Page 23 of Pregnant by the Texan
“You’re taking $12,000 back to Royal. I think you can make a lot more and help people so much.”
“When you put it that way—what do you have in mind?”
“I have lots of contacts in Dallas and across the state. Let me set up some meetings. Not necessarily a group thing like today—what I have in mind is meeting one-on-one or with just two or three company heads who might make some big donations. You can also make presentations to agencies that would be good contacts and can help even more.”
“All right.”
“Good. After your talk today I went ahead and contacted a close friend in Dallas. Through him you may get a brief interview on a local TV show in Fort Worth. Can I say you’ll do it?”
“Yes,” she answered, laughing. “You’re taking charge again, Aaron.”
“Also, if you’ll let me contact them, I think I can get meetings in Dallas with oil and gas and TV executives, as well as some storm recovery experts. The television people will help get out the message that Royal needs help. The oil and gas people may actually make monetary donations. How’s that sound?”
“Terrifying,” she said, and smiled. “Well, maybe not so bad.”
“So I can try to set up the meetings with the various executives?”
She stared at him a moment while she seemed to give thought to his question. “Yes. We need all the help we can get for the people at home.”
“Good,” he said, kissing her lightly.
“Let’s take some time and talk about dealing with the press and interviews. We can talk over dinner. The press is important.”
“I’ll be happy to talk about interviews, but I don’t think that I’ll be giving many more.”
“It’s better to be ready just in case,” he said, gazing into her wide blue eyes.
“Also I sent a text and asked for a salon makeover in Dallas for you. It’s a very nice salon that will really pamper you. Would you object to that?” he asked, thinking he had never known a woman before that would have had to be given a sales pitch to get her to consent to a day at an exclusive Dallas salon.
She laughed. “Aaron, that seems ridiculous. I’m not going into show business. Mercy me. I don’t think I need to go to Dallas to have a makeover and then return to Royal to help clean up debris and hunt through rubble for lost documents at town hall. That seems ridiculous.”
“Stella, we can raise some money for Royal. A lot more than you did today. Trust me on this,” he said, holding back a grin. “I told you that it’s a very nice salon.”
Shaking her head, she laughed again. “All right, Aaron. I can arrange to get away to go to Dallas. When is this makeover?”
“Someone canceled and they have an opening next Wednesday and I told them to hold it. Or they can take you in January. With the holidays coming, they’re booked.”
“How long does this take? I’ll have to get to Dallas,” she said, sounding as if he had asked her to do a task she really didn’t relish.
“Cole and I have a company plane. We can fly to Dallas early Tuesday morning and be there in time for you to spend the day. I’ll get you to the Fort Worth interview and I’ll try to set up a dinner in Dallas that night. Afterward, we can stay at my house. I have lots of room and you can have your own suite there.”
She smiled at him. “Very well. I can go to the salon Wednesday and get this over with. Thank you, Aaron,” she said politely.
“Good deal,” he said, amused at the reluctance clearly in her voice. “Take a dress along to go out to dinner. The next convenient stop, I’m pulling over to text the salon about Wednesday.”
“I think this is going to be expensive for you and a waste of your money. People can’t change in a few hours with a makeover. I really don’t expect to do many more appearances or interviews.”
“Just wait and see,” he said.
“While we’re on the subject of doing something for Royal, I’ve been thinking about Christmas. There are so many people who lost everything. We’ve talked about Christmas being tough for some of them. I want to organize a Christmas drive to get gifts for those who lost their homes or have no income because of their business losses. I want to make sure all the little children in those families have presents.”
“That’s a great idea, Stella. I’ll help any way I can.”
“I’m sure others will help. I’ll call some of the women I know and get this started. It’s late—we should have started before now, but it’s not too late to do this.”
“Not at all. I think everyone will pitch in on this one. You’re doing a great job for Royal.”
“Thanks, Aaron. I’d feel better knowing that everyone has presents. We have a list now of all those who were hurt in some way by the storm. It’s fairly detailed, so we know who lost homes and who is in the hospital and who lost loved ones or pets—all that sort of thing, and I can use it to compile a list for the Christmas gifts.”
