A Very Merry Romance (Madaris Series Book 21) Read online

  “Ms. Bannister?”

  Marilyn didn’t recognize the voice. “Yes?”

  “This is Darlene Ward from the Texas Senate office. Please hold for Senator Jordan.”

  Marilyn smiled. During her first year at Texas Southern, she’d joined Barbara Jordan’s campaign. She and a lot of others had worked tirelessly, knocking on doors, holding rallies and working phone banks to make sure that people got out and voted. Their efforts had paid off when Texas Southern University’s alum, Barbara Jordan, had won the Texas Senate seat. She became the first African American woman to hold that office since Reconstruction.

  Everyone was happy Senator Jordan had set her sights on Washington, to make a run for Congress. Marilyn had already received her invitation to the party Barbara was hosting in a few months to kick off her campaign.

  Barbara had always treated her campaign workers with dignity and respect. And over the years, she had become Marilyn’s mentor and good friend. She’d always given Marilyn solid advice. At one time, Marilyn had considered going to law school, because she wanted to make a difference. But deep down, she believed education was her calling. Barbara had urged her to find a way to do some good in the classroom. She didn’t have to dismiss the idea of law school, but right now, Marilyn knew she was meant to be a teacher.

  “I was hoping I caught you before you left. I wanted to wish you luck on your first day.”

  Marilyn smiled. “Thanks, Barbara. I’m excited.”

  “Did you get a car?”

  “No, but I really don’t need one. My apartment is only a block from the school. If the weather is bad, I’ll catch a cab. No big deal.” What she didn’t have to tell Barbara, mainly because her friend already knew, was that she couldn’t really afford a car right now, since she was sending money to her parents in San Antonio.

  Her father had been injured on the job six months ago and hadn’t gone back to work. So right now, extra money was needed at home.

  Marilyn was the youngest of three kids. Stuart Jr., who was four years older than her, was a policeman. Roland was two years older and was in medical school at Morehouse. Even though she was the baby of the family—and just starting her first job--she didn’t think twice about helping her parents.

  She understood Roland’s predicament with medical school. But Stuart Jr. was another story. He didn’t have any kids and Arlene had a pretty good job, working for the city of San Antonio. However, her oldest brother never seemed to have any money. If that was true, what was he doing with it?

  Marilyn’s parents were the greatest, and she was extremely close to them. She wasn’t ashamed to admit to being a daddy’s girl. Her father, who’d worked as a driver at the Hannagan Manufacturing Company for as long as she could remember, had always provided well for his family.

  She’d even thought about moving back home and getting a teaching job in San Antonio to help out. However, she had been recruited for a position in the Houston School System before graduation, with a salary that San Antonio couldn’t come close to matching.

  Taking the teaching job in Houston made perfect sense at the time, and now she was glad she had. She loved her tiny apartment and had been lucky enough to find one close to the school where she would be teaching. It was in a nice neighborhood, with a grocery store, a laundromat and the library all within walking distance. Cabs ran frequently in the area if she ever needed one and there was a bus stop on the corner.

  After ending her call with Barbara, she went into her bedroom for a quick look in the mirror. She had chosen to wear a dress with a jacket today. Since she would be walking to school this morning, she could remove the jacket if it got too hot and put it back on once she arrived.

  She had talked to her parents last night. They were almost as excited about her first day of school as she was. She hadn’t told them about Arlene’s phone call, though. It would only upset her parents to know Stuart Jr. was causing his wife grief again.

  Shortly after talking to her parents, she’d received a call from her best friend, LeTracia Kinsey. She and Traci, as everyone called her, had been best friends since elementary school. They’d separated after high school, leaving San Antonio to attend the college of their choice, but they’d always found ways to stay in touch. Marilyn had left for Houston, to attend Texas Southern and Traci had moved to Florida to attend a university there.

