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My lips curve gently. “For what it’s worth, they’re amazing people. Honestly. Both so kind and giving. They’d do anything for anyone.”
Mrs. Justice waves me off. “That’s all James.”
“Really?” I ask, moving to the edge of my seat. “But you’re the same.”
“Because I learned from him,” she says, so fondly it hurts my heart. “He didn’t grow up with money, he was self-made. He worked from the day he turned sixteen until a couple weeks before he passed. When I met him, he was in his prime. Swimming in money,” she laughs, her eyes physically on mine, but I know her mind is somewhere else. “He thought that’s how he would get me to give him a chance, by throwing money at me. But that wasn’t how I worked. I didn’t want a man, I didn’t want to be in a relationship, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Sounds like Ryan.”
“Oh yes,” she says with a nod. “Cut from the same cloth, those two.”
“I admire it.”
“Oh, I did too. I thought it was exciting to have someone who wanted me so desperately. It became a game until I got knocked up. Then it became very real.”
When she laughs, I laugh too. The love is so bright on her face, it’s as if Mr. Justice is still here, just in the other room, sleeping on the sofa or something. I never had a dad, so I don’t know what it’s like. But with the way Ryan and Amelia talk about theirs, I feel I may have missed out. Though, I doubt my dad would be like Mr. Justice. My mom didn’t make the best choices.
“Anyway, I am getting away from the point of what I was trying to say,” she says with an airy chuckle before brushing her mass of dark hair off her shoulders. “James loved giving his money away. I used to tease him for it because my dad was a saver. It didn’t matter that he made good money. He hoarded it. He never gave it away. He even fought me on paying for my wedding, saying he didn’t think he needed to since I was already knocked up.” Her face breaks into a grin as she shakes her head. “James said fine, I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams. And he did. He was just amazing like that. He wanted everyone to be happy. He flew my parents in, he paid for their lodging, and he gave them the best damn time of their lives. They still love him and probably miss him as much as I do. But that was James, so giving. Even when my dad apologized for being stingy, James waved him off. ‘It’s for Grace,’ he would say. ‘I’d give her the world.’ And he did. But it wasn’t just for me.”
I assume she means Ryan and Amelia, but she continues. “He helped with the food bank here in Nashville. When Shea went to the Assassins, James was very involved in Shea’s pediatric cancer foundation. He ran it for many years until Shea retired and took over. During all of it, we had Ryan and then Amelia. Years went by, him working his ass off, helping raise two very busy children, and supporting me with my business. When Ryan got into hockey and then Amelia into gymnasts, he saw how expensive it was. I’m sure you know. It’s insane.”
I nod. “My mom worked three jobs.”
“See, insane,” she says, shaking her head. “And James would sit up at night and think of the children who couldn’t pay for it. He wanted to help them, so he got with Shea, and they started a program for kids who wanted to play hockey but couldn’t afford the equipment. He would pay for the girls who couldn’t afford their monthly tuition at the gym. What blew my mind was that no one ever knew. He didn’t want it that way.”
“That’s beautiful,” I say softly, and she nods.
“It is, and then when Ryan went to hockey camp the summer before his junior year of high school, his roommate, Edward, had just finished his sophomore year at Bellevue on scholarship. He was from nothing and had nothing. Bless him, he was struggling. Ryan would pay for him to eat, and when he ran out of money, they’d come home. We didn’t mind because we hated that Edward didn’t have money to eat. That’s unfair. No child should ever be hungry. It should be illegal.”
“Absolutely. Even though we didn’t have a lot of money, I always had food.”
“Exactly, and I remember lying in bed and James saying he wanted to help him. So he became a sponsor for Edward, and it was funny because Edward never knew. It was nice, watching him grow and come into his skin. He works for an investment bank now, and I’m so glad James was able to see that before he passed.”
I swallow hard as Grace’s eyes fill with tears. “He wanted to do it for one student athlete in each sport. I told him I thought that was a lot, especially since we had our own college student and Amelia would be there soon, but he didn’t listen to me. He set it up, and he didn’t want anyone to know. They didn’t, and when he passed, I felt in my heart I had to keep doing it. So I have.”
My mug stops right in front of my lips as I gaze at her, my heart picking up in speed. Her eyes meet mine as a slow smile pulls at her lips. Tears start to spill over her lashes as she takes a deep breath. “Before, he picked the students he sponsored. But now I do it, and I’ll never forget your application.”
Oh fuck.
“A girl who was knocked down nine times but got up ten. I knew from the moment I read your name and I saw your face grinning up at me, you were going to do great things. I remember being so excited that you accepted, and then when I found out Amelia was your roommate, I cried. I knew I would get to know you. What I didn’t realize was that you were going to be so much more than just a GymBull. You became my daughter’s best friend, and then you captured my son’s heart, bringing such light to his life. Like James did for me.”
I swallow the emotion that is choking me as my eyes bore into hers. “You’re my sponsor?”
She nods. “I am, but I’m not. James set everything up, and he made the rules, which is why I was so upset when you told me you couldn’t go home for a freaking weekend. What kind of stupid rule is that? But the more I dug into it, I realized it was to make sure you stayed focused. I can’t change anything he has done, but know that if you want to go home, I’ll take you myself.”
Tears start to roll down my face. “This family does enough already. I’m speechless.”
Mrs. Justice nods, and I can see she’s struggling a bit. “I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want this to change our relationship. I adore you, and I love that you and Ryan are together. I don’t want you to think just because James is your sponsor, things are different, ’cause they aren’t. The kids don’t know. Shea and Elli don’t know. No one is to know, but I wanted you to be aware how sorry I am about not getting you to your mom. I know you miss her, and I know she has to miss you.”
I wipe my tears with the back of my hand and slowly shake my head. “I wouldn’t be here without this sponsorship. I’d still be in Nevada or at some school with nothing, struggling to make ends meet ’cause I’d have to work…”
“Exactly. And I wanted to give you more. I wanted you to have your dreams, and I love how you want to build a gym. I see such potential in you, and I was so excited when I got to meet you as Amelia’s best friend. When I got to meet you as Ryan’s girlfriend, my heart just couldn’t take it. It was like you’re meant to be here. With us.”
I slowly rise out of my seat and go to her, wrapping my arms around her as she takes me into her arms, hugging me so tightly to her chest. When I said I wanted to meet my sponsor, I never in my life thought it would be someone I know. Someone I love.
With her voice low, she whispers, “I truly believe James sent you to us.”
Holy crap. I squeeze my eyes shut as the tears leak out. “Or he sent you guys to me.”
“Oh, Sofia,” she gushes, hugging me close to her. “You are an incredible woman. We all knew it from the moment we met you.”
I swallow hard as I nod. “I can’t begin to thank you.”
“Don’t. It’s unnecessary,” she insists, pulling away to look up into my face. “All I ask is that you continue to do what you’re doing. Make your dreams come true, and don’t ever give up. My God, Sofia, you make me work harder. You give me hope that, no matter how much I get knocked down, I will get up. You are inspiring, you are beautiful, and I can’t express how lucky we all are to know you. To love you.”
Her words knock the air out of me. “I love you too.”
She gives me a watery grin before hugging me back to her. While I knew it before, I now know I can’t ever give up what I am working for here. Not only would I let down my mom and myself, I’d let down the legacy Mr. Justice has built. I can’t do that. I never knew the man, but if he was even a fraction of what Ryan is, then there is no way I can disappoint him. And if the pressure to succeed weren’t already so ingrained inside of me, it is a billion times over now.
But what does that mean for Ryan and me?
