in awe at the four large men accompanying her and Martin.

“Man, were we ever that little?” Vince asked.

Denise nodded. “Yes, we were.”

Trent left them and walked over to a big oak tree. The rest of them followed, including the tour guide. “We used to have a tire swing here.”

Denise did recall that. “I remember M. J. breaking his arm when he jumped from one of the limbs.”

“I’m trying not to remember that,” M. J. said with an embarrassed chuckle. “I had to wear a cast all summer.”

“Our initials are still here too,” Trent said.

Martin walked over to see. There was a heart carved into the trunk, with the initials T. L. and D. S. inside it. “How old were you guys back then?”

“Eight,” Denise answered. She looked over at Trent and smiled. “He was my knight in shining armor.”

Trent smiled back at her.

“We better go meet the kids,” Denise said.

The tour guide led them to the dorms. Boys were housed on one side of the building and girls on the other. Each dorm room had three sets of bunk beds, which meant six kids to a room. Children under six were housed in another location. Some of the older kids recognized the members of the band. Trent and the others passed out CDs and gave autographs. The media ate it up, shooting videos and showing a warmer side to the heavy metal band. The reporters asked them questions about growing up at Huntington and what was their wish for the orphanage in the future. The band members were perfect spokesmen for the orphanage.

There was a small social in the cafeteria where punch, finger sandwiches, and cake were served. Afterwards they all piled into the van. The driver dropped her and Keisha at the beauty salon and took the guys back to the hotel to hang out at the pool.

“That went fairly well,” Keisha said at the beauty salon. “But whose hand will you be holding tonight?”

Chapter Four

Denise walked around poolside dressed in jeans and a T-shirt while the guys swam around in the pool. They tried to encourage her to join them and she fussed at them for thinking she wanted to mess up her hair.

Keisha had a short hairdo now so she didn’t have to wear curlers. She went back to work behind the front desk so she could have the night off. Afterwards she’d drive home to get dressed and then leave for the benefit with Jerome.

The twins, Jose and Juan, found her just as she headed toward the pool area with a tray holding a pitcher of lemonade and sandwiches for them to enjoy. Juan took the tray from her, while Jose sidled up to her and talked to her as they walked.

“How is the benefit coming along?”

“It’s coming along fine. You’ll see for yourself tonight.”

Both Juan and Jose came to them from Huntington’s and she’d invited them because it was the first chance to dress up and socialize.

“Will you dance with me tonight?”

Denise nodded. “If I can get you away from all the ladies standing in line to dance with you and your brother.”

“So I can take that as a yes?”

Denise chuckled at his persistence. “Yes, but nothing too fast. I’m an old woman.”

“You’re just six years older than me and I like older women.” He didn’t see Trent standing behind him until it was too late.

“Older women are so overrated.”

Jose jumped.

“They’re grumpy and they like to have their way.” Trent accepted the glass from Juan. “And besides, this old lady is mine.”

Jose sized Trent up with his eyes. “Miss Denise is never grumpy and she’s not that much older than me.”

Vince and Dante came out of the pool next and joined the conversation.

“I dated an older woman before,” Vince told Jose. “She smelled like Bengay.” He sniffed Denise. “She smells wonderful.”

Denise tried not to smile. “That’s not nice. The poor woman must have had a few stiff joints.”

“Or wanted one,” Juan said.

Jose and the others laughed at his brother’s joke.

Denise shook her head at them. “Put the tray on the table, Juan, and let them serve themselves. You two can go back to work and then go to your rooms to rest for the evening.”

Juan followed her instructions and pulled his lusting brother along with him.

M. J. and Bernard were still in the pool playing. She caught M. J. giving Bernard a huge kiss. Her two friends did look happy, but she wondered what kind of future they could have when M. J. lived in Los Angeles.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Trent told her.

“I was just thinking about those two. How can they be together if M.J. lives in Los Angeles?”

“Things will work out if they’re meant to be together.”

She wondered if he were talking more about him and her than M.J. and Bernard. “You really think so?”

Trent nodded. “I guess I better let you pencil me in on your dance card tonight too. If I can get Jose off you.”

“Yeah, he’s quite the little demon. But I think I can fit you in.”

“Can you fit me in after the benefit too?”

Denise smirked at him. “Maybe, but won’t you be tired from performing?”

“Darling, I’ll never get too tired for romance. We’ll meet in your suite and I’ll bring the champagne.”

“Okay and I’ll bring the condoms.”

Trent smiled at her. “Oh, one other thing. Are you in a relationship with Martin? I couldn’t help but notice the way he looks at you.”

Denise shook her head. “No. We’ve dated a couple of times but we’re not a couple.”

“Good. I don’t like competition.”

Unsure how to respond, Denise walked away from him and went back inside the hotel to see how lunch was coming along. Then she was off to her room for a nap.

§ § §

The kids were excited as they entered the hall. Christmas music filtered out through the speakers and everyone walked around wishing each other Merry Christmas. The children were served a delicious meal of turkey, whipped potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Dessert was cake decorated in white icing with red and green sprinkles. Denise sighed contently. Everything was perfect.

Santa arrived around seven and began distributing the toys donated to the Doll and Toy fund. Each child also received new clothes and shoes donated by local clothing stores.

After all the children had been served and sent back to the orphanage, the catering service began rearranging the tables to serve the adults. Bernard, Keisha, and Jerome sat at the reserved table with her and Martin. Four other seats were marked for the members of Three-Ringed Circus who would be joining them shortly. There were also seats at their table for Enrique and his band members. The other group, Popsation would sit at the table next to them.

The three bands came out a few minutes later. Three-Ringed Circus and Popsation sat down while Enrique and the Latin Rhythmics took the stage. Everyone rose.

Denise was barely on her feet when Jose appeared and pulled her to the dance floor. He looked cute in his black tux and he had no problem wiggling his slim hips to the sultry Latin song. The moves proved a little harder for her because she wore a long gown and had to balance in high heels.

Bernard also didn’t have trouble shaking his little narrow rump on the dance floor with M. J.

Keisha danced near her once she coaxed Jerome to dance with her.

Popsation took the bandstand two hours later. They had a younger, hipper beat, and just as she told them, both Jose and Juan were very popular dance partners.