WORK IN PROGRESS: Guy and Reason

Chapter 16 (Guy): All Those Steps

I hadn't expected an answer to my last text to Reason, but I had to say it. Had to let her know that she'd always been on my mind, she'd always been the reason I'd started the charity and I'd made that clear to everyone from the start. Eden was the heart and the soul behind A Reason to Care; all I had done was give it legs.

The medical team she'd gone out with had been highly complimentary about her, texting me after they'd finished for the day, raving about her and how well she'd done, how good she was with the patients. I knew they weren't blowing smoke, and it was obvious they'd been seriously impressed with her.

But who wouldn't be impressed with Reason? She'd always been incredible and so passionate about helping others. She was born for this, and I hoped she'd come on board. A Reason to Care had been doing well, but it needed Reason to really give it life. 

My phone rang, interrupting my wishful thinking, and I glanced down, hoping my mind had somehow summoned Reason to call me. Unfortunately, it wasn't her but it was one of my favorite people.

"Hey, Melody," I greeted the older woman who'd become so important to me and the charity.

"Tell me I'm awesome," she crowed.

I laughed, knowing what that meant. She'd done something really good for the charity. "OK. You're awesome. What'd you do now?"

"Got us a meeting with G & N Pharmaceuticals!"

That news was so good and so unexpected, it shot me to my feet. "Seriously?"

"Eleni Nikolaou and I now serve on the same board of directors for a different non-profit. She started three months ago, and I've been getting to know her. We met for lunch the other day so I could tell her about A Reason to Care. She was extremely interested, and said her son Alex had been talking about this for a while, so she thought it was the perfect opportunity for you to meet him. She and her husband and I will join you, too."

I want Reason there.

"I'm going to see if Eden can join us, too."

"Perfect. I'd love to meet her. Both of you send me some possible times and I'll coordinate a date and time."

"I'll get them to you as soon as I see what Eden says."

Now I had an excuse to call her, and the adrenaline was rushing through my body. I walked the perimeter of my office several times, my hands getting sweaty. It hurtled me back eleven years ago to the very first time I'd called Eden. 

It'd been the first day of our freshman year, a rainy, gray day, and I had this adorable girl dressed in a yellow shirt drawing my eye and brightening up three of my classes. She sat in the very back of the class all three times, so I had, too, in the desk right next to her. I'd had to glare one guy out of his seat next to her so I could take it. Unless I was on the football field, I didn't use my size to intimidate, but I made an exception in his case. He was next to my girl, and that wasn't acceptable.

By our third class, I not only knew her name but I'd asked for her number. She'd smiled, taken my hand and written her number on my palm with ink. 

"Better not wash your hand until you call me," she teased.

I'd looked at her seriously, knowing that there was something about this girl that spoke to me. I was fourteen, already as big as a full-grown man but still completely without game or experience when it came to girls. But something told me I needed to lock down Eden because she would become important to me. I was too young to understand it fully, I just knew there was something inside of me pushing me to get to know this girl. 

"I've already memorized it," I told her, then proved it by keeping my eyes locked with hers and repeating those seven digits to her. "Because I'm going to call you tonight to talk to you and ask you out. And then I'm going to get your address so I can come over tomorrow after practice."

"Really? How many other girls have you said that to today?"

"None," I'd told her. "You're the only girl I've ever paid attention to."

I looked like a jock, and I was, but at heart I was a nerd, more interested in writing code than chasing girls. 

"Sure," she said.

"You don't have to believe me. I'll prove it over time."

I'd called her that night, my heart beating hard, my hands sweating to the point that I had to wipe them on my jeans. We'd talked for two hours, I'd gotten her to agree to a date on Saturday night if her mother approved of me. My mother had warned me that she and I were only fourteen, and her mother and father might not want her dating yet. But Eden had asked her mother, who said she would decide after she met me. I made sure Eden's mother had met me the next day.

Now, my heart was beating hard and my palms were sweating again. Would she answer? Would she agree to attend the meeting that could be so critical to the future of the charity? Would I be able to concentrate during the meeting if she attended?

I dialed her number and held my breath while it rang.

Eden's voice answered.

"Hi, Eden." Hello, sweetheart. I love you.

"Hey, Guy."

Deep breaths, don't act like an idiot.

"I -- how are you, Eden? How was work?" Brilliant opener, idiot.

"Good, thanks. And how are you?" Her voice was guarded.

So damn stilted. Remember how we used to talk for hours so easily, day after day?

"I got some good news today that you might be interested in." Not that I'm pushing. I swear I'm not. "Melody Hughes, one of the charity's board members, has a connection to G & N Pharmaceuticals, and she wants to arrange a meeting between us and them."

"Really?" That was interest!

"I have a question for you. I was wondering if you'd be interested in attending that meeting with me. Melody will be there from our side, too."

"That could be amazing for the charity," she spoke slowly, and I knew that voice and tone. The slower Eden spoke, the faster that agile mind of hers was working. "Yes, I'd like to."

I silently pumped my free hand in the air. We needed her, we needed that mind and drive of hers to guide A Reason to Care.

"Melody said if we'd send her some date and times, she'd set up a meeting."

"OK, my schedule for the next two weeks is out, so I can give you my days off. I'll text them to you."

"I'll send them to Melody and let you know what she says."

"I'll look forward to hearing from you."

Words I never thought I hear from her again.

"Thank you. Thank you for being willing to do this, Eden."

"Guy...I --"

"This isn't a decision, Eden. I know that. Let's just take this one step at a time and see where all those steps lead you."

"I'm afraid of where they're leading me."

Oh, sweetheart.

"Please don't be afraid. If you decide to become part of the charity, there are so many people who can help get you up to speed, guide you, help you lead until you're ready to do it on your own. And I promise I'll back away if you decide to step into the role that was always meant to be yours."