Part 5 (2/2)
”The name of the firm intrigued me. When I called last night, I was going to get some information -”
”To look us over -”
”Basically. I don't want to leap before I look again.”
”Let me see your resumed” Angela held out an imperious hand.
Jackie handed it over and then occupied herself by studying the project photographs on Angela's walls while she read. Her Taliesin-trained eyes liked what they saw - smaller, residential buildings. A lot of in-fill housing. Renovations of small apartment buildings and residential inns. NDA's projects appeared to range all over the greater Bay Area in a variety of neighborhoods. Jackie made a mental note of the locations of several of them so she could look up the specs.
”How's Dr. Joe keeping up with life?”
Jackie started, then smiled. ”He's doing great.” Her smile broadened as she recalled Taliesin West's oldest resident instructor and greatest story-teller. ”He's simply amazing.”
There was a glimmer of an answering smile from Angela. ”It's been about fifteen years since I've seen him. I was doing research on-site.” Angela returned her attention to the resume. After a moment she extended her hand again. ”Your portfolio.”
Jackie crossed her fingers as Angela leafed through the pages. The Boston firm had let her take copies of the work she'd contributed to, and in her humble opinion, there were some fine conceptual designs included. Her graduate projects had been considered quite good. The last page was a handwritten note from Dr. Joe himself, telling her one of her graduate designs had received an honorable mention from a j.a.panese design school awards program. Somehow L&B had made her feel ashamed of having gone to ”impractical” Taliesin when in fact it was something she was very proud of.
Angela grunted as she read the note and then closed the portfolio. For the next twenty minutes she rapid-fired questions at Jackie about several of the projects, testing her recall and understanding of high conservation and earthquake designs. Jackie felt her poise return as she answered. She was on solid ground in those areas. She might not have the imagination to design a b.u.t.terfly bridge or Falling Water, but her ideas about the basics of building design had a creative flair and a solid grasp of practical engineering. She had never made the mistake of designing something without load-bearing walls, something Kelly had done twice.
When she finished her questioning, Angela drummed her fingers briefly on her desk. She studied Jackie for a moment, then said, ”I know L&B doesn't pay a.s.sociates in training much more than bus fare. We'd pay you a little better than that, but if you survive here, pa.s.s your exams and are asked to stay on as a full a.s.sociate, your pay won't go up very much. The kind of work we do is not that lucrative and no one here, including me, lives in anything like a usual architect's style.”
Jackie's heart was pounding. ”Having seen the usual architect's style up close and personal, I can safely say it's a style I have no intention of adopting. And after living in a tent for three summers at Taliesin West, I've gotten used to the idea of living simply.”
Angela smiled. ”Can you spend another half-hour here?”
Jackie nodded. So she'd be late to work. She didn't care.
”Wait here a moment.”
Angela walked briskly out to the main office, returning in a few minutes to lead Jackie to another office. ”Diane, this is Jackie Frakes. Jackie - Diane Donahue. She's the preceptor with a vacancy. I'll leave you to talk.”
Jackie shook hands with the red-haired Diane and they shared pleasantries. Diane reviewed her portfolio and her resume but didn't probe as hard as Angela had. The gaze from deep hazel eyes, however, was as penetrating as Angela's had been. She commented wryly that Jackie had probably been grilled enough for one day. ”You pa.s.sed Angela's inquisition, so I won't do it to you again. When can you start?”
Jackie gulped. ”You mean... urn, well, how soon would you like me to?”
”Yesterday, but I know you'll have to give L&B notice.” Diane made the same dismissive gesture with her shoulders that Angela had. She had probably picked it up from Angela. Plainly, Diane wouldn't give two cents about giving L&B notice.
”Can I have a day to decide? Is that okay?” All her instincts told her to say yes right away, but nonetheless, she knew that she should look into NDA's background. ”If I decide to accept it'll be at the most two weeks until I could start.”
Diane grinned. ”That would be fabulous, but if you have to stay on another week, I'll understand. And I do hope you accept.”
”I'll let you know first thing tomorrow morning,” Jackie said. ”Oh. I suppose we should talk about money before I make up my mind.”
”What a novel concept,” Diane said wryly. ”I'm sorry. I should have brought it up - I thought Angela would have covered it.”
