The Founders' Plot

“She’s got a boyfriend,” Becky said. “They’re really serious,” she added. “His name is Marco Martinez. She loves him, and he’s just googly-eyed around her. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got engaged pretty soon.”

“Well, what the hell does that have to do with this?”

“He’s Mexican,” Rose said.

“I gathered that from his name. So bloody what?” Mike said, then looked upward with a wry smile. “Ahh. I got it. He’s illegal, right?”

“No,” Rose said. “But his family is. He was born here, he’s the youngest by about eight years, but his parents and two older brothers weren’t. They’re afraid they’ll lose their jobs and be deported back to Mexico. If that happens, her boyfriend would probably go with them. It’s a very close family. Then Patti’s got a big decision to make.”

Mike waved his hands in the air. “Oh, for God’s sake. Did she know this before she got entangled with him?”

Rose nodded. “Yes.”

“How old is he?”

“Same as Patti, twenty-one.”

Mike shook his head. “So, his family has been here for at least twenty-one years and still haven’t gotten legal status?”

“I guess,” Rose answered.

“Have you met him?”

Rose nodded. “Yeah. He’s nice. Good-looking, too. And smart. He’s an accountant for a big company.”

“How come I never heard about this?”

“It’s only been a month,” Becky explained. “It just happened. Love at first sight, I suppose. She was planning to bring him over to meet you and Mom, but she didn’t want to do it today because she wanted to talk to you about the immigration law and didn’t want him around when she did.”

Mike leaned back and sighed. “You know, I should be happy. My daughter is in love and may get married. I might be a grandfather soon. But her boyfriend’s family being here illegally muddies things up, doesn’t it? Shit!”

Becky touched Mike’s arm. “Dad, can I ask a question, a favor maybe?”

“What?”

“Well, Patti … actually all three of us were wondering if you could do something about it. I mean her boyfriend’s family.”

Mike spread his hands. “What can I do? They’ve got to get legal status. If not, they might be deported.”

“Can’t you give them some kind of dispensation … a pardon?” Rose asked.

“I can’t do that.”

“But you’re the governor,” Rose said.

“Yeah, but I can’t just pass out pardons and dispensation willy-nilly. I’m the governor, not the Pope.”

“Well,” Rose responded, “how about having them apply for citizenship and you kind of pushing it through fast without a lot of questions asked?”

“No, honey. I won’t do that. It’s not right. They have to get in line like all the others. I don’t play games like that, and you know it.”