Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“That should wrap it up for tonight.” Colton addressed his colleagues seated across the desk in the upstairs office Riley’s father had invited them to use.
Trevor chuckled. “With as much as she’s been working the past two days, this week’s been a breeze compared to last.”
That much was true. Other than going into the office yesterday and finding the fourth message, the rest of her time had been spent upstairs. Same thing today, except for her usual Tuesday Bible study and workout with the girls at the estate that morning.
“I guess we can be grateful we’re not having to do any more last-minute prep.”
A light knock sounded before the door opened and Riley poked her head inside. “Hey, you guys have a few minutes?”
Colton stood and waved her in. “Sure thing. We’re done here.”
She walked over to the desk. “I need to give you a revision to my schedule this week. Then, as far as I’m concerned, you can take off for the night. I’m not going anywhere.”
Spoke too soon and jinxed it. Colton held back his sigh as he took his seat again in the buttery soft leather office chair. Hopefully, this change wouldn’t constitute another late night of prep for a spur-of-the-moment outing.
“What’s this revision?”
Her smile turned shy, uncertain, which piqued his interest even more. “I need to add an event on Friday.”
“Please tell me we’re not going Black Friday shopping.”
She giggled, and he couldn’t help grinning back. “No, I would never torture you guys like that. This is something I’ve spent the last few days setting up. I wanted to do it before Christmas, but the last piece didn’t fall into place until about a half-hour ago.”
“No problem,” Paul said. “I’ll take anything over Black Friday shopping.”
“I’ve been doing some research and making a bunch of calls, and I’ve started a new non-profit.”
“Another one?” Colton sat up in disbelief. “How many jobs do you need?”
“I’m actually hoping somebody else will chair the board instead of me. It needs to be someone who will give it direction, instill a sense of purpose in it, otherwise it will fail. And I think it’s too important to let it go by the wayside.”
“So, what are we doing Friday?” Colton’s brain was already going over what details they needed to start working on.
“Spending the day at Houston Med. To test for potential bone marrow donors.”
Colton caught the quick glances of his coworkers in his periphery, but he couldn’t quit staring at Riley. “Bone marrow? This is your new charity?”
“A new non-profit. I spent a lot of time online Saturday night, or I guess I should say Sunday morning, and found there are thousands of patients waiting for bone marrow transplants. Most of the time, the donor comes from one’s own family, but that’s not always possible.
And from what I found in my research and speaking to some experts in the field, it’s alarming how many people are waiting for a donor.
Unlike most other transplants, the donor doesn’t have to die to donate.
Nobody should die waiting for a transplant. ”
Colton sat for a moment, his blood roaring in his ears. “And why in such a hurry?”
“It can take a few weeks for the test to be processed, then the donor has to undergo more testing, and then a five-day regimen of injections to increase stem cells in their blood. I thought if we could at least do the cheek swab tests now, someone might get the gift of hope for Christmas. Hope that their new life can start after the New Year.”
Colton stood and walked over to the mantel, staring into the cold fireplace, silence filling the room. “You did this for Theresa. Because of Theresa.”
“I did this for the living. As a tribute to Theresa.”
He turned back to her. “Why? Why’d you do that?”
She stepped closer to him as Paul and Trevor stood and left the room.
“I was so moved by your story. It’s heartbreaking to think of someone so young and vibrant losing her life waiting for a donor.
There are probably half a dozen people walking around who would have been a perfect match for her, but they didn’t know it.
Because they weren’t tested. Because they didn’t know somebody was in dire need of what they possess.
I’ve never thought twice about my marrow.
I’ve never even thought once about it. But what if there’s somebody out there dying and my marrow is a match? How can I not give it to them?”
He stared at her, lost in those green eyes imploring him to understand.
“Please don’t be upset with me.”
“Upset? Riley, I’m not upset. I’m flabbergasted. You did in three days what I haven’t done in four years. I never made the effort to ensure that what happened to her didn’t happen to anybody else. I tell you about it, and within minutes, you’re trying to fix it.”
She shook her head. “It’s not about me. It’s about meeting a need because we can.
Because we’re able. I’ve established a lot of connections through my other organizations, so I started by reaching out and asking questions.
I prayed hard about it after I went back up to bed that night we talked, and God started opening doors.
I was even surprised at how fast it all came about. ”
“Fast is an understatement. Five days from our talk to actually running a donation drive? That’s … astounding.”
