Page 85 of Raging Fires

Once they were seated, Michael launched into his explanation of what they wanted. The loan officer listened, frowning, and gave Jake a long look. Jake gazed back, crossing his arms. He didn’t like this guy.

“Well, of course, the guarantor has to have an excellent credit rating,” Ferguson said, drawing out the end in a faint question.

“You don’t watch football, do you?” Michael said. “He’s famous.”

The man looked at Jake doubtfully. Seriously, did he look that disreputable?

“Just look up my credit score,” Jake told him.

“Of course.” Ferguson opened a drawer and whipped out several pieces of paper and gave them to Jake to fill out.

Things had been easier back when people’s mouths dropped open when they met him. Jake sighed and picked up a pen. After filling in every bit of information about himself but his shoe size, Jake handed the paper back to him. Then Ferguson began to type all the information into his computer. Jesus. The guy couldn’t have just asked him all that stuff and filled it in?

Then Ferguson spent several more minutes gazing at his computer screen, typing periodically and nodding now and then. “Yes, well, this certainly looks excellent.” He looked up and gave them that stiff smile—Jake was pretty sure the man didn’t have any other kind. “All righty, then. I’ll just send this to the printer, and then I’ll take it to the branch manager.”

He keyed in some things, scooped up the file folder on his desk and left. Jake cast a sideways glance at Michael and said, “All righty, then?”

Michael laughed. Then he said, “Remember that Latin teacher at St. Boni’s?”

“God, yes! The thin guy with the middle part in his hair?”

“Yeah. The one that always said, ‘okey-dokey-smokey?’

“How could I forget?”

They laughed and began to reminisce about St. Boniface Academy. But after a few minutes of memories, Jake was antsy again. “What is he doing?”

“Who knows? Maybe he went to the break room and ate first.”

“What time is it?” Jake reached for his phone. Right. It was out in the car.

Michael pulled out his phone and said, “One fifteen. Why? Did you need to go somewhere?”

“I told Kelli I’d be home by now. One-thirty at the latest.”

“Oh. Well, you could go on and leave, and we could come back and sign the papers some other time.” Michael said reasonably, but he couldn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes.

“No. That’s too much trouble; let’s go ahead and do it. I’ll just tell her I’ll be a little late; her mom can wait at the airport a few extra minutes. Could I borrow your phone? Mine’s in the car.”

“Sure.” Michael handed over his phone. “You—won’t—I mean, could you not tell her about this... about me and having to…” He made a vague circling gesture, his cheeks flooding red with embarrassment.

“Okay. No problem. I’ll just say I’m late.”

“Promise?”

Jake rolled his eyes. “Yes, Michael, I promise you. I won’t tell Kelli.”

Jake started to send her a text, then stopped. Calling would be better. She was probably already irritated with him. But she would calm down when she learned it was important. He’d have to think of some other reason than helping Mike, though.

Her voice mail came on after a few rings, and Jake left a message, “It’s me, Kell, I’m going to be a few minutes later than I said. But don’t freak out. I’ll be there really soon. I just… got caught up in something important. Your mom’s plane will probably be late anyway. And she has to get her bags and all that. No problem for her to wait at the airport a little while.”

He held onto the phone, thinking she’d call right back, but she didn’t, and a couple of minutes later, he returned it to Michael. Her silence worried him; she was apparently more upset than he’d thought. Kelli had been really anxious about her mom’s visit. Maybe he ought to do like Mike said and leave, come back later.

At that moment, the loan officer breezed in, carrying a bunch of papers. “I’m happy to say you’ve been approved, Mr. Borelli, with the co-sign, of course.”

He proceeded to lay out the papers and explain this and that. Jake began to jiggle his knee again, and finally burst out, “Okay, look. You can explain all that to Mike. I have to leave. Just tell me where I need to sign.”

With a disapproving look, Ferguson pointed out where to sign on multiple pages and where to put his initials in certain places. Jake really wished Mike had just let him give him the money. But finally he was done, and he bolted from the room. On the way out to the car, he tried to think of an excuse that was good enough that Kelli would understand. He shouldn’t have promised Mike he’d keep it secret. It was just, he knew how bad it made you feel to have to admit that you’d screwed up to someone you liked and respected. Look at how he’d avoided Pops.