Happy New Year, Baby Read online

  “Thank you.” She forced her gaze away from him in an effort to collect herself. “Everything goes wrong when you’re in a hurry.”

  “Happens to me, too. I was late getting out of a meeting to get here; took me ten minutes to find my car keys. And they were sitting on my desk the whole time I searched the floor and every inch of the rest of my office.” He laughed. “Are you—”

  “Senator Raymond is ready, sir.” A young man spoke to him in a respectful tone.

  “Thank you, Carl.” He lingered looking at the floor then at her. “Got everything? I…” A voice began talking into a microphone. “Excuse me.”

  He seemed apologetic about the need to rush off. Shani felt a sudden gap in the atmosphere when he left, as though the wonderful fresh air surrounding him was sucked away with his leaving. She followed him feeling somewhat dazed by their encounter. A strong urge to be near him pulled at her like a magnetic force. This man she had never met before seemed not only familiar, but someone she knew intimately. With a strange certainty, Shani had a sense that they would like the same music, movies and be able to talk for hours with no awkward silences. Get it together, girl. Seeing Paulette waving her over to an empty seat, she sat down.

  “Ready?” Paulette spoke into her ear.

  Shani could only nod. She scanned the audience looking for the man who had shaken her tenuous composure. Craning her neck, she looked for the gray suit among the assembly of representatives from community action agencies. There were many familiar faces, but the newcomer was not among them.

  “Did you see the tall man in a gray suit? Which agency does he work for?” Shani tried to make herself heard over the buzz around them.

  Paulette leaned closer. “What? I couldn’t hear you.”

  “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is the Joint Health and Welfare Committee. I’m Senator Harold T. Raymond of Sunset, chairman of this committee. We will be hearing testimony regarding items included in the budget for the Department of Health and Hospitals. Specifically, those funded with block grants and Medicaid funds. We have cards with the names of those who wish to present information. If you wish to do so, please complete a card. Each speaker is limited to three minutes.”

  The chairman continued for several minutes laying out the rules. Shani did not pay attention to him as she was still looking on either side behind her. Convinced she would have to wait until later to complete her search, she faced forward in time to hear the other legislators sitting around the dais introduce themselves.

  “Senator Eric Aucoin, district eighteen.”

  “Oh my!” Shani groaned. Her mouth dropped open.

  Paulette touched her arm and frowned at her with concern. “You all right, babe?”

  “No, yes.” Shani shut her eyes. “Just my luck,” She ground her teeth in frustration and anger at herself.

  “Huh?” Paulette’s arched eyebrows came together in a puzzled expression.

  “Nothing. Forget it.”

  Shani pushed away the warm thoughts of him. Her own harsh words to Terrilyn came back to her. She, too, would do well to look beyond the attractive packaging and remember the threat this man posed to programs vital to poor communities.

  The hearings began with Ruth Frazier, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, giving a detailed description of the agency’s budget. This was followed by fifteen minutes of sharp questioning by the senators. It became clear which senators were sympathetic to social programs and which were skeptical of their usefulness. Shani became angrier by the minute as Senator Aucoin criticized program after program as having shown rapid growth with no evidence that they were effective in reducing the problems they were designed to address.

  “With all due respect, Madame Secretary, these programs have shown an average increase of eighty-five percent in the last four years. Yet we’ve all read in the newspapers that control and regulation of them have been severely lacking.” Eric held up copies of the Baton Rouge Advocate and the New Orleans Times Picayune. “Furthermore, even you have admitted that those most in need are not getting the services.” Gone was the radiant smile that had so captivated Shani only a short time ago. He wore a serious, searching expression as he waited for a reply.

  Though it was only about twenty minutes, the grilling of Secretary Frazier seemed to go on forever. At last the microphone was free for comments from others. Paulette’s name was called.

  “Senator Aucoin is one tough nut.” Paulette pursed her lips. “I’m going to pass. You go.” She nudged Shani.