“Like I said. I have an incredible network. It wasn’t all me, not by a long shot.
Lend a Hand will sponsor the foundation until we get non-profit status, then I want to call it the Theresa Blankenship Foundation for Bone Marrow Matching.
But I wanted to get your permission first. And I’d like for you to serve as board chairman.
It needs someone who has a passion for it. I think that’s you.”
A lump took form in his throat. “I’d be proud to serve if you’ll guide me until I get the hang of it. And Theresa would be honored to have her name on something created to make a difference. Something that might have saved her life if only somebody like you had come into it.”
“She had you. I’m sure that was enough.”
Before he’d given a thought to his actions, he reached out and wrapped her in his arms, holding her close and putting his lips close to her ear. “Thank you.” He somehow pushed the words past the thickness in his throat.
“Thank you for letting me do this.”
He held her in silence for a moment, closing his eyes against the onslaught of unfamiliar emotion that tightened his chest. He hadn’t cried in three years.
Not since the first anniversary of Theresa’s death.
Once he got himself put back together after several long, hard weeks, he’d held himself in check ever since.
Now he wasn’t sure he had it in him to push back. Not with Riley holding him so tight, her arms clutched around him with her hands gliding up his back.
What was happening? His heart beat hard against his sternum, and a coil of warmth from the pit of his stomach circled outward.
He’d only experienced this once before, many years ago, as a sophomore in college who suddenly realized his boyhood chum wasn’t one of the guys but a beautiful woman.
He’d been falling in love and suffered from all the requisite symptoms of that particular malady.
But he certainly wasn’t now.
No. Impossible. This was simply a man who hadn’t been near a woman in far too long, holding one who was lovely, inside and out. Its name was loneliness. Gratitude. Maybe a little attraction. But certainly not love.
Someone cleared their throat from the doorway, and he let her go, swiping at his face before turning. “Yeah, Paul?”
“Sorry to interrupt. Riley, Avery’s here. In your suite.”
“Thanks.” She glanced at Colton again before stepping out of the room.
He sank slowly into the leather loveseat in front of the fireplace. “Can you believe that?”
“She’s a pistol.” Paul took a seat in the armchair adjacent to the loveseat. “But if I can ask, how did she know about Theresa?”
“I told her. Saturday night. We split a sandwich the other night when neither of us could sleep, and she asked about the blonde in the picture on my wall.”
A crease appeared in Paul’s forehead. “Wait a minute. She was at your place?”
Colton winced. Hadn’t meant to let that slip. “Saturday afternoon. Before we found the mess at her house. I needed to pack up some clothes, so we stopped there first. Mack was aware.”
“Mack was? Huh. I would have never expected that from you, taking a principal to your home.”
“Probably wasn’t one of my brighter ideas.” Except would there be a foundation in Theresa’s name now, all because Riley saw that picture? Could this all be of some divine direction?
“Which is exactly what worries me about this thing.”
Colton popped his head back. “What thing?”
“This … thing,” he answered, waving his hand between Colton and the door.
“Between you and Riley.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees with his hands folded between them.
“Riley’s a beautiful, smart, articulate woman with a great sense of compassion for her fellow man.
I know she was a surprise to you. She was to all of us, and we’ve all come to respect her. Very much.”
“Cut to the chase, Paul.”
He took a deep breath and let it out. “Maybe you’ve crossed the line here. Maybe you’re too close.”
“We’ve all been on assignments where we were positioned inside the principal’s home.”
“I don’t mean in proximity alone.”
He stared at his long-time friend and co-worker. “You think I’m falling for her.”
“I think you might be on your way. It’s certain she has for you.”
“In little more than a week?” That couldn’t be. None of it. “I don’t think so.”
“A week of spending practically every waking minute together. Even in the middle of the night, apparently.”
“Nothing to see here, Jamison. Riley has a need to fix what’s wrong.
This thing with the bone marrow is simply because she can’t stand the thought of anybody else dying waiting for a transplant.
” He swallowed and turned his attention to the fireplace.
“And you know my opinion about getting involved with a principal. You’re way off base, my friend. ”
Paul shrugged and stood again. “Okay. You know I would never question your professionalism, unless I believed it endangered our client.”
“Duly noted.”
While he didn’t agree with it, he appreciated his co-worker’s candor. Because if anything happened to another woman on his watch, he’d never be able to live with the guilt.
Not again.