”She said it would most likely be more than what L&B's giving me, but she wasn't more specific.”
Diane named a figure that left Jackie with a pleased smile. Diane arched an eyebrow and said, ”Get used to it. If you hang around this place it won't be going up any time soon. Angela's very fair about handing out bonuses when we have a good year, but the last couple have been tough. We're all in it together, though.”
”That's encouraging,” Jackie said. ”I'm almost certain I'll say yes, but I'll let you know as soon as I've had a chance to think about it- no later than tomorrow morning.”
They shook hands again and Jackie left, feeling as though she was walking on air. Filled with surging confidence and hope, she decided she could risk being even later for work so she could check NDA's status with the American Inst.i.tute of Architects.
She left the AIA offices on a cloud. Angela Martine and Diane Donahue were both members in good standing, NDA itself was a paid up member and voluntarily partic.i.p.ated in peer a.s.sessment and review. They were in good standing with the California Board of Architects. She had no qualms about accepting the job and stopped at the pay phone in the AIA building lobby to call Diane Donahue and accept. She floated down to the MUNI train and then up the three blocks to the L&B building.
Mannings was very unpleasant when Jackie told him she was leaving, but admitted that Randall had been dubious about her future at L&B. He was downright nasty when she said she was going to NDA and reminded her specifically and at length about the ethics of taking any work she'd done for L&B to another firm. She a.s.sured him that she knew the ethical code as well as anyone at L&B and that she had not and would not discuss the drawings she'd done on the affordable housing project with anyone at NDA. In the end, they agreed she only needed to stay long enough to wrap up her CAD specifications for the condominium project. The following Friday was set as her last day.
Mary Nguyen was both congratulatory and dismayed. ”I'm so happy for you, but Jesus, I'm going to miss having you around. This makes me the only female a.s.sociate in training.”
”I'm sorry, Mary, really.”
Mary c.o.c.ked her head to one side. ”No, you're not. Why pretend? I wish you just the best of everything, you weasel.”
Jackie laughed and promised to go out to dinner with Mary on her last day. Even when the memory of Leah intruded on her, she found herself savoring it instead of dreading it.
She was starting over. If this was as bad as it got, she could handle it.
She felt good until she remembered she would see Parker this weekend. She was not looking forward to it.
7.
Leah muscled Butch to one side and answered the door. She knew that someone had been coming down the driveway because of Butch's barking. For a moment she let herself imagine it might be Jackie, but she quelled the thought. Jackie wasn't coming back, and Leah wasn't sure she wanted her to. It had just been one of those things - close quarters.
”So, the great Lee Beck answers her own door,” a musical, mocking voice said.
”Constance!” Leah blinked stupidly and then stood back to let her in.
”And this is the old homestead. Quaint and cozy.” Constance pulled off her gloves and stomped her boots on the mat where Leah's thick, practical winter boots were piled. Long curls of blond hair fell around her shoulders as she pulled her ski cap off. ”No wonder you never invited me up here. You'd never get me away. Though your place in Hayward isn't exactly chopped liver.”
Leah closed the door and gave Constance a wry glance. ”So what are you doing here?”
”Not even glad to see me?” Constance cupped Leah's face in her hand and gave her one of her lingering kisses - the kind that had always peeved Sharla even though Leah had never shown the slightest interest in Constance's considerable charms. For the first time Leah allowed to herself that now she had the choice of whether to respond. She wasn't sure what to do. So she backed away.
Constance laughed. ”Same old Lee. I was in the neighborhood, darling, and thought I'd find out what my favorite artist is doing with herself.”
Leah led the way into the kitchen. ”You don't expect me to believe that, do you?”
”But it's true, sweets. I'm staying at Kirkwood for a few days and the skiing's bad today because of the wind. So I thought I'd drive over and see you. Find out if you're still alive. I got lost twice.”
”You mean find out if I've got any more commissions for you.” Constance looked stricken for a moment and Leah instantly regretted her flip tone.
Instead of her usual banter, Constance patted Leah's cheek. ”I've been worried about you.”
The warmth of Constance's hand penetrated to Leah's stomach. She was suddenly aware that it wouldn't take much for Constance to seduce her. She'd been more than ready to go to bed with Jackie, who was straight, for G.o.d's sake, and here was Constance who had never made any secret of her desire for Leah.
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