  But it hadn’t been easy for Marilyn’s friend. Traci had become pregnant in her second year. Unfortunately, the guy had been a total jerk, who’d refused to take responsibility for anything. He’d even suggested she get an abortion. Traci was now a single mom who lived in San Antonio with a beautiful little girl named Erika. Marilyn was Erika’s godmother.

  Marilyn was proud of her best friend. She hadn’t allowed one bad decision to ruin her life. She had learned from it and refused to be defeated. Traci worked at a bank during the day and attended night classes, working toward finishing her degree. She would be graduating in the spring.

  Going into the kitchen, Marilyn grabbed her lunch off the counter. Taking her own lunch every day, instead of buying food in the cafeteria, was another cost-saving move she intended to utilize. Pausing in her living room long enough to slide her purse straps over her shoulder, she quickly headed for the door. Her future started now.

  * * * *

  Jonathan Madaris stood at the window in his office, a cup of coffee in his hand, and looked out. In a couple of hours, the students would start arriving, marking the beginning of another school year. And he was ready. When he’d first decided to be an educator, he had promised himself that he’d make a difference, and he intended to keep that promise.

  Already he had shut the mouths of the naysayers who’d thought he was too young to hold the position of principal, when most of his contemporaries were still in the classrooms. He hadn’t let the talk bother him because very few people had accomplished what he had.

  After graduating from high school at sixteen, he had immediately attended Texas Southern University. In four-and-a-half years, not only had he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education, but a Master’s degree as well. He had been a teacher for couple of years when he’d applied for the principal position at this school. And he’d got it.

  Two years ago, he had turned what was once considered a failing school into a model one. He expected the teachers to do their best and when they didn’t, he made sure they decided to look for employment elsewhere.

  Parkwood Elementary School had a sterling reputation because he and his staff worked together as a team with the same goal--to educate the students to the fullest. The children would spend the first six years of their school lives here, moving from first grade to sixth. Jonathan wanted to make sure that when his students left for junior high school, they were not only academically prepared but mentally, physically and intellectually equipped as well.

  He took a sip of his coffee. Usually he hand-picked his new teachers, but he’d be meeting someone completely new today. In fact, he still had yet to meet the highly recommended Marilyn Bannister. But he was looking forward to it. Not everyone received such a glowing endorsement from Senator Barbara Jordan. All that was well and good; however, he would know by the end of the week if she would last in his school. As principal, he demanded a lot of his teachers.

  He turned when his phone rang. His secretary had her hands full this morning, which was probably the reason the switchboard had sent the call directly to his line. More than likely, it was a family member calling, the way they often did at the start of a new school year, to wish him well. He appreciated their support. He was close to his six brothers and was grateful they’d understood when he’d decided ranching wasn’t his calling. All of them had given him their blessings and urged him to pursue his dream.

  Moving over to his desk, he picked up the phone. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, Jonathan.”

  He frowned, recognizing the voice and wondering why Shirlene Graves was calling him so early. “Shirlene, this is a s
urprise.”

  “I know, but I wanted to catch you before you made plans for later. My parents arrived in town yesterday and I’d like them to meet you. It’s about time, don’t you think?”

  Why would he think that? Although they dated every now and then, it wasn’t as if they were in a serious relationship. He made sure the women he went out with knew the score. He was married to his career...regardless of what his mother might be going around saying.

  His mother...Felicia Laverne Madaris. She was a force of nature. Even his dad was powerless when his wife decided she wanted to do something. Jonathan was well aware that his mother had been instrumental in selecting the wives of his four oldest brothers. He also knew that she was determined to get something going between his other older brother, Robert, and Diana Austin.

  His mother’s shenanigans were fine with Robert, since he’d had his eyes on Diana anyway. In fact, Jonathan suspected Robert appreciated the help. But Jonathan wasn’t looking for a wife. He liked being single and intended to stay that way, at least for a while. Agreeing to meet Shirlene’s parents might put ideas in her head. Ideas he didn’t want there…especially since he planned to take Patrice Leavenworth out to dinner this weekend.