  “Hey, wait a—” Shani began.

  “Ms. Paulette Gauthier.” Senator Raymond called her name a second time.

  Paulette stood up. “Ms. Moore will speak next, sir. You should have her card behind mine.” She clapped her hands causing a smattering of applause to increase until everyone in the audience joined in.

  “Oh my,” Shani mumbled.

  Now she would have to give up the protective cover of the crowd. Worst yet, she must face Eric Aucoin, an opponent she had drooled over like an overheated moron. She walked to the table dreading each step. She looked up from her notes to find him staring at her with a slight smile. Humiliation and anger flooded her. Shani sat up straight and fixed him with what she hoped was a cold blank expression.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Shani Moore and I’m the executive director of Mid-City Community Development, Incorporated. We’re a private nonprofit social service agency that operates a range of programs that address needs of the very young to the very old. For example, we have health screening for at-risk infants and home delivery of meals to the elderly. Certainly we acknowledge that mistakes have been made in the implementation of programs. We providers deplore the lack of controls that result in funds being wasted since it means less for those truly in need. But we will not stand by while those who have a conservative agenda use this as an opportunity to plunder agencies that have kept blighted, abandoned neighborhoods from complete despair.”

  Shani looked at each of the senators in turn. She stared at Eric whose smile began a slow fade.

  “Those who should, better than anyone, remember the barriers they faced now suffer amnesia. Certainly as you wield power and enjoy your success, keep in mind that you have left others who still struggle against tremendous odds.” Shani pushed back the chair to stand.

  “Ms. Moore,” Eric said into the microphone in a voice strained with controlled indignation. “Do you have proof that your programs result in measurable positive change in the neighborhoods you serve?” He went on before she could answer. “It seems the only answer given by those who favor such programs is to promise results if more money is given. The only real result dependence on welfare, rather than using it as a springboard of opportunity to be self-supporting.”

  “Senator, it’s simplistic to look at such a complex issue as the poverty rate and lay all the blame on the welfare system. Economic and social changes have led to displacement of large segments of the workforce. Not to mention inequities in education and employment opportunities that have existed for generations.” Shani spoke in a measured tone yet her dark brown eyes flashed with anger.

  Eric shook his head slowly. “It’s time for us to take responsibility for ourselves and not behave as victims. What we need is to spend less time wringing our hands about life being unfair and more time working.”

  His words brought a smattering of applause from the audience and nods from most of the legislators on the committee.

  “That’s what our agency does, Senator Aucoin. But to ignore the causes of a problem makes no more sense than for a doctor to ignore the origins of a terrible illness. No treatment can be effective without at least an understanding of the forces that work against a cure.” Shani’s voice rose with force. Loud clapping and voices of assent burst forth. “Most of you oppose our programs without having visited the communities we serve. I challenge you to look into the faces of those whose lives you will change so drastically.” She got up an
d strode back to her seat beside Paulette.

  For the rest of the comments she sat stone faced. There was testimony from others who advocated cutting funding for many programs. Many echoed the words of Senator Aucoin. Shani fumed at the man she saw as the worst kind of traitor. The man had no compassion. She glanced up to find him watching her. A tingle went through her body as she gazed into those arresting eyes. With effort, she looked away. Not again. She was not going to repeat falling for the wrong man. And he was more than the wrong man, they had nothing in common. He was the antithesis of everything she looked for in a man. Not that she was looking. Of course I’m not looking. Now forget it. Stop thinking of that. Shani clenched her teeth with determination to focus on her work and saving the center.

  After the hearing was over, she stood in the hallway being congratulated by her colleagues.

  “Perfect aim. You hit him right between the eyes with a nice mixture of facts and emotion. I hope the news cameras got that expression on Senator Aucoin face when you started talking. Oo-wee, he was steaming.” Paulette chuckled.

  “Yes, you were fantastic in there.” Joanne nodded.

