Page 112 of The Plus One
“We could run it. You have your GHCO experience that could be a solid foundation for systems management. We could coordinate care, work with social workers. Could really do some good.”
“Are you serious?” Jude said, his voice rough.
Indira frowned at him. “Yeah? It’s not stupid, I don’t know why you’re acting so scandalized, you weirdo.”
Jude pounced on her, grabbing her cheeks between his hands and peppering kisses all over her face. “Stupid?” Jude said, kissing her lips. “Of course it’s not stupid. It’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.”
Indira’s eyes lit up. “Wait. Areyouserious?” she said. “If you’re being sarcastic, it isn’t funny.”
“Yes. I’m one hundred percent serious. Indira, let’s do it. Let’s start our own clinic. Help those so often left behind in medical systems.”
Indira’s lips parted, then spread into a grin of pure excitement. “Do you think we could actually pull it off?” she asked. The idea was overwhelming and daunting and the most exciting thing she’d ever considered.
“There’s nothing you can’t do,” Jude said, kissing her again. “I’m all in if you are.”
CHAPTER 39
Indira
A year and a half later—after countlessOh shit, what are we doing?moments, plenty of tears, and, ironically enough, some loans—Indira and Jude had a fully functioning clinic and their names on the lease.
As with many nonprofits, Hope Renewed Care Clinic’s resources were limited and their patients’ needs great, but Indira and Jude both showed up every day at work and felt truly and utterly fulfilled. Together.
The clinic’s mission was focused on helping immigrants establish care. Indira headed the mental health initiatives, hiring on two additional practitioners to meet their patients’ needs. She worked directly with children, offering various therapy modalities for kids given a rough start to life.
Jude oversaw the broader operations of their nonprofit clinic, and discovered a deep passion in problem-solving the administrative aspects of medicine. He liked everything from the intricacies of helping a patient gain easier access to health care with coordinated transportation and wide-reaching translation services to the expansive creativity of guiding their practice to total sustainability.
They were slowly expanding Hope Renewed’s network, partnering with similar nonprofits in other countries. They’d recentlystarted sponsoring overseas clinics dedicated to treating refugees and trauma survivors and directing funds into organizations that helped strengthen community resources in destabilized areas. They were building connections with people across the globe with the same mission of helping others.
Jude and Indira’s setup wasn’t glamorous by any means. Every penny was precious as they allocated funds, and the pair shared a cramped office space that catalyzed plenty of bickering that ended in laughter and kisses. The room often looked like a neon explosion, all the surfaces plastered with Post-its. Important reminders. Goofy drawings. Little flirtatious notes. It was undeniably theirs.
“I have a surprise for you,” Jude said one day as they finished up lunch on the picnic table at the back of the clinic.
Indira scrunched her nose into a question mark, mouth full of food.
He reached into his backpack, sliding a plastic cylinder across the bench.
“You’re such a dick!” she screeched, spraying him with food. She cackled, snatching up the small jar of peanut butter and pretending to throw it at him.
“Excuse me for wanting to spice things up!” Jude said, slapping a hand to his chest.
Indira continued to giggle.
“Okay, I have anactualsurprise for you,” he said. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Jude bit back a smile as he stood, gathering up their trash and depositing it in the bin. He brushed off his hands, then grabbed Indira’s.
“What’s the surprise for?” Indira asked, effervescent happiness fizzing in her chest as he led her inside.
“To surprise you.”
Indira whacked him on the shoulder, making him laugh.
“What’s the bane of your existence?” Jude asked, stopping outside their office door.
“My desk chair,” she answered without hesitation. Indira imagined medieval stretching racks were more comfortable than the (affordable) monstrosities Jude had bought for them. “You’re a close second,” she added, giving him a wink.
“Lovely,” he said. “Really makes me excited to present you with a gift.”