  “Sorry, Shirlene, I can’t make it by this evening.” Or any evening this week, he was tempted to say. “Today is the first day of school and it’s already looking like a busy week.”

  “Oh.”

  He ignored the disappointment he heard in her voice.

  “What about the weekend? Mom and Dad will still be here then. Can you join us for dinner Saturday night?”

  Since it was likely Shirlene would find out anyway--not that he cared one way or the other, since he’d made it clear that they were not in an exclusive relationship--he said, “Sorry, I can’t make it on Saturday, either. I have a date.”

  There was a pause and Jonathan figured she was steaming. He’d heard from more than one source that she was going around telling people that they were a couple.

  “You’re dating other people?” she finally asked in a stinging tone.

  Had she assumed she’d managed to convince every woman in Houston that he was off-limits? “Yes. I assumed you were, as well.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Any reason why not?”

  “Because I’m dating you.”

  “We’ve had this conversation before, Shirlene. We are not exclusive. Why do you keep forgetting that?”

  “I didn’t forget, Jonathan, but I see what you refuse to.”

  “And what’s that?” he asked, sliding into the chair behind his desk.

  “That one day, I will be your wife.”

  He leaned back. Evidently, she knew something he didn’t. “And how do you figure that?”

  “Because you’re a man who is going places. You need a woman by your side who is going places, as well. How many twenty-five-year-old women have enough money to open up their own pharmacy?”

  Jonathan figured there was no need to remind her that it had been her parents who’d purchased the building she’d made into a pharmacy.

  “And your mother likes me,” she added.

  He hated bursting her bubble on that one. His mother would like any woman he brought home…not that he’d ever considered taking her home to meet his mother. She and a girlfriend had happened to pop up one evening at the same restaurant where he, his youngest brother, Jake, and their mother were dining. He often wondered if Shirlene’s appearance that night had been a coincidence or an orchestrated move, since he’d casually mentioned his dinner plans with his family to her the day before. Regardless, it had worked out in Shirlene’s favor. Thanks to his mother, she and her friend had been invited to join the Madarises.

  “The fact that my mother likes you doesn’t mean much, unless you’re marrying her. My mother won’t be selecting my wife.”

  “I heard she found them for all your other brothers.”

  He got up and walked over to the window, glad the phone cord extended that far. It seemed everyone in Houston knew that his mother took pride in playing matchmaker. “If that’s true, it’s between my mother, my brothers and their wives. But rest assured, it won’t be that way with me.”

  “We’ll see.”

  He lifted his brow. Was that a dare? “No, Shirlene, you will see. Have a good day.”

  “Are you going to call me back later?”

  If she had the nerve to ask him that after this conversation, then he needed to respond in a way that would hopefully make things clear. “No, I don’t think so. In fact, I think it’s best if we give each other some space. Goodbye, Shirlene. I wish you well.”

  She didn’t say anything, then slammed the phone down in his ear.

  It looked like the school year was off to a good start.

  2

  “Hi. I’m Carolyn Perkins. Is this your first day at Parkwood, as well?”

  Marilyn glanced up from the stack of papers she’d been given to fill out. The woman who’d slid into the chair beside her was grinning and Marilyn couldn’t help but smile back. It was nice to see a friendly face. “Hello,” she said, accepting the woman’s hand. “I’m Marilyn Bannister. And yes, today is my first day. I’m somewhat nervous.”

  “Why?” the woman asked, looking slightly bemused.

  “Because not only is this my first day at this school, it’s also my first day in the classroom. I just graduated last spring. I’m teaching first grade.”

  “And you were assigned to Parkwood, right off the bat? That’s interesting. I heard Principal Madaris usually prefers to hire experienced teachers; those with at least two years’ teaching experience. You must have a dynamite resume.”

