Matt Rodriguez, was partially based on a news article and a long-ago personal experience of mine. I speculated how a narrow escape, such as the one Dana and Matt had, might lead to a new direction in a person’s life. For Dana and Matt, the repercussions and personal revelations of a terrifying moment on a subway platform led to new beginnings for both of them. And also to something totally unexpected—love.
Enjoy the read!
Janice Carter
For Sybil Jean Best, with much love.
Contents
Note to Readers
MATT RODRIGUEZ DIDN’T bother reading the article. The headline wasn’t auspicious—No Home for Group Home. Another neighborhood protest that was certain to sabotage another project that was meant to help the community. There’d been a time when he’d thought those two words—neighborhood and community—were synonymous, but his experiences over the past few years had shown that it wasn’t true in the real world. He sighed and closed the laptop. Bad timing for his funding proposal to the city of Chicago for the drop-in center and the camp.
He stroked the top of his head, rubbing against the bristles of new hair growth. Two weeks ago, he’d decided to aim for a more conservative look. He thought it would help bolster his image as a solid representative of the community instead of an activist who might—heaven forbid!—shake the pillars of the very community he hoped to improve. For all, not just some. Whatever It Took was his motto. The new look was simply another incarnation in a series for Mateo “Matt” Rodriguez.
There was a sharp tap on his office door before it swung open. “Hey, Matt? Got a sec?” Sandro Garcia, Matt’s childhood buddy, stood in the doorway.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Maria finished the city funding proposal and submitted it online but when she tried to print it...”
Matt groaned. “Not again.” They’d been tolerating their malfunctioning printer for weeks now, putting off the decision to replace it. Not that printers were pricey, but the budget was tight. “Okay, have her get a new one out of petty cash.”
“Here or in the city?”
“Whatever’s convenient for her. I’m sure there’s a discount warehouse kind of place here.”
“In Willow Springs?”
Matt heard the scoff in Sandro’s voice. “Just take care of it, okay?”
The door closed quietly
