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COLTON
The evening was better than I anticipated. Remi enjoyed the meal I’d made before pushing it away, declaring herself stuffed.
I loved that she went into everything with enthusiasm and wasn’t afraid to eat in front of a guy or tell someone what she thought. She was braver than me.
I stood to clean up.
“I’ll help.”
I didn’t dissuade her this time because there was a lot to take inside, and I appreciated it.
Together, we put away the leftovers, rinsed the dishes, and stacked them in the dishwasher.
When we were done, I realized we never opened her wine. “I completely forgot about the wine you brought. You want to open it now?”
“I’d love to.”
I pulled out a corkscrew to open the bottle. Pouring two glasses, I said, “Let’s go back outside. The night is too nice to stay in.”
She took the glass from me, sipping it as we walked outside.
I wanted to know more about who she was, what she liked, and what she loved. The evening also served to quiet my nerves. I didn’t like seeing her so unraveled earlier today. She was normally so upbeat and positive, and seeing her knocked off track was upsetting.
Arranging ourselves on the long couch I bought when I moved in, Remi tucked her leg underneath her. “We really need to plan this fundraiser thing.”
Scout settled at our feet.
“I think first, we should schedule a date.”
Remi nodded. “I need that to feel the pressure to get things done.”
Another clue as to how she operated. I pulled out my phone, running over possible weekends with her.
Remi typed notes on her phone. “I’ll send these dates out to the other shop and restaurant owners. See when everyone is available.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Sometimes it’s best to just schedule it.”
She pursed her lips. “Maybe.”
“With so many people involved, it will be impossible to get a date that’s perfect for everyone.”
She laughed lightly. “Yeah, okay.”
“The social worker, Alisha, gave me a list of items the money will be used for like school supplies, clothes, and toiletries.”
“That’s good.” She pulled up the list, handing her phone to me to read. As I went through the list of items, an idea came to me. “What about starting some sort of mentoring program for the high school students? Offering them internships or jobs.”
“That’s not part of this fundraiser, but that would be neat for the future. I like that idea.” When Remi looked at me with respect in her eyes, it made me feel like a hero.
She started a list of the food and drinks we’d have, making a note to email everyone to make sure they’d be able to follow through. “What else do we need?”
“Entertainment? Music, games, or activities.”
“Should we invite foster kids in the area? I’d have to ask Alisha if that’s okay.”
“If that’s the case, we should offer soccer or baseball. Maybe have something smaller for the little kids like bubbles, chalk, and other toys.”
“It’s not as complicated to plan as I thought.” Other than spending more time with Remi, I hadn’t looked forward to the actual planning.
