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Chapter 25: Jace
After my meeting with the representative of a medical supply company, I head to our small PR department to check on the progress of the brochure. It’s a three-person department, headed by Heather, a woman in her thirties with a passion for marketing.
The brochures are ready and she shows me a sample. It’s colorful with pictures of smiling patients and staff. My interest though, is in the pieces that Olivia wrote. I turn the booklet page and see her name. She will be so proud to see her first byline: By Olivia James.
I read the story and within seconds I’m pulled into the story of Essie, a thirty-eight-year-old woman whose time was running out to have the baby she so badly wanted. She opted to go with a sperm donor and chose The Anderson Clinic for its good reputation and experience, having been in the industry for almost twenty years.
It’s a story I’ve heard from our patients many times but the way that Olivia has written it makes it personal and different. It’s a short article but it’s heartwarming and it leaves you feeling like you know Essie.
“She’s good, isn’t she?” Heather says. “She ought to be writing as a full-time job. She’s better than so many professional writers. Has she taken a writing course?”
I shake my head. “Not that I know of.” The first time Olivia showed her work was to Ivy. I wish she could hear the compliments. “Yes, she’s very good. Can you send me a digital copy of the brochure?”
“Sure,” Heather says.
I read the other two stories and they are just as good. If I was going through fertility challenges and read those stories, I’d be on my way to The Anderson Clinic. I’m so proud of Olivia. It’s insane that she’s keeping that kind of talent to herself.
It’s one thing to encourage her to do something with it but maybe she doesn’t know how. In all my arrogance, I haven’t considered that not everyone can see the straight path of their career. What practical help can I offer Olivia so that when she leaves the clinic, she can focus on her writing? If I don’t do something I’m afraid she’ll apply for another temp job and who knows, that one might become permanent and there goes her dreams.
I know it’s easy to lose sight of your dreams when you get caught up in something else. The answer comes to me. I’ll send Adam, an old friend of mine and the editor of a small publication that comes out once a week, samples of Olivia’s writing. Adam will give me some ideas on the way forward for Olivia. Back in my office, Olivia is on a call but she shoots me a smile and blows me a kiss. I go into the office feeling like I’ve won love’s lottery with Olivia in my life.
Heather has already sent me the digital copy of the brochure. I click on it until Olivia’s first article shows. I read it again and I’m impressed all over again. I open a new email document and after writing to Adam, I attach the brochure. I hit send and sit back, proud of myself.
Olivia and I have lunch together at my offices. Chicken sandwiches brought up from the cafeteria and coffee from the kitchenette. Dylan and I used to bitch when Alec started dating Ivy and he rarely wanted to meet up with me anymore. I get it now. I’d rather have lunch with Olivia in my office than go meet my brothers at the café downstairs. I mean, we’ve been together all our lives.
My thoughts turn to Adam. I can’t wait to hear what advice he’ll have for Olivia.
“You look very pleased with yourself,” she says and takes a sip of her coffee.
“I enjoy looking at you.” I’m so excited that I sent Adam her work. He’ll be excited about her writing as everyone is, apart from Olivia herself. I have no doubt that she’ll go far if she makes the decision to pursue her passion. I hope she’ll be open to it. When it comes to her writing, Olivia can get weird.
“I’ll miss you this evening.” I’m going to my parents’ house for dinner and Olivia is meeting with her friend for drinks and dinner. “You can change your mind if you want.”
She laughs. “Melissa will kill me if I cancel.”
“I know.” The memory of her refusing to meet my parents comes to my mind. Maybe one day, she’ll want to meet them.
I finish the rest of my sandwich and wash it down with a huge gulp of coffee. “I finally have an idea for the free clinic that will work.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve never been for the idea of a one-day free clinic and not because I don’t like helping.”
“I know. You are the kindest, sweetest person I know,” Olivia says.
I’m glad she doesn’t think I’m some kind of mad capitalist obsessed with the clinic’s profits. “Thank you.”
“What’s your idea?” Olivia says biting the last of her sandwich. Her appetite has improved considerably and if I’m not mistaken, she’s filled out a bit.
“What if we get several referrals a month, say five, from the local hospitals then we can treat those patients for free using all our resources. Just as we would a paying patient. That way, we won’t interfere in the running of the clinic and we won’t shortchange our paying clients. What do you think?”
Olivia mulls over what I’ve said. That’s another thing I love about her. She doesn’t jump in to give her opinion. She thinks things through so that when she does state her opinion it’s well thought out. She would make a great journalist.
“It’s a genius idea,” she says. “You give back to society without compromising the quality of care that you give your patients.”
“Exactly.” We stare at each other in perfect understanding. I hope that my family, especially Dylan, will think it a great idea, though it’s unlikely. He’ll accuse me of being precious about wealthy people but that’s not it at all. It’s about keeping the clinic’s standards and the promise we make to our patients. He doesn’t get that or he doesn’t want to.
Olivia and I leave the office together at a few minutes past five. I give her a ride to her apartment as she left her car at home. I park outside her apartment and kill the engine, not ready to say goodbye. She’s not in a rush either and we sit chatting for a few minutes.
