Page 24 of Risk It All
“Good. I want to know about the red trees you told me about.”
“The redwoods,” Max says by way of explanation to me. Turning to Chisara he says, “I'll see about getting some pictures.”
“Okay.” She reaches out her arms toward him. “Good night.”
Max's eyes widen in surprise, but then he pulls the little girl to him. “Good night, sweetheart.” He holds her as if she's giving him a gift. I turn away slightly, to wipe a tear from my eye at the tender scene.
When he's done, I hug her too. “Get some sleep.”
Making sure the mosquito netting is in place, I then follow Max back out to the hall. For the first time since I started my investigation into the problems in Nigeria, I feel hope. No one could look into Max's eyes and not know that he's going to change these children's lives.
I'm nearly jogging to keep up with Max as he makes his way back to the room.
“Max, that was really wonderful what you did for Chisara.”
His body stiffens, but he keeps moving. “Right. Shocking that a man like me could feel for a child.” His voice is terse, laced with annoyance.
“What? Hey!” I grab his arm, forcing him to stop. Why is he all put out? His expression is fierce and says “leave me alone,” but I don't care. “I know I wasn't fair to you in the beginning, but that was a genuine compliment I just gave you. Most people wouldn't have done what you did.”
“Maybe you should take a look atmostpeople you spend time with.”
“Maybe I should,” I shoot back with a glare of my own. That seems work as the tension in his body lessens.
He steps back and runs his fingers through his hair. “I'm sorry. I just . . .” He trails off as he seeks the right words. “I can think of a million things I can do to help here, but you know how long it takes to put action in motion. It will be too late for her. For these kids.”
My heart aches for him. I want to say something to help, but there isn't much to say. He's right. Change doesn't happen with the snap of fingers. I take a deep breath, hook my arm through his, and say, “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Trust me.” I lead him through the staff room and out the back door. A rickety set of rusted stairs snake up the side of the building to the roof.
“Up there?” His expression is unsure. “Is it safe?”
“Probably not.” I start up the stairs.
Max follows me to the flat roof around with a low wall around the perimeter.
I point up. “What do you see?”
His brows furrow, but he complies and looks up. “The night sky.”
“Come on, Delecoeur, take a better look.”
“Stars and the moon. What's this about?” His impatient gaze returns to me.
I sigh. “The first trip I took to the Middle East was to do a story on the plight of women and I was devastated by the things they were telling me to the point that I didn't think I could take it.” I laugh uneasily. “They were living it and yet I couldn't bear hearing it. Dumb, right?”
He doesn't say anything, but I have his attention.
“Anyway, there was a moment when I had to get away and I ended up outside on a terrace, looking up at the moon and stars. I remember wondering how it was determined that I would be born to such wonderful parents and have so many opportunities while the women I was meeting for the story were treated with such disrespect and disdain. I wished my father was there because fathers always know what to say . . .” I trail off as I realize my mistake. Max didn't have a father. “I'm sorry, that was insensitive.”
“I'm not offended,” Max says. “I had a foster dad once who knew what to say.”
This isn't going as well as I want, but I continue on. “I realized that my dad, at home in Virginia, would be looking up at the same stars and moon. That all of humanity is spinning around on a single planet, that we are all interconnected. I fight for the animals' cause because without them, humans are doomed. We need them for survival. I decided it must be the same for human connectedness. We are all connected and have a part to play. I realized that I have the money and the talent to write, to share their stories and influence others to help.”
“Like you influenced me.”
“Right. And you, Max, you have that too. You have the resources and the power to influence others. I know deep down, without a doubt, that you are going to help these children, here and around the world. And maybe it will be too late for some, but for others, it will be right on time.” I don't realize that I've pressed my hand over his heart, until his fingers wrap around mine and squeeze.
