Page 83 of Forgotten Desires

“Yes, I did receive that and thank you for sending. Based on the application that was submitted, we were able to qualify you for a grant. However, with the new updates, we need to double check.”

My heart sinks a little. “Oh? Because I’m married?”

He shakes his head quickly. “No, no, not because of that. We work to help ensure that every living donor’s expenses are as minimal as possible. It’s the generosity of our donations that allows that. We want to make sure that the people we’re issuing the grants for truly need them. They have to be uninsured and meet an income threshold, which you did . . .”

“But I don’t now,” I finish.

Because I’m married to a billionaire and why would I need money when Crew could probably buy the hospital?

I sit back in my chair, feeling defeated.

“It’s not that your income has changed. We understand that you’re newly married and without steady employment at this time. However, you indicated that you now have insurance?”

My jaw drops slightly. “Well, yes, but it’s not active yet. I don’t think I have coverage for this, as it was all set in motion prior to my marriage.”

He writes notes down. “I see. Have you checked with them?”

“I haven’t. I didn’t even think about it. I don’t know . . .”

“It’s completely fine, Mrs. Knight. We know this is all new and there are a lot of changes. Do you mind if we call them and open a case to find out what, if any, benefits will be covered?”

“Of course not.” I dig in my purse and grab my phone to call Crew. I don’t have a card or even know anything about our insurance. “Can I have just a minute?” I ask.

“Please.” He extends his hand toward the door. “The office to the right is empty.”

“Thank you.”

I head inside and he answers on the second ring. “Brynn, is everything okay? Did you get the grant?”

“Yes, everything’s fine and no, not yet. I need the information on our insurance. One of the requirements is that my insurance won’t cover any part of the surgery.”

“I see. I’ll have my assistant call as soon as we hang up, she’ll get you all the information you need.” He drops his voice. “I’m in the middle of a meeting or I’d do it for you.”

“No worries, thank you and happy . . . meeting or whatever.”

He chuckles. “Thank you, Bee.”

Sure enough, three seconds later my phone is vibrating in my hand. His assistant, Ginny, gives me all the details as well as a direct contact she thinks I should call first. Apparently, being Carson Knight and owning the companies that pay the insurance is not without perks.

I write everything down, thanking her for her help, and then dial the number.

It feels like an hour later, I have all the right people to contact and knock on Mr. Bagwell’s door. He calls for me to come in.

“Sorry about that, dealing with insurance is never easy,” I say, and hand over the notes I made.

He smiles warmly. “Oh, I know that. Please sit. I just hung up with my manager and we’re going to use your initial application to make our decision.”

“What do you mean?”

Mr. Bagwell places both hands on the desk and laces his fingers together. “We had preliminarily already issued you the grant when you sent your updates in. Guardian Angels feels that you should be given the money without having to speak with your insurance first.”

I’m so confused. “While I appreciate that, and I really do, I’m not sure I understand why the change.”

“What we’d like is to give the requested amount with a contingency. We’ve done this several times before. If you will sign a document stating you’ll allow us to pay the hospital directly after they’ve submitted to insurance, then we’ll be given a refund back for whatever funds weren’t used.”

I sit forward. “Of course. I’ll sign anything. I’ll even go through and find out exactly what the insurance pays so that I don’t take anyone’s opportunity for the grant.”

“That’s very helpful.”

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