Page 23 of Anatomy of a Meet Cute
Thank you for your application for funding from the Anjo Group Foundation. The Anjo Group is committed to funding projects that display visionary leadership and deploy unique solutions to some of our community’s most challenging problems. We believe—
Seriously? Talk about burying the lede. Sam’s eyes skipped over the paragraph, looking for the salient information. If she got the grant, she could go back and read more about whatever world-class, innovative nonsense Anjo was investing in. A few paragraphs down, her eyes snagged on something.
It is the application review committee’s belief that the San Francisco Central Hospital Birthing Program has the high potential to offer tremendous community good. We would very much like the opportunity to speak with you in person regarding the finer details of the proposed Birthing Program and your accompanying Obstetric Outcomes Improvement Pilot Study.
“Holy shit,” Sam said, blinking at her phone. Then she reread the paragraph again just to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.
Still there.
“Oh my God,” she said, looking around the room for someone to tell and catching the pharmacist just as he was trying to look like he was minding his own business. Rotating to face him, Sam said, “Hey. Want to hear some good news?”
“Uh. Sure,” the guy said, after looking around the room like there could be someone else she was talking to.
“I got a grant,” Sam shouted, the couch beneath her wheezing as she bounced up and down.
“A grant?” The pharmacist blinked at her a few times, and Sam suppressed the urge to holler again or roll her eyes. This guy must be having a really long day.
“Yes. You know, like for funding a project. At the hospital.” Sam waved around the room, waiting for the guy’s mind to catch up.
“That’s great.” The guy practically yawned at her.
“It is, isn’t it!” Fine. If this guy couldn’t get excited about it, she would just have to be excited enough for the both of them. “And they said it couldn’t be done. Just goes to show—”
Sam halted that thought midsentence as another idea crossed her mind. Turning abruptly back around, she looked down at her phone.
At your earliest convenience, please fill out the attached preliminary grant agreement. Upon receipt of the form, we will schedule a meeting for you and any other program administrators at our offices.
“Shit.”
“What happened?” The pharmacist’s voice floated over her shoulder. Of course he wanted to be engaged now that she had a problem.
“They want to meet the other program supervisor.” Sam turned to face the guy again.
“Is that bad?”
“It wouldn’t be. Except I don’t have one.”
“Why did you apply for the grant, then?” the guy asked, looking skeptical.
“Because Dr.Franklin and Grant didn’t think I could do it. But I did, and—” Sam stopped herself as the pharmacist’s pale eyebrows crept toward his hairline. Why was she defending her decisions to this guy? What did he know about obstetric care? He was drinking sludge from the coffee machine, for Pete’s sake. Sam shook her head. “Actually, ignore that. I’ll figure it out.”
“It just seems like you didn’t really think this through.”
“Mind your own business.” Sam squinted at the name on his coat, then added, “Phil.”
“You are the one who started talking to me.” Phil shrugged.
“I was talking to myself first, so what does that say about you?” Sam stood up and offered him her best cutesy smile to soften the blow. “See you at the program’s grand opening, Phil.”
She made it all the way out the door grinning before the problem came back to her. Maybe she’d text Jehan and Duke? They’d know what to do. Hell, maybe one of them could tell her which of them had applied for this grant in the first place.
Firing off a quick text, Sam began walking toward the elevators. Just because she’d received funding didn’t mean that she could just stop doing her job. Right as she neared the elevator, a text came.
AH! I knew we’d get one! Congratulations!!! How much is it for?
Jehan’s excitement nearly jumped off the screen at her. Sam hopped in the elevator and was halfway through a reply when Duke chimed in:
Congrats! Which one is it?