  Marilyn decided not to tell the other woman that what she had was a glowing recommendation from Texas Senator Barbara Jordan. Instead, she asked, “Do you have much classroom experience?” The woman didn’t look any older than she was.

  Carolyn’s smile widened. “Yes. I got my degree at twenty from Grambling University. I’m a proud Grambling Tiger,” she said grinning. “My first teaching assignment was at Cullers Elementary. I put in for a transfer after a year, though. It’s a real nice school but I didn’t get along with the principal, Mr. Wells. The man, a military retiree, was a tyrant. He wanted us to treat the kids like little soldiers. His idea of discipline was out of line, in my book.”

  “Is he still there?” Marilyn asked. She was glad she hadn’t been assigned to Cullers.

  “No. He retired last year. Or should I say, he was forced to resign. That’s when they brought in Helen Chapman. I love her to death and was lucky to work with her for two years. She’s older and had been a high school principal at one point. They needed someone like her at Cullers.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she was the one who opened Cullers’ doors over thirty years ago.”

  “She’s been in the school system that long?”

  “I understand, even longer. She is loved by teachers far and wide because some of them used to be her students at one time. Even Mr. Madaris. She was his principal when he graduated from high school. I understand she was his older brothers’ teacher, too, before she became a principal.”

  Carolyn paused a minute, then added, “I loved teaching at Cullers and enjoyed working with her.”

  “Then why did you leave? Couldn’t you have refused the transfer?”

  “Parkwood is the number one elementary school in the county. I want to be a principal one day, and working under Principal Madaris will help me reach that goal quicker. I’ve already made it to the promotability list. And since I’ve learned all I could from Mrs. Chapman, I came here to gain as much knowledge as I can from Mr. Madaris. I was lucky there was an opening. It’s unusual that one of his teachers decided not to return from maternity leave. Besides,” Carolyn said, inching closer, as if she didn’t want her words overheard. “What woman wouldn’t want to work for Principal Madaris? I get chills just knowing there’s a chance I might see him every day.”

&n
bsp; Marilyn lifted a brow. “Why?”

  Carolyn leaned back and looked at her strangely. “You have met him, right?”

  Marilyn shook her head. “No, not yet.”

  “You haven’t? Then who interviewed you for the job?”

  “A Mr. Sanders. At the time, I was told Mr. Madaris was out of town.”

  Carolyn nodded. “Joseph Sanders. He’s the deputy superintendent for at least ten schools, including this one, Cullers and Stonewood--the top three in the county. No wonder you got hired. If Mr. Sanders gave you his stamp of approval, there’s nothing Mr. Madaris can say. Mr. Sanders is his boss.”

  Carolyn leaned close again and added, “Rumor has it that Mr. Sanders will be retiring in a couple of years, and that Mr. Madaris is a shoe-in for his job, since Mrs. Chapman has set her sights on retirement.”

  The woman glanced around again. “The reason I asked if you’d met Principal Madaris, is because if you had, you would understand why every young female teacher in the state wants to work at this school. The man is drop-dead gorgeous. And he’s young. Only twenty-five.”

  Marilyn hadn’t known that. “That is young for an administrator.”

  “But he’s smart as a whip. I heard he finished college with a bachelor’s degree and master’s before he hit twenty-one.”

  “That’s impressive.”

  Before Marilyn could completely get the words out, Carolyn quickly added, “And he’s single.”

  When Marilyn didn’t show any sign of being enthused with that news, Carolyn frowned. “Doesn’t that interest you?”

  Marilyn smiled. “I’ve never even met the man. And really, I have more to do than get worked up over someone who will be my boss, regardless of how gorgeous he is.”

  “Wish I could feel that way. But then, it’s not like I can do anything about it, not with the school system’s non-fraternization policy. The principal, as well as any members of his administration, aren’t allowed to date teachers. I guess they figured there’d be less drama that way, especially in the case of Principal Madaris. There are always plenty of women vying for his attention.”