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“What meeting does she have today? You both looked like doom and gloom when she talked about it.”
DeMarcus lowered his menu when the server arrived to take their drink order. He and his father requested unsweetened iced tea. The young man nodded without writing anything down, then walked away.
DeMarcus spread his cloth napkin on his lap. “Gerry arranged a meeting with a Nevada investor who’s considering building an arena in Las Vegas for the Monarchs.”
Julian’s menu dropped from his fingers. “The Monarchs’ founders must be spinning in their graves.”
“Jack won’t let anyone take the team out of Brooklyn.” DeMarcus hesitated. “She’s taken a mortgage on her grandfather’s house. She’s going to buy the arena.”
Julian’s brows almost disappeared into his graying hairline. “That’s a little drastic, isn’t it?”
“I said the same thing.” DeMarcus scanned the entrée items without taking in a single word. “And there’s nothing I can do to help her. She won’t let me loan her the money for the arena.”
“It isn’t personal. I’m sure she’d have to clear that with the NBA. Besides, Jackie Jones is too independent to borrow money from her boyfriend. She’s the kind of woman who pays her own bills.”
Julian’s description distracted DeMarcus. He was Jaclyn Jones’s boyfriend. What had started as a casual relationship had grown to mean much more to him. What did it mean to her?
The server returned with their drinks, then took their orders. DeMarcus asked for a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Julian wanted a meatball sub. They both ordered side salads.
DeMarcus waited for the young man to leave before continuing. “I have my self-respect, too. This relationship can’t be one-sided. Even if I coached the team to the Finals and we won, she could still lose the arena. So what am I contributing?”
“A winning season and ticket sales.” Julian’s tone was dry. “You’re the coach, Marc. That’s all you’re required to contribute. The franchise needs to increase its revenue base, otherwise Jackie will continue to struggle to keep the Empire.” His father offered a smile. “She still needs a hero, Marc.”
DeMarcus snorted. “I’m no one’s hero.”
Julian’s snort was identical to his son’s. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. You’re her knight in shining armor.”
A part of him wished Julian was serious. But DeMarcus knew his father was trying to lighten the mood. “Somehow, I don’t think a knight would put his lady in the position of having to mortgage her home.”
“That has nothing to do with you.” Julian was adamant. “The franchise began to deteriorate long before you came on the scene.”
“What can I do to help her?”
“You’re doing it. For the first time in three seasons, the Monarchs have a winning record. You have twenty-nine W’ s to twenty-two L’s.”
At the start of the season, there were days DeMarcus had wondered whether a winning season was possible. “We have to add to the wins column. But winning a ball game doesn’t seem like enough.”
He’d won games for his mother. Had it been enough? Had she known how grateful he’d been to her?
Jaclyn had urged him to ask his father months ago. But he couldn’t. He feared what the answer might be.
For now, DeMarcus pushed the questions to the back of his mind. “You impressed Althea.”
“She must be easily impressed.”
DeMarcus’s chuckle was real. “You don’t know Althea. That lady isn’t easily impressed by anyone or anything. Ever.”
Julian shrugged. “You’re just flattered by her comment about the apple and the tree.”
“You’re the one who should be flattered.” DeMarcus enjoyed his father’s laughter. It came a lot more frequently these days. Since Jaclyn had entered their lives.
They were quiet for a while, each enjoying the other’s company and the view outside of Brooklyn in February. The silence was interrupted when the young server returned with their sandwiches and salads.
DeMarcus kept his voice low. “Mom’s been gone for almost three years, Pop. I don’t think she would have wanted you to spend the rest of your life in mourning.”
“I know.” Julian stuck his fork into his salad and poked around. “But your mother and I were together for a very long time. It’s not easy to let go of someone who’d been so right for me.”
DeMarcus thought of Jaclyn. He understood what his father said. When you meet the right woman, it wasn’t easy to let her go, under any circumstances.
