Danielle’s first impulse was to say no. She’d rather figure out how to get more ticket sales for the gala. Maybe even do some door knocking for sponsors. But if she thought about it too much she’d go crazy. A night out with people who understood would help. “Set it up.”
Debra clapped her hands. “Great! Look I’ve got to go. Most of the interns are out taking samples. We all have our cells if you need anything.”
Danielle smiled and waved at Debra as she floated out of the office. With no one there to help distract her from the fact that Liberty wanted her gone, Danielle opted for the best thing to get her mind off of the uncontrollable things in her life. Kicking off her kitten heels, she slipped on a pair of rain boots and stomped out the back of the cottage and down to the beach. Having an office right on the very water body they were trying to protect was the best thing about her job. Every time she thought her work was getting nowhere or that no one was listening or cared, she could look out her window and see the sun reflecting off the waves and remember what she was fighting for. The one thing that she could hold on to in her life.
It was cloudy and drizzling, so she’d put on her pink North Face raincoat for the walk. She liked the beach when it was sunny, but loved it on drizzly days like today. Not as hot, less crowded, and the waters were choppy due to the winds. The sound of each pounding wave would slowly knock away whatever frustration tightened her muscles.
She’d walked a mile down the beach and was on her way back when her cell phone rang in her jacket pocket. She stopped and pulled it. One look at the screen and the tension that had just drained from her shoulders slowly started back.
“Hi, Mom,” she said.
“Hello, Danielle, how are things going with my favorite daughter?” Adele Stewart asked in her cheery voice.
She was an only child, so the compliment didn’t give Danielle any false sense of importance. “The board meeting was rough this morning. I’m out walking the beach now.”
“Is this about the Clear Water expansion?”
“How did you know about that?”
“I read the board meeting agendas that you send me,” Adele said, as if Danielle should have known that.
As little attention as her parents gave her, she was surprised to know that her mom read them. The young girl who still wanted their attention was the part of her that added them to the River Watchers mailing list in the vain hope that they’d at least find her work interesting.
“That’s it, actually. I’ve got a board member who doesn’t think we should ask the town to oppose the expansion before the permit is on notice. I disagree.”
Adele sighed and Danielle pictured her mom shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t fathom why everyone doesn’t understand the important role we play in making this world a better place.”
“Not everyone thinks that way.”
“They should. Don’t worry, honey, good always triumphs over evil.”
Danielle chuckled. “She’s not evil. She just has her own self-interests.”
“People who refuse to take responsibility for improving the world are a form of evil.”
Words Danielle had heard most of her life. She loved her parents, but many times she’d wished they’d stopped trying so hard to save everyone else in the world and just focus on raising her.
“Where’s Dad?”
“Oh, that’s why I called. We’re taking in another foster child—a boy, eight years old. His mother is in prison and the his father died last year.”
“Another? You’ve already got two kids.”
“I know, but I was so moved by his story when I went to the latest CASA meeting. Danielle, there are so many kids out there who need love. It’s our duty to do what we can.”
“I know, Mom, but you and Dad don’t have to take in every child you come across. I thought you were coming to Ridgeport for the river cleanup this weekend. That’ll be hard to do with a new kid in the house.”
“Oh, Danielle, don’t be selfish. We’ll try to make it if we can.”
Danielle bit her lower lip and dug the toe of her boot into the wet sand. Adele was an expert at hitting Danielle with the guilty stick. Danielle knew there were kids who needed love and affection. She knew that everyone wasn’t blessed to have two parents like she did. But all her life her parents were busy with the causes they took up after they couldn’t have another child.
“We don’t need our own child. Not when there are so many out there we can shower with love.”
Her dad has spoken those words to her mom when she’d cried after another failed pregnancy. Danielle had been nine when she overheard them. A few months later the various projects started. They’d built houses, feed the poor, championed animal rights, and now were taking in foster kids. They had taught her the importance of serving, but they’d also been too busy with their projects to give her any attention. From bad days at school, fights with her friends, or a choral recital they couldn’t attend, their comments were always the same. There were people out there who had it worse than her.
Danielle used to wonder why they didn’t want to shower their attention on her. Was she not good enough? Even though she was older, the feelings of not being enough for her parents hadn’t gone away.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” she said. “Bring him along. I’ve got to meet my new brother sooner or later.”
“We’ll see what the courts say,” Adele said dismissively. “Even though his mother is in jail, they may grant visitation. You know I like to make sure the kids see their parents on weekends if they can.”
She had her answer: her parents weren’t coming. Eventually, she’d stop caring when they missed something of hers because of another commitment. “Don’t worry about it. As long as you guys make the gala in a few weeks that’s all that matters. It’s the inaugural event. I need to make an impression. It would mean a lot to me if you two were there.”
“Of course, dear. Oh, your dad’s home. We’ve got to go get a few things for your brother’s room. I’ll give you a call later, okay? Love you. Bye.”
The call ended before Danielle could say anything more. Danielle stared at the phone for a few seconds, sighed, and then shoved it into her pocket.
“Good thing I don’t crave my parents’ attention,” she said to the wind. “I would be constantly disappointed.”
* * *
The sounds of excited conversation filtered from the house as Danielle trudged up the steps to the office’s back door. She left her rain boots in the mudroom, slipped on her heels and followed the sounds of conversation toward the kitchen. Halfway there, the deeper sound of a man’s familiar voice slowed her steps. Her pulse raced with anticipation and she carefully eased her way to the open door.
“Jacobe?” she said.
He stood next to the sink, a mug of coffee in his hand, surrounded by three of the interns. Blue-gray slacks covered his long legs and a crisp white shirt wrapped his muscles like the most desirable of Christmas presents. Unwrapping all of that toned, tight body would be something worth celebrating. He glanced up from the group and hit her with his devastating smile.
“Just the woman I was looking for.”
He sounded happy to see her. Heat flooded her cheeks. She looked away and pulled off the rain jacket. If she kept eye contact, she’d start grinning and stammering along with blushing.
“I was out walking the beach. From the looks of things, everyone here made you comfortable while