Page 90 of Theirs to Treasure

“I think somebody has a crush,” Sarah teased. Becca reached over the backseat and hit her sister in the arm.

“What, are we still ten years old?” Josie asked.

“Yes,” they both answered simultaneously. Josie laughed.

By the time they got to the house, Chance almost had dinner cooked. It was potato-crusted halibut and green beans.

“Hi, ladies! Sam phoned to say he had to drive one of the boys home, so he’s running late. How was your day?”

“It was great!” Sarah answered. “How about yours? What did you do? I mean, what do you do for a living?”

“Josie told us you were loaded,” Becca said.

“I don’t think I put it quite like that,” Josie said as she deposited the green beans on the dining room table. “Anyway, would you please excuse Becca, Chance? She spent the afternoon with fourteen-year-old boys, and I think she reverted back to the same age.”

“Jeez, she’s right, Chance. That was totally inappropriate, I’m sorry. And Josie didn’t say you were loaded, she said something about how you had done well in business and had left corporate America to settle down here…” Becca blushed. Chance put his arm around the flustered young woman.

“Easy there. You had it right the first time. I’m loaded. I was the Chief Financial Officer of a company that went public. I cashed my stock and my stock options in at the trade and made a ton of money. I took the income, paid the taxes, and left the corporate arena, because I was working eighteen-hour days, had an ulcer, and was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. I was twenty-six years old and my doctor said I had the heart and the fitness level of a fifty-year-old.” He chuckled at the three sets of surprised eyes that settled on him.

“Chance, you never told me that!” Josie accused.

“No reason to,” he countered. “That’s not me anymore.”

“That’s not true. I’ve seen you get pretty worked up on those calls for your charitable foundations, sometimes.” Josie glanced over at her sisters. “He consults for a couple of charities.” When she mentioned American Humanity Connections among the listed charities, Sarah’s eyes got wide.

“You do work with AHC? I volunteer for them when I have time. I love what they’ve done to computerize all the pantries and shelters, so that people in need can get referrals for services, instead of just floating from place to place, hoping the next spot has a meal or a bed.”

“What do you do, Sarah?”

“I volunteer to teach at two shelters in Florida. I’m teaching the administrators there how to use the computers they’ve received. I don’t do much in the grand scheme of things, just a few hours, here and there.”

“Are you kidding? What you’re doing is critical. We couldn’t accomplish anything without volunteers like you. I want to thank you, Sarah.”

“Let me guess, we’re talking about AHC,” Sam said as he walked into the dining room.

“How’d you know?” Becca asked.

“There are only two things that make Chance sound so lovesick, one is Josie, and the other is his brainchild. Is dinner ready?” Sam looked confused at the dirty look Chance threw his way. “What did I say?”

“You started AHC?” Sarah asked in a reverent tone.

“My foster sister, Olivia, and I founded it a few years ago. Starting a charity that could really make a difference seemed like a great opportunity to give back. I’m on the board of two others, so that I can learn the ins and outs.”

“It sounds like you’ve taken on quite a lot, Chance,” Josie said, pensively. Chance came over and put his arm around her.

“At my last physical, my doctor said I clocked in at my actual age. No more ulcer, no more cigarettes. He did, however, strongly suggest that it was time for me to find a good woman and settle down.” Chance brushed his lips against hers, causing her toes to curl. They went over to the table to sit down.

“I still can’t believe that you founded AHC, that’s pretty cool,” Sarah said as she filled her plate.

“You’re right, he’s very cool.” Josie agreed with a twinkle in her eye.

Later that night, after the girls returned to Josie’s apartment, the three of them sat on the couch going over the events of the day.

“As much as I tease you about AHC, I’m really envious of your involvement with it,” Sam confessed to Chance.

“The door is always open. Olivia and I have told you more than once that we could really use you.”

“Don’t you still have to stay away from computers because of the migraines?” Josie asked.