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“That’s the best part!” Jane’s eyes lit up. “My uncle has his own company, and when he heard I was putting together another group, he offered to sponsor us, so it’s all paid for except for a few meals and gas. We’re taking a van, so that won’t be much, and if you want to, you can bring food from home for the drive so that won’t even be an added expense.”
Noah’s mind reeled as Jane continued her high-speed sales pitch. They were nearing his apartment now, and she could probably sense she was running out of time. He couldn’t just pick up and leave.
Could he? He did have over a week before his summer job and classes started, but was this what he wanted to do with it?
What else am I going to do with that week?
He tuned back in to Jane. She had mentioned something about work clothes and a day at the beach, and now she was covering logistics.
“—so we’ll leave Monday morning, stay with my uncle in Tucson that night, and finish the drive into Mexico on Tuesday. You’re going to be such an asset, with your building skills! Do you have a passport?”
“Yeah...” Thanks to his trip to Ghana, which like this opportunity, had been sponsored by a wealthy donor.
“Great! Can I get your phone number?”
Phone in hand, she walked away, leaving him bewildered at the top of the stairs that led to the bottom row of Grand Apartments. Had he really given his phone number to an engaged girl he hardly knew? A text buzzed in on his phone.
This is JaneI’ll text you the link to the foundation’s website as soon as I get home. So excited to have you on board!!!
Link? On board? Noah’s face scrunched as he attempted to replay their conversation. Had he actually agreed to anything? Had she even asked? He put his hands in his pockets and made his way to the dungeon he called home.
Constructed in the age of dinosaurs, the bare concrete walls and rusted railings at the spuriously named Grand Apartments were as homey as anything had ever been for Noah. He’d made the mistake of looking around before choosing this place for its price. There were a few crazy-nice student apartments in Oak Hills—lofty names, new buildings, private bedrooms, spacious kitchens that didn’t smell of mildew and old fridge, occupants who used Daddy’s car and credit—but those weren’t for Noah. His was the world of concrete slab and rusted railings and DIY schooling. The only way he could afford higher education without burying himself under a mountain of student debt was through scholarship, frugality, and hard work in the summers.
He unlocked the front door, wiping his feet on the outside welcome mat in deference to the thin brownish-gray interior floor covering that was more upholstery than carpet, and went straight to his shared room. Wyatt, his freshman roommate, was locked into some gaming world, as usual, and gave only the barest of head bobs in greeting. Wouldn’t want to mess up the game for an in-person interaction. They had lived in this room together for four months, and he still didn’t know the kid’s last name.
Noah’s phone buzzed as he sat on his neatly made bed. It was another text from Jane.
Here’s the link! Let me know if you have any questions! See you Monday morning!
He clicked the link only out of curiosity. No way could he take off for a week in Mexico. The screen loaded, and he wasn’t surprised by what he saw: a pair of enormous inky eyes peeked out at him from behind a brightly colored kite. Youthful skin crinkled at the corners in what was surely an adorable smile, and Noah found himself pulled in.
He scrolled down and identified the boy’s full face in another photo. A young woman held him in her arms and was surrounded by a small army of similarly dark-eyed children of varying ages, all smiling and laughing at the camera. Other pictures on the page showed volunteers working on various construction or maintenance projects, handing out food, and playing soccer with the children. Banners urged him from every corner of the site to GIVE, VOLUNTEER, and SHARE with the orphans.
Great marketing, Noah thought. Whoever had organized these materials knew what they were doing.
He picked through the carefully curated photos and spotted a few shots of Jane. But there was caution behind the older children’s eyes—caution Noah could relate to.What’s the catch?They seemed to say.Why are you spending time with me?Noah’s throat caught as it sank in that his youth may not have been ideal, but at least he’d always had his mom and Matt. These kids had no one, no family to take care of them. What if hecouldgo spend a week with them, build something for them that would make their difficult circumstances a little easier to bear?
Even as he reminded himself that picking up and leaving the country for a week on only a few days’ notice was reckless, Noah’s increased heart rate and the unmistakable calmness in his gut informed him that he was, as Jane had put it, on board.
Chapter 26
Pack Up, Move Out
“Mexico?”
Noah smiled at the skepticism in his mother’s voice.
“How on earth can you afford to go to Mexico?”
“Mom—”
“I mean, if you can, that’s great, but if you’re calling for money, you know I can’t... I wish... maybe Matt—”
“Mom,” he interrupted, “I’m not calling for money. The expenses will mostly be covered. I only have to pitch in on gas and pay for my own food.”
“But where will you be staying? Are these good people you’ll be with?” She sucked in a breath. “What if you run into one of those cartels?”
“Of course they’re good people—a group of singles going down to volunteer at an orphanage run by nuns.” Leave it to Mom to blow out of proportion any possible travel risk, real or contrived. She’d had a similar freak-out when he went to Ghana, and that trip had been planned well in advance with a group of people she knew and trusted. Noah was a paragon of optimism and confidence in comparison.
