Page 63 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
“Yes,” I said, voice tighter than I wanted. “This is she.”
“I wanted to let you know the board reviewed your application… and we’re thrilled to award Little Angel’s Academy with the full funding request.”
For a second, I didn’t breathe.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Can you say that again?”
She laughed softly. “You’ve been approved, Ms. Sinclair. Congratulations. You’ll receive the official paperwork by email today, but I wanted to call personally. Your presentation moved all of us. You’re doing something beautiful.”
My eyes welled up. I blinked hard, but it was no use. A single tear dropped straight into the lap of my sweatpants.
“Thank you,” I whispered, pressing a hand to my chest. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“You already did,” she said. “In that room.”
We hung up a few minutes later—after she went over a few logistics I barely processed—and I just sat there. Phone still in my hand. Mouth open. Silent.
Then I felt him.
Desmond came into the room, saw my face, and dropped to his knees in front of me.
“You got it,” he said, before I could even speak. “Didn’t you?”
I nodded once.
Then again. Faster.
He pulled me into him, arms wrapping tight around my waist. “I told you they’d see what I see.”
I buried my face in his shoulder and finally let myself cry.
But it wasn’t the heavy kind.
It was the kind that tasted like peace.
Celebration
I stood in the foyer at Desmond’s house in a red dress and heels he had placed on the bed. I guess he was getting tired of my taking fifty years to pick the right outfit. Only to fall on the most comfortable thing I wanted to wear in the first place. This time, he took the decision out of my hands.
“When did we make it back to everything being a secret?” I called out.
He walked from the back of the house in a pair of slacks with a nice blazer and shirt to match. I could tell that it was tailored to fit him perfectly. His beard was lined to perfection, and so was his edge up. Daddy was fine.
“It’s not a secret, I told you we were going to dinner to celebrate. That’s not enough?” he asked.
I lifted a brow and crossed my arms.
“You know what I mean, Desmond.”
He chuckled and unraveled my arms from my chest to intertwine his fingers with mine. Then pull me gently towards the door.
“You can’t have everything you want, stat, baby. You have to let it simmer a bit. Allow me to treat you.”
I groaned as he opened the front door to reveal a chauffeur waiting outside a limo with the door held open for us. I looked up at Desmond with a smile. Then pointed in the direction of the limo.
“That’s for me? All I did was win a little free money, baby.” I groaned.
I had never been treated on this high a scale by any man other than my dad. It took some getting used to, but I knew Desmond had no intention of stopping any time soon.
