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Date Posted: 19:12:33 03/05/01 Mon
Author: Kelley
Subject: Crossroads--Chapter32

Been awhile since I've been able to stay online like this so I wanna seize an opportunity to post a chapter or two
before school as I had promised :) Thanks for continuing reading and as always feedback is appreciated! Hope yall
enjoy. ::crossing fingers it posts right::::

Kelley

Crossroads--Chapter 32


Carrie finally heaved a sigh of relief that the work day was over, but she was happy she had solid details to give Mike
at dinner. She just hoped he would approve of the idea. She walked out of the hospital at 5:30 and decided to stroll
along the sidewalk since the restaurant was so close. It was a bit chilly this time of year. Winter was beginning to settle
in and Christmas was coming soon. The sun was slowly descending in the horizon, casting a beautiful glow of a sunset
above her. She marveled at how amazing the colors weaved themselves together, how simply beautiful it made
everything. The crisp air was nipping her cheeks when she realized she was at the restaurant so soon. She hadn’t been
here at night before, usually she just dropped in for lunch or take out. She looked in the window and saw a faint light
illuminating from inside. There were small candles on the tables, making the atmosphere very calm and elegant. She
casually walked in and told the host she was meeting a friend here. The host immediately knew what to do and
seemed to know who she was, strangely enough.

“Let me take your coat Miss Brady. Please.. follow me.” She expected to have to wait a few minutes. The host led
her to a small table in the corner of the restaurant where a bouquet of stargazer lilies sat at the table. She was
breathless upon the sight of them. She took her seat and accepted the white wine the host poured for her. Politely
thanking him, she decided to check her voice mail on her cell phone and was rather startled when a beautiful red rose
appeared under her nose.

“A beautiful rose for a beautiful lady.” Mike stood in front of her as she blushed the shade of the red rose he gave to
her.

“Thank you Mike.” She smiled as she put her cell phone back in her purse and took the rose he gave to her.

“I hope you don’t mind but called ahead of time for reservations. I wanted to make sure we could get in with the
holidays around the corner.

“I love it Mike.. I’ve never been here other than to pick up lunch or take out during the day. It’s more.. what’s the
word I’m looking for…

“Magical perhaps?”

“Yes that’s the word! I can’t wait to try dinner. Shall we order, I’m starving after the crazy day I had.”

“I can sympathize. Whoever said being Chief of Staff was easy didn’t know what they were talking about.”

She laughed lightly while they surveyed the menus. She became increasingly aware of his presence and tried to focus
on the conversation. She decided to throw out the reason for the dinner in the first place, the benefit fundraiser.

“Oh before I forget.. I finally have everything in order for my idea of what the hospital can do for it’s annual fundraiser
this year…”

“Bring it on. I’m sure it will be wonderful no matter what it is.. You always seem to have a great creative streak as I
remember from years ago when you submitted that poem and won an award for it in high school.”

She blushed, amazed he remembered would even have remembered it. She also remembered what the poem was
about and that made her even more uncomfortable.

“I nevere did get to hear it though. Gran told me the news. You will have to read it to me sometime.”

“I don’t think so…. it was a silly high school poem that’s all. Now can we pleaase get back to this fundrasier I have
planned. I spent the entire day on the details and I don’t intend to let this dinner go to waste without telling you all
about it Doctor Horton.” She smiled coyly at him.

“Okay let’s get work out of the way, then we can paint the town ..or something.”

“Sounds good.