Page 148 of The Maxwell Brothers
“I wanted to organize an outing for the boys, but even I knew it was a long shot. I shouldn’t have gotten the kids’ hopes up.”
“When was it supposed to be?”
“In two weekends.”
“Is The Illinois Volunteer Society involved with this?”
“No, no. The fundraiser was something the school organized.”
We chatted about it a bit more, and I started thinking about the possibilities. We said our goodbyes, and I headed to my car.
I mulled it over in my mind on the ride home, ideas forming in my head. As soon as I stepped inside my condo, I called Kendra, but she didn’t pick up. It was six thirty. Her workshop should have been over by now.
Tyler: Call me back when you can. I want to talk to you about something.
Kendra: We’re having drinks tonight, but let me find a quiet spot.
She called me a few minutes later.
"Hi," she answered, almost out of breath.
“Hey, you. Were you running?”
“Yeah, sort of. The group is trying to decide where to have dinner, and I wanted to call you before we leave.”
Fuck, she was cute.
“Couldn’t wait to talk to me, huh?”
“Ooohhh, your cocky side is strong tonight. In that case, I didn’t.”
I liked that she changed from shy to sassy in a split second—that she went toe to toe with me every time. Our dynamic was definitely changing, becoming more comfortable, and I liked it.
“So… what did you want to talk about?”
"The kids told me that the school was trying to do a fundraiser so they could go to the Apple River Canyon State Park. It didn’t work out, so I want to pay for it."
"Oh my God. Why?"
"Because they looked disappointed, and because I can do it."
She let out a sound that nearly made me think my ear was going to explode. I moved the phone a little farther away from my ear.
"I can’t believe you want to do this. First you took them to the pool, and now this? You're spoiling them."
"Someone should. They’re good kids, Kendra, and they were so excited to go. You should have seen how deflated they were when their teacher told them the news."
"No, I get that. I hate for this to have happened to them too. This is obviously out of the scope of your volunteering, but I can run it by my boss and the school. The school principal knows me because The Illinois Volunteer Society has brought some speakers for their Career Days.”
Career Days? Jesus, the kids are only twelve.
“I think it’s better if I speak with them rather than you contacting them directly. I can help them understand the importance of this to the kids, okay?" she went on.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever gets them to agree is fine with me. I totally trust you,” I responded. And really, I trusted her more than she’d ever know. The sincerity and kindness I’d found in this woman was a magnet for me. I then asked her, “Since this isn’t a preapproved activity, does that mean you'll join us?"
"Oh, so that’s the real reason you're doing it." I could tell she was teasing me, but I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea either way.
"No, the kids matter to me, you know that. But I want you there. It's a win-win. The kids get their trip, and I get you. I have big plans for the day."
