Page 166 of Ten Day Affair
I wrap my good arm around her, holding her as tightly as I can manage with one functioning limb. "Tell me what happened."
She pulls back just enough to look at me, her eyes bright despite the tears. "I just hung up with Monique at Grady. Cole, someone donated five million dollars to the mobile clinic program. Five million."
"Sam, that's incredible."
"She doesn't even know who it was. She opened the trust yesterday and put out feelers to benefactors who have expressed interest in supporting outreach. This will more than set us up. All of it. Equipment, personnel, operating costs for the first five years, probably more."
She's talking fast now, the words tumbling over each other.
"I don't have to worry about financial logistics anymore. I can focus completely on the medical side, on actually helping people. Every single sign keeps pointing me toward this, Cole. This is exactly what I should be doing."
I tighten my hold on her, feeling her excitement vibrate through both of us. The Singapore call seems like it happened hours ago instead of minutes.
"I'm just so overwhelmed right now. I came straight here. I couldn't think of anywhere else to go." She takes a shaky breath.
She came to me first. A warm sensation spreads through my chest.
"I'm glad you did." I kiss the top of her head. "Listen, I hate to do this, but I'm on a call with Singapore right now. Time zones and all that. Can I come over when it ends? I want to hear everything."
"Oh God, yes. I'm sorry for barging in like this."
"Don't apologize. I'm happy you did."
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "How long will you be?"
"Twenty minutes, maybe thirty."
"Perfect. I'll go on a jog to release some of this energy and make sure I'm back in thirty."
She's coming back for me. I can't wipe the grin from my face.
Twenty-eight minutes later, I finally end the call and change into gray joggers and a navy t-shirt.
My inbox is full, the pitch deck’s waiting. But none of it sticks. All I can see is her face lit up like the world is her oyster.
Five million dollars. No conditions, no credit. Just a push in the direction she was already heading. She doesn’t need to know where it came from.
This was never about me.
I walk next door barefoot, sand still clinging to my feet from the morning. Her sliding door faces the ocean, and I spot her jogging up from the beach. Ponytail swinging. Face flushed. She looks happy.
That’s the win.
“Perfect timing.” I lift my good arm and wave.
She stops in front of me, still practically bouncing. "I ran four miles and I'm still humming. This is truly the best day, since the moment I woke up with you."
Her words nearly knock me sideways. She's probablystill high on endorphins. Or the five million. Or both. Still, I'll take it.
"Should we celebrate properly? I have another bottle of that Vermentino."
Her eyes light up. "Yes. Absolutely yes."
She loops her arm around my neck, pulls me in, and kisses me like I’m the prize. Slow. Intentional. Then she lets go and bounds up the steps like nothing just happened.
I just stand there, blinking.
"I'll grab it and meet you back here."
