Page 118 of More Than Pen Pals

“Within the last week or so.”

“Hmmm.” She sounds intrigued. “Not that I’m ready to date again anyway, but it’s nice to dream, you know?”

I avoid looking in Wendy’s direction. This could get very awkward if both of my friends have a thing for my future boyfriend’s brother.

“Yeah,” I say. “I think he’s taking a break from dating for a while, too.” I don’t know that for certain, but it’s an educated guess. It’s time to change the topic from the Hamilton men, so I say, “Tell us about yourself, Melissa.”

fifty-six

“Are we ready?” I ask my brother, Wendy, Carmela, and Leslie on Wednesday morning. We’re in the conference room at Carter-Jenkins, waiting for Diego Sanchez and Bobby Jacobs.

“I am,” Wendy says. “I don’t know how he can turn this down, unless he’s completely heartless.”

Leslie puts a hand on Carmela’s shoulder. “Are you feeling okay about everything?”

Carmela sucks in a shaky breath but nods.

“Are you sure?” I ask her. “Because you don’t have to do this.”

“I am positive, Mr. Hamilton. I need to do this not only for my Javier but also for all the others who need help.”

After Carmela agreed to speak to Diego, I got permission from Bobby Jacobs to have her sign an NDA so I could tell her what she needed to know to get her up to speed on our proposal. Not only did she agree to talk to Diego, but she also provided excellent input on the needs and some potential solutions.

At precisely ten o’clock, George Carter ushers Diego and Bobby into the room. George plans to stay for the presentation, which should help sell it to the two men.

Leslie makes the introductions, I offer the men a drink, and we’re ready to begin.

“Gentlemen,” Leslie says, “we asked you here today because we believe Mr. Sanchez—”

“Diego,” the man himself inserts. “Call me Diego—all of you. Please.”

We all nod.

Leslie continues, “We believe Diego is a man of both integrity and generosity. Diego,” she focuses on him, “we know you love the people of your home country, and after meeting your cousins at the game, we discovered how you helped them immigrate to and settle in your adopted country. Because of your connections and financial resources, you could aid them in a way most people couldn’t. Our proposal is that you create a foundation in your name to help other immigrants in ways they can’t help themselves. And we have one of those people here with us.”

Everyone is silent for a moment.

“Ash?” Leslie prompts.

I’m so distracted by Leslie’s confidence and mere presence that I missed my cue to pick up where she left off. I jerk to attention. “Yes. I first had the idea for this foundation a few weeks ago when I was talking with Carmela,” I motion toward her, “one of the cleaners at our firm. She told me about a situation that left her and her family feeling hopeless and helpless, and she’d like to share her story with you.”

All eyes shift to Carmela.

She sits up straight and looks Diego in the eye. “Thank you for meeting with us, Mr. Sanchez.”

“Like I said, call me Diego. And you may speak to me in Spanish if that is helpful.”

Carmela glances at me and I nod in agreement, but she says, “Thank you, Mr. … Diego, but I would like to speak in English so everyone here can understand what I am saying.”

Diego nods his approval.

“My name is Carmela Reyes, and I am an American citizen. My parents legally immigrated here to Chicago from the Dominican Republic when I was a child. We have all become naturalized citizens. On a trip back to our homeland when I was sixteen, I met my husband Javier. Three years later, we married, and he moved here legally as my spouse. He has not yet applied to become a U.S. citizen because he says he needs more time to make sure he wants to denounce his Dominican citizenship. We have always carefully filled out the paperwork for his green card and sent it in on time, and he should be in good standing with the U.S. government.” She takes a deep breath. “Several months ago his mother got very sick. He went back to see her, and God saw to it she recovered from her illness.” She makes the sign of the cross.

Carmela continues, “But when Javier tried to return home, he could not do so. They say there is some mix-up with the paperwork, but there should not be, and nobody can tell me what to do to fix it. Our two young sons are distraught and afraid their papa can never come home again. Mr. Hamilton noticed my distress one morning and asked me to tell him what is wrong. He promised to help me, and I believed him. He is a man with much money and power, and he is agoodman. I know he will help me. But what about all the other people who do not have a Mr. Hamilton? What happens to them? Mr. Diego, I ask you to please consider the plan these kind people have put together that will help people like me.”

Diego stretches a hand across the table to her, and she reaches her own toward him. He clasps it between both of his and says in Spanish, “Carmela, I will do everything in my power to get Javier home to you and your sons. And I’m excited to hear about this plan. Did you help create it?”

She nods, eyes wide.

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