Some of the newer residents have trouble following the directions and Jack’s Spanish isn’t up to speed.”
Jack resisted giving Gavin a casual punch on the arm. The man knew a few words and thought he was fluent.
Sabrina laughed and the sound stopped Jack in his tracks. She was so beautiful. He’d already known that, but when she laughed, it was as if a light had been turned on inside and she shone for the world to see.
“I suppose if you need a token Spanish speaker, I could lend a hand. I’ll be here anyway since we take the bus back and forth.”
“So?” Gavin’s voice held laughter.
“So, what?” Jack turned, frowning.
“I asked you what you thought. Should we nominate Sabrina for coach status?” Gavin was chuckling now, not even bothering to hide his amusement. “Looks like we lost you somewhere along in this conversation.”
Sabrina’s brows drew down. She said, “You know, it’s really okay. If you don’t think it’s a good idea—”
“No, I think it’s a great idea.”
“Then it’s settled. Welcome, Coach Sabrina,” Gavin said.
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“Jack.” He turned his head and saw Jose winding his way through the gym. The stocky man’s dark skin couldn’t hide the tattoos visible from biceps to wrist, but his red polo was neatly pressed. Grant had all the mission staff wear a uniform, mostly for simplicity, but it also was a sign to the residents of who was an official staff member. “Are you teaching snowboarding classes this spring? My nephew wants to learn.”
“Not right now. Probably not until October.” It killed Jack to say it, but snowboarding was on hold. Actually, his entire plan of launching a business of snowboarding clinics up on the mountain was in limbo.
Jack glanced at Sabrina and saw her eyes flick to Jose’s tattoos. He could understand her wariness, especially if she knew the meanings behind the markings. Jose had turned his life around, but his body still bore the marks of a life on the streets. “Jose, this is Sabrina Martinez.”
He held out a hand with a wide smile. “I’m the intake specialist. Mostly paperwork. Very boring.”
“Oh,” she said, and then recovered quickly. Jack could tell she was surprised that Jose was staff and not a resident. “Nice to meet you.”
Jose turned back to Jack. “Well, if you change your mind, I’ve got a ten-year-old who’s nagging me to death for lessons.” He started for the cafeteria door.
“If I could save you from that, I would,” Jack answered a little wistfully. He would love to be spending all his time up on the mountain instead of behind a desk.
“Look, there’s the director.” Jack waved an arm and called, “Grant, would you like to meet our newest team members?”
The dark-haired director carried his little boy in his arms, his red tie wrapped firmly in the toddler’s fist. “Sabrina, I should have warned you about Jack and his ability to draw people into the team.” His voice was layered with good humor. “And these two young ladies seem to be the very players we needed. God sent you to us just in time.”
Kassey and Gabby smiled shyly. Jack caught Sabrina’s gaze and he winked. Between Gavin’s princesa comment and Grant’s directorial blessing, these two were going to pop with happiness. He loved this nonpaying job more than anything he’d ever done as a VP. In a world that seemed cold and ugly, all of this attention was just what the girls needed.
“Sabrina, tell me you fixed the old Hobart. I’m afraid to go in there. Marisol might eat me alive, so I’m bringing Gabriel for protection,” Grant said.
“Abuelita!” The little baby crowed the word and pointed to the kitchen. His blue eyes were fixed on the entrance as if Marisol would exit at any moment.
“See? He knows where he can find her. In a moment, buddy.” Grant’s smile faded and his heavy brows drew down. “Either the machine was too broken to fix or it was a simple cleanup job. Please tell me it was the latter.”
“I took off the front panel and cleaned out the pieces. All the slicers looked fine, but there was half a potato jammed into the main hopper. All it needed was a little industrial solvent, a bit of degreaser and—” she glanced at Jack “—a spotter. Seems to be running okay now.”
Relief filled Grant’s eyes. “Wonderful. You’re worth your weight in gold. And not just because those machines cost twenty thousand dollars.”
She snorted. “I think your gratitude has more to do with Marisol and it being two days before Easter.”
“How right you are.” Grant ducked his head as Gabriel ran a chubby hand through his dad’s hair. It stood up straight on one side and Kassey giggled at the sight.
“Your baby is fixing your hair,” she told Grant.
“He likes to do that. He’s trying to make me into a rock star.” Grant pretended to devour Gabriel’s hand and the little boy giggled.
“My aunt says mohawks are weird,” Kassey went on.
“No way,” Jack said, pretending to be astonished.
Gabby giggled and nudged her sister.
Jack raised an eyebrow at them. “You think I should try one?”
“No,” she said, her voice soft. “Not that. What you said, my aunt doesn’t let us say that. She says we use too much slang, like her friend Maya.”
“No way!” He opened his eyes wide. The girls responded with muffled laughter and delighted grins.
Sabrina’s face was pinker than before, if possible. “They’re making me sound like a tyrant.”
“Not at all. My grandmother hates slang, so I can understand those rules.”
“Gabriel, there you are.” Marisol came toward the group, arms outstretched. The little boy held out his hands in response and Grant passed him over to be covered in kisses. “There’s my boy. So big, so tall!”
Grant tilted his head at them and whispered loudly, “I never get any attention anymore. It’s Gabriel this and Gabriel that. Like I don’t even exist.”
“Mentiroso, I give you lots of attention. And you ignore me. I tell you to cut your hair last week and you don’t listen.” She turned a critical gaze on him and clucked her tongue. Gabriel giggled at the sound and held a small hand to her mouth.
“Calista likes it a bit long in the back,” Grant said, shrugging.
“And that’s what happens when you get married.” Jack ran a hand through his own dark hair, cut short on the side and just a bit longer in the front. As active as he was, he didn’t want to have to fuss with his hair all the time. “You don’t even get to choose your own haircut.”
“Is that why you date every girl in town?” Marisol’s tone was light but her eyes missed nothing. “Always dating, never married. One date and then the girl is just a friend. Why? You like your hair so much? When you are old and it all falls out, then you will have no wife and no hair, either.”
Surprised laughter burst from Sabrina and she tried to cover it with a cough.
“I just haven’t found the right one, Mari. I admit, I’m picky.” That, and he was never sure if they liked him for who he was, or the fact he was the vice president of Colorado Supplements. “But I can never have too many friends, right?”
“Friends, friends.” Marisol’s dark eyes rolled heavenward. “There are better things than friends. Look at this baby. I’m sure your parents are waiting for grandchildren.”
“Well, Evie and Gavin can help them out there.” He tried not to look concerned. And