sighed. “And headquarters has a bee
in their bonnet this year about that Give Back program.”
He rubbed his temples. “’Kay then. I’ll let you know before five.”
She stepped outside his office, leaned against the wall, and released the air in her
lungs. She didn’t know she’d had it in her. At least she could tell the group at the
tackle shop that she had tried.
Oh, my goodness. The tackle shop. She supposed there was no getting around it now. There was no telling
what she’d find there. Probably bass boats, bad food, and lots of beer. But that was
really nothing in the end. She placed the picture on her desk. Ben was worth everything
she’d encounter at that bar-and-tackle place.
Then without notice, other pictures flashed through her head. Ambulance lights. Her
father with his twisted leg on a stretcher. Her mother’s tears at the hospital. She
pushed the images away with her fortified will and sat up straight. If she would have
to deal with her wrecked family, then she’d do that, too, for Ben.
April kept glancing at the clock. It was getting late, and still she hadn’t heard
from Charles. She needed a back-up plan. Jenna Bellingham. Her father was in insurance,
too. One of the really big companies in Charleston. She gave Jenna a call and got
her father’s number.
April called Mr. Bellingham and ran the idea past him. He sounded interested, but
he had to look into it, as well.
Right before five, April stepped back into Charles’s office. She knocked on the door
frame. She knew how to handle the man. “Charles, don’t worry about looking into that
policy for the rally. I think it may already be taken care of by Mutual of America.”
He pushed away from his desk. “April, I was thinking. The leukemia-boy fundraiser
would sound great to headquarters. The motorcycle thing isn’t my cup of tea. And I
know it’s not yours, either, but we can’t buy that kind of publicity. I want us to
do it. We’ll insure the rally.”
She smiled at the good news she’d have for Bull that night.
“One thing, though. I want you involved at every turn. You’ve got to ensure that helmets
will be worn, the speed limits will be followed, and our risk is kept to a minimum.
That’s the only way we can do it.”
Ensure? She could tell them, but she didn’t know if she could ensure anything. Then
she thought of Ben again. If she could ensure something, though, she would for the
sick boy.
“You have my word.”
She had to have been the most stupid woman in Summerbrook. You have my word . What was she thinking?
What she needed to be thinking about was her cell phone, so she stopped quickly at
the store and picked up another one. Just like the one she had and called her parents.
“Hey, Mom. How’s Dad?” she asked.
“A bit tired this week, honey. He’s still having some angina in the evenings. After
the news,” her mom said.
“Well, you shouldn’t even let him watch the evening news. It’s just filled with crime
and debauchery. You know it’s going to stress him out.”
“I know that, dear, but your father’s hard-headed. Determined to have his way if it
kills him.”
April let out a little chuckle. That was the same thing her dad always said about
her mom. Two hardheaded seniors set in their ways.
“Dear, are you coming up for Sunday dinner this week?” her mom asked.
“That’s what I was calling about. Actually, I’m involved in this charity fundraiser
through Mr. Houseman, and I’m not going to be able to make it for several weeks.”
“Hmmm. Your dad will be disappointed. But we’re proud of all the charity work you’re
doing, dear. We will see you on your birthday, though, right?”
“Sorry, Mom. But that will be the last busy weekend. The following Sunday, for sure,
though. Okay?”
“Okay, sweetie. Stay safe,” her mom said.
She hung up. Her thoughts churned and darted as she drove toward home. Hopefully,
her
in their bonnet this year about that Give Back program.”
He rubbed his temples. “’Kay then. I’ll let you know before five.”
She stepped outside his office, leaned against the wall, and released the air in her
lungs. She didn’t know she’d had it in her. At least she could tell the group at the
tackle shop that she had tried.
Oh, my goodness. The tackle shop. She supposed there was no getting around it now. There was no telling
what she’d find there. Probably bass boats, bad food, and lots of beer. But that was
really nothing in the end. She placed the picture on her desk. Ben was worth everything
she’d encounter at that bar-and-tackle place.
Then without notice, other pictures flashed through her head. Ambulance lights. Her
father with his twisted leg on a stretcher. Her mother’s tears at the hospital. She
pushed the images away with her fortified will and sat up straight. If she would have
to deal with her wrecked family, then she’d do that, too, for Ben.
April kept glancing at the clock. It was getting late, and still she hadn’t heard
from Charles. She needed a back-up plan. Jenna Bellingham. Her father was in insurance,
too. One of the really big companies in Charleston. She gave Jenna a call and got
her father’s number.
April called Mr. Bellingham and ran the idea past him. He sounded interested, but
he had to look into it, as well.
Right before five, April stepped back into Charles’s office. She knocked on the door
frame. She knew how to handle the man. “Charles, don’t worry about looking into that
policy for the rally. I think it may already be taken care of by Mutual of America.”
He pushed away from his desk. “April, I was thinking. The leukemia-boy fundraiser
would sound great to headquarters. The motorcycle thing isn’t my cup of tea. And I
know it’s not yours, either, but we can’t buy that kind of publicity. I want us to
do it. We’ll insure the rally.”
She smiled at the good news she’d have for Bull that night.
“One thing, though. I want you involved at every turn. You’ve got to ensure that helmets
will be worn, the speed limits will be followed, and our risk is kept to a minimum.
That’s the only way we can do it.”
Ensure? She could tell them, but she didn’t know if she could ensure anything. Then
she thought of Ben again. If she could ensure something, though, she would for the
sick boy.
“You have my word.”
She had to have been the most stupid woman in Summerbrook. You have my word . What was she thinking?
What she needed to be thinking about was her cell phone, so she stopped quickly at
the store and picked up another one. Just like the one she had and called her parents.
“Hey, Mom. How’s Dad?” she asked.
“A bit tired this week, honey. He’s still having some angina in the evenings. After
the news,” her mom said.
“Well, you shouldn’t even let him watch the evening news. It’s just filled with crime
and debauchery. You know it’s going to stress him out.”
“I know that, dear, but your father’s hard-headed. Determined to have his way if it
kills him.”
April let out a little chuckle. That was the same thing her dad always said about
her mom. Two hardheaded seniors set in their ways.
“Dear, are you coming up for Sunday dinner this week?” her mom asked.
“That’s what I was calling about. Actually, I’m involved in this charity fundraiser
through Mr. Houseman, and I’m not going to be able to make it for several weeks.”
“Hmmm. Your dad will be disappointed. But we’re proud of all the charity work you’re
doing, dear. We will see you on your birthday, though, right?”
“Sorry, Mom. But that will be the last busy weekend. The following Sunday, for sure,
though. Okay?”
“Okay, sweetie. Stay safe,” her mom said.
She hung up. Her thoughts churned and darted as she drove toward home. Hopefully,
her
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