Chapter 32
thirty-two
When we arrived at Take the Leap later that afternoon, we met Tripp and Liam in the main conference room. I’d expected to see more of Liam’s team with them, but it was just the two of them. The mood in the room was far more somber than I’d been expecting. Ava glanced at me, and I shrugged. I wasn’t sure what was going on.
“Come in,” Tripp said and gestured toward the empty chairs.
“Is everything going alright today?” Ava asked, cautiously. She took the seat beside Liam, and I sat to her right.
“The app relaunched an hour or so ago,” Liam said.
“Right, along with the ride-along video. I checked in with Seth earlier, and he said the launch was pretty smooth. Was it not?” I chewed my lip and tried to read Tripp’s face. “The comments on the new video also seemed pretty positive.”
“They were almost all positive,” Ava said.
Liam and Tripp looked at each other, and they both broke out into wide grins. Liam said, “Surprisingly, they were. Even some of the most critical followers seemed charmed by Sadie’s enthusiasm in the video.”
“I’m confused. Why did you both look like you were ready to fire us?” I asked and leaned forward. There was something odd going on, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
“App downloads are up 150% since the relaunch and we’ve already seen an increase in experience bookings. The next race car ride along is already sold out.” Tripp said.
“Are you serious?” I let their nods reassure me. I needed this bit of good news today. “And the other new adventures?”
We’d added group camping, kayak lessons with Olivia, and a few other new excursions to both the app and their website with the hopes of finally drawing in the new audience we’d been targeting with the videos.
“We’re getting a great response on those as well,” Liam said. “Turns out, we just needed a video where you didn’t look like you’d rather be dead than doing the activities.”
He turned on the screen behind me and shared the real time web and app traffic. The spikes were incredible to see. These were the numbers I’d been hoping to see with the first videos, but I guess it was better late than never. And at least now we had a stronger app and more options for people to explore. As he explained each metric and compared them to the stats from just a week ago, my optimism teased a comeback. This was good.
“So, does this set us up for a good kick off to the fundraiser and the Behind Take the Leap story?” Ava asked as she studied the data in front of her. “I know you’ve had reservations on sharing that.”
Liam nodded. “Yes, we have the final video ready, if you’re ready for it, but before we get started, I need to prep you for a few things.”
Both Ava and I knew all about Noah and Tripp’s motivation for starting his company. I’d also been there for most of the filming. What could Liam possibly have to share that we didn’t know?
Tripp cleared his throat and stood to take over the screen while Liam pulled down the stats and loaded the video. “One of the reasons I’ve been hesitant to share all of this is because it’s not just my story to tell.”
My eyes wrinkled with confusion as the video started. A silent montage of images of a young boy who looked like a miniature Tripp filled the screen. His smile was infectious, and his round cheeks were painted the same shade of red that Tripp’s turns when he’s embarrassed. I knew in an instant that it was Noah. A lump rose in my throat as I studied his innocent face.
As the photos flashed on the screen, Noah transformed from an infant to a toddler to a kid. Then, the pictures took a sad turn. His diagnosis. No amount of preparation could’ve readied me for the way my heart hurt as I watched the progression. Tripp paused the video on an image of Noah and another boy in the hospital.
Liam sniffled. “That’s me.”
My mouth fell open, and I quickly snapped it shut. Liam had known Noah? Suddenly, a lot of things clicked into place. I understood why Tripp was so patient with Liam and why they seemed to have a dynamic that most CEOs and their employees don’t have. When I’d first met Liam, he’d been abrasive and disrespectful to Tripp. I’d often wondered how he’d kept his job all these years with his negative attitude.
“Noah’s room was next to mine,” Liam said, swiping at his eyes. “I was the one who introduced him to the X Games and skydiving videos he loved. We used to watch them together.”
“You were sick?” Ava asked in a gentle voice. Liam nodded. “And you were friends?”
“Best friends,” Liam said with a smile. “Unlike him, I was an only child and my parents both worked to cover the medical bills. I was alone most days, but Noah and his family kept me company whenever they visited, which was all the time.”
Tripp smiled at the memory. “Liam and Noah were inseparable. If it was possible for me to be jealous of a nine-year-old, I would’ve been.”
I glanced back up at the screen and took in little Liam. I could see hints of the man sitting across from me in the dimples of the boy in the picture. “You didn’t want people to know?”
He shook his head. “My entire life I was told I couldn’t do the crazy, fun things I wanted to do. I was too sick or too weak. So, I stopped telling people about my cancer and just pretended it never happened. I think that’s why I was so frustrated with you when you first came on board. You have everyone cheering you on and telling you that you could do all those things.”
“I had to run this whole idea by him when you suggested it, Sadie, and we both agreed it was time. We owed it to Noah. Are you ready to watch the rest of the video? Then we can discuss the fundraiser and what we’d like to do.”
Ava and I nodded. Tripp pressed play and the video faded into a clip of Liam in his office. I blinked away the tears that blurred my eyes. Liam shared the same story he’d just shared with us. He talked about meeting Noah’s family, and the video transitioned to some of the footage I’d captured of Tripp and his sisters. It had been edited beautifully. Between the images of Noah and Liam and the voiceover, their story came to life.
“That’s incredible,” Ava said, swiping an errant tear from her cheek. “I knew the basics of the story, but wow. I’m speechless.”
I nodded. “Thank you for trusting us with this. Liam,” I said, turning to him, “are you sure you’re ready to share this?”
“I am. We’ll show the team later today and then announce the revamped fundraiser. The plan is to do a renewed drive for Quest members. Starting next month, forty percent of every new membership will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for the first year.”
“I’ll match the first $10,000,” Tripp said, “and we’ve got a few sponsors lined up to do the same.”
“Incredible!” We hadn’t spent much time brainstorming or planning the fundraiser. After I’d given the idea to Tripp, he and Liam had run with it. “This is the perfect way to lean into the new Take the Leap.”
Tripp smiled at me. “We couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
I started to protest and insist it was a team effort, but Ava stopped me. “We’re grateful to be here and be a part of the transformation.”
“I know I doubted you guys at the beginning, and sometimes I still think this whole idea is a little crazy, but we’re finally starting to see results. We just need to keep things moving.” Liam stood and leaned over the table, offering up a fist bump. I returned the gesture.
“Two more challenges to go!”