Page 68 of Too Far To Sea
“Apparently there is a National Blood Donation Hall of Fame and I got nominated and accepted.”
“For all the blood drives you help with?” It seemed every time she called he was volunteering at another event.
“That and the fact I’ve donated over ten gallons of whole blood.”
Dana paused to stare at her dad. “In vampire math, exactly how much is that? A full course meal with twenty guests?”
Dad set the pan on the trivet and laughed so hard he backed away from the table, holding his side. “I don’t think they use vampire math to calculate who gets donations As far as people whom it helps it depends on the need. Statistically that ten gallons would benefit 240 people. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, yet only 3% of people donate. Cancer patients and newborn babies need blood frequently. And internationally? I have no idea. I wish there was more I could do.”
“Ten gallons still feels like so much blood.”
“It has taken me sixteen years to donate those gallons, in a way it is a lot. Yet, here are many people who have donated more than me. Especially if they calculate in plasma. But when you compare it with how much blood is needed a day, it is the proverbial drop in a bucket.”
“Pun intended?” Dana scooped a large serving of Manicotti onto her plate. The cheese stretched in long, perfect strings.
“I didn’t catch the pun.” Her dad took the serving spoon from her to dish his meal. His wink said otherwise.
“How exactly does this event work? Do you have to drive anywhere?”
“Not far. We are holding it at the blood bank with a special blood drive.”
“So instead of a rubber chicken dinner, we are back to providing a vampire banquet?”
“They’ll have sandwiches and snacks afterward. More than the normal juice and cookie.”
“You should have told me I would have asked my friends to come up.”
“You can’t donate.”
“What?” Dana’s fork hovered over her plate, dropping the bite she intended to take. The pasta landed with a soft plop.
“The drive Hasting Security had for their employees was only 50 days ago. You can’t donate until a week from Sunday.”
“Isn’t it close enough?”
Her father shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“I guess I’ll have to find someplace to donate in a week or so. I can’t not donate with my dad joining the hall of fame.”
“So, tell me about your trip.”
Dana detailed her trip through the rest of dinner, cleaning up, and moving into the living room. She carefully edited out certain details about a certain security officer. Well, as much as possible.
“I brought you a sweater and chocolate.” Dana handed her father the bag of goodies.
He set them to the side. “I’m more interested in this Mac character. Your face lights up every time you say his name.”
“Dad—” Dana sighed, not able to explain the loss that settled in her soul. “It isn’t meant to be.”
“So he put a civilian in an awkward position. No one in security would have doubted your capabilities. And if someone is selling information—” He let the implications hang in the air. “You don’t need me to spell that out for you.”
“It’s that they put me in the position to have to find Chandler and Amy-Kate. It’s that he didn’t apologize. Or trust me enough to include me. The most annoying part is that they used my skills from private security for free in a way. I deserve an apology and an explanation. If they had brought me in officially, they could have given me that. It isn’t as if the cruise line hasn’t worked with Hastings before.”
“After talking with Amy-Kate, did you ask him about it?”
“No.” Dana crossed her arms. “It all fits.”
“And?”