  “As long as they can demonize the poor, their consciences are eased. They give welfare to the rich claiming it trickles down,” Shani said. Murmurs of support and agreement fortified her.

  As she continued to talk with her friends, Shani pushed away thoughts of his eyes and lips. She welcomed the return of her wrath. How could she feel anything but repulsion for the man? All of the work done for years by dedicated men and women would be undone with one stroke if he had his way. Senator Aucoin was the enemy. And that was that. Shani’s small sigh of relief was cut short when a rich voice brought back that tingle. This time it shot up her spine when he spoke right over her shoulder.

  “Ms. Moore, I accept your challenge. How’s Thursday?”

  Shani turned around to find those eyes and lips only inches away. For a heart beat the nearness of him mesmerized her. The tall, muscular frame filled her vision. She felt a wild urge to take his hand. Paulette’s voice brought her back to the present.

  “Senator Aucoin, I’m… we’ll be happy to meet with you then. Right, Ms. Moore?” Paulette shook Shani’s arm.

  “What?” Shani blinked at her.

  “Senator Aucoin would like to visit the center next Thursday. You have your planner right here. Our meeting with the city Human Services staff was rescheduled. I think you’re free.” Paulette raised an eyebrow at her.

  Shani fumbled with the leather planner, flipping to the daily calendar after several seconds of searching. “Uh, yes. I don’t have anything in the morning.”

  “Good. Ten o’clock?” Eric stood looking down at her. He wore a “put up or shut up” expression.

  Shani nodded. “Yes. That’s fine.”

  “Then I’ll see you Thursday. Goodbye.” He held out his hand.

  “Goodbye.” Shani steeled herself not to react, at least visibly, before shaking his hand. It did not help to feel the smooth flesh. She assumed the most grim, cool look she could muster.

  Eric strode off followed by several other young African-American men. His shoulders moved above most other men through the crowd.

  “Well, I thought we were going to need smelling salts for a minute back there,” Paulette whispered into her ear.

  “What do you mean?” Shani brushed the front of her suit and looked away as they walked outside ahead of the Joanne and Susan.

  “Honey, don’t even try it. I’ve known you for a long time. That good-looking man reached out and touched you with those gorgeous eyes. And in more places than just your heart.” Paulette laughed deep in her throat

  “He touched me all right. Here.” Shani pointed to her stomach.’ ‘I’m still nauseous from exposure to his arrogant, insensitive views.”

  Paulette held her back. “Y’all go on; we’ll catch up,” she said to the other two women then faced Shani with a knowing squint. “There was real heat bouncing between you two. Senator Aucoin was checking you out, baby. And he liked what he saw.”

  “Oh, please. He was fired up all right. Ready to burn my butt and Mid-City.” Shani waved a dismissal of her words. She walked off afraid Paulette would see the excitement her words had caused. So, he was attracted to her, too. Interesting.

  “Listen to the voice of experience. The passion of opposing opinions, the clash of two strong wills is a potent aphrodisiac. Just don’t get swept away.”

  Shani stopped walking and looked at her friend with a defiant smile. “Eric Aucoin is a legend in his own mind as far as I’m concerned. Don’t worry. I won’t be used ever again. Not by him or anyone else.”

  Paulette had scored a direct hit on a sore spot. The hurt Robert had caused her came back with a vengeance. Shani wanted to make it clear that Eric did not have her so enthralled that she could not think straight. But was she trying to convince Paulette or herself?

  “Whoa! Excuse me.” Paulette eyed her. “Guess I was wrong.” She looked skeptical still.

  “Yes, you are. And next Thursday will be a day Senator Aucoin won’t forget for a very long time. We’re going to hit him hard where it hurts. He’ll be dizzy for weeks when I’m through with him.” Shani smiled with wicked glee as a plan formed.

