Page 64 of No Ordinary Love

"There are several—."

Her phone rang then, and she picked up and spoke into it. "Yes, yes. We'll be there. Thanks, hon."

She stood up, signaling the end of our private meeting. "Let's head to the conference room. The others are waiting."

I followed her down the hallway. The Chancellor had mentioned that I'd be working with Jill, of course, but also with the key sponsors funding this project. In academia, we were always scrambling for resources, so it was a relief to have the funding secured for a project.

As Jill and I entered the conference room, all eyes turned to us. The table was already filled with an array of people—some I recognized.

Rena Covington sat at the head of the table. To her right was Lucas, his gaze locking onto mine the moment I walked in. My heart did an uneasy flip at the sight of him, but I quickly pushed the feeling aside.

The Covington family was one of the sponsors! I should've known.

"Amara, wonderful to see you again, darlin'." Rena's voice was warm but commanding as if she'd always expected I'd end up in this room, at this table.No doubt!

A polished dark wood table dominated the center of the conference room and was surrounded by comfortable, high-backed chairs. Large windows, framed by heavy curtains, flooded the room with natural light, while abstract artwork added a contemporary touch to the space.

I took the seat across from Lucas, feeling his eyes on me the entire time. I tried not to meet his gaze, focusing instead on the other people in the room.

Introductions were made.

Next to Lucas was Dr. Caroline Brooks, a leading public health expert who had dedicated her career to improving maternal health outcomes in under-served communities. Across from Dr. Brooks was a well-dressed man with a casual air about him. He was introduced as Maury Tipton, a policy advisor who had been working closely with state legislators on health initiatives. A policy wonk!

Jill took her seat at the other end of the table, opposite Rena. "Thank you all for coming," she began, her tone professional but infused with a sense of urgency. "This project is not just another initiative. It's a necessary step toward addressing the disparities in maternal health that have been ignored for far too long. We have the expertise, the resources, and the drive to make a real difference, and I'm confident that with this team, we can accomplish that."

She glanced at Rena, who took it as her cue to speak. "As many of you know, this is a cause that's close to my heart. South Carolina has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, particularly among women of color and those in ruralareas. That's why I've brought my family's foundation into this and secured additional funding from partners who share our commitment to this cause."

I cleared my throat. "How do you see this project playing out? Is this a simple communication effort? Or a research initiative?"

Lucas leaned forward slightly, his gaze never leaving mine as he cut in. "Amara, your role is crucial. We need you to lead the research and identify the key gaps in communication and then develop communication strategies that resonate with the women who need this information most. This isn't just about putting out pamphlets—it's about empowering women with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health."

Despite everything, I felt a surge of respect for him. Whatever issues we had, it was clear he believed in this project. I could see it in the way he spoke, in the intensity of his eyes. He wasn't just going through the motions—he was genuinely invested in making a difference.

What is Lucas trying to do? Is this just another ego thing for him? He lost Kath and wanted her back; then, once he had her, he didn't want her anymore. And now that he's lost me, he wants to…what?

I took a deep breath, grounding myself. "I'm honored to be part of this team. I'll do everything I can to make sure we put together a strong research strategy to uncover the information we need so we can lean in strongly."

Many times, such projects and initiatives jumped straight into putting together the pretty brochures and messages, not taking the time to do research. I was happy to see that this wasn't the case here.

Dr. Brooks smiled. "Dr. Gantz has been singing your praises, and the Chancellor mentioned that you have some capable Teaching Assistants to help with the research. That said, I'd alsolike to offer my support—especially if you're planning to conduct focus groups or qualitative research."

I liked this team better and better.

"I think whatever strategy we come up with will include both quantitative and qualitative measures."

"I can be of help with your questionnaires," Maury Tipton offered. "As a policy adviser, I spend my life buried in that sort of thing."

I smiled gratefully. "I'm going to need all the help I can get. What kind of timeline are we thinking about?"

Lucas pushed a folder toward me. "Here is the brief. We're hoping that we can do the research by Christmas and then present the analyses by early Spring."

I chewed on my lower lip.

"Is that a problem?" Rena asked.

I shook my head. Once the research was done, I could do analysis from Dad's house in New York. That way, I'd have something to do instead of sitting around moping. This might actually work out.

"We will then decide how to proceed as a team," Jill told me. "Amara, depending upon your availability, of course, we would very much like for you to lead the implementation as well."

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