  Chapter 2

  Eric stared out the window of his office at the yellow, red, and brown leaves trembling in the chill wind. One hand rested on the pile of papers on his desk. Since arriving in at eight o’clock that morning, he had struggled to concentrate. Somehow it was difficult to make sense of the facts and figures. The rough draft of a bill he planned to submit to the Senate was far from complete. One bill in particular caused his mind to wander. It would result in deep cuts to a grant program that funded community agencies in poor urban areas of the state. The words brought back a vivid image of a beautiful face with dark brown eyes flashing with outrage. Eric was confused by his reaction to her. Based on their encounter, he should want to steer clear of the woman. Yet he kept thinking about her. At odd moments for the past two days she came to mind. Never had he let what anyone thought bother him. He was used to being lambasted by other African-Americans for his conservative view of such issues as the welfare system and affirmative action. Yet her accusation that he did not care about his own community chafed like a piece of sandpaper on a now raw conscience. It disturbed him that she had such a low opinion of his motives. But why? Having dated some of the most attractive, talented women in the state, Eric was peeved that this one female could set off doubts about his positions. Doubts that had never surfaced before.

  “Knock, knock.” Dalton Aucoin, tall with iron gray hair, strode into the office. He sat down in a large red leather chair opposite Eric’s desk. “How are you, son?”

  “Fine, Dad. What are you up to this morning?” Eric shifted the stack of files to the side. He hoped his perceptive father would not pick up on his pensive, ambivalent mood.

  Dalton Aucoin owed his success in the construction business to his skill at putting up sturdy and attractive buildings at a reasonable cost. But his reputation for refusing to sacrifice quality was legendary. At fifty-six, he had achieved the success his father had always wanted. Dalton liked to tell how he fought his way to the top in spite of being born into a poor family of fifteen children. And as he told his children, he let no one tell him what he could or could not be.

  “I had to light a fire under that Tellwood crew. Subcontractors can be a real problem. Before I got so big, Landmark Construction did it all, you know. Oh well, the price of success.” His father leaned forward to pluck a several sheets from the pile. He peered at them for several minutes. “See you’ve made solid progress. Good start, son.”

  “Yes, I’m still studying some of the research done by the party consultants.”

  “Any surprises? We know most of the programs are top heavy with high-paid paper pushers. Those folks are more interested in getting plum jobs for their relatives than helping the poor.” Dalton snorted with disgust.

/>   “Not all of them, Dad. A few could get rid of administrative layers that are clearly unnecessary. And some have questionable management of funds.” Eric thumbed through a report that summarized data on twelve of the largest agencies.

  Dalton stabbed the air with a forefinger. “What we need is a better business atmosphere. Lift all these regulations so businesses can operate more efficiently. Profits will go up, jobs will be created, and we can put people to work. Handouts only keep a man down.”

  “But we do have to have a safety net for some.”

  “I don’t argue with that. There are elderly and disabled folks who need support. But things have gotten way out of hand with all these give away welfare type deals.” Dalton stood and glanced at his gold wrist watch. “1 know you’ll do the right thing. I’m off to a meeting with the mayor on that urban renewal project.”

  Dalton waved goodbye without looking back. He hurried off though he would probably be the first to arrive. He was also famous for being punctual.

  “Bye, Dad.” Eric sighed with relief that Dalton had a lot on his mind this morning. But he could not relax just yet. His friend Chris exchanged a brief conversation with Dalton in the hall then headed for his office.

  “What’s up, dude?” Chris sauntered in. He was dressed in the latest, casual designer clothes. He draped one leg over the chair Dalton just vacated. Chris had his own telecommunications company. Tel-Com, Inc.‘s offices were on the same floor on the opposite side.

  “Nothing much.” Eric grunted and tapped the folders. “A little light reading.”

  “Better you than me.” Chris wrinkled his nose. “Give me a set of blueprints any day over that.”

  “Come on. I’ve seen you handle the most complex government manuals. You could whip through this stuff in no time.” Eric took up his familiar theme of trying to convince Chris to run for office.

  “No thanks. I’ll leave the job of steering the ship of state in your able hands. You’ve got ideas on how to turn this state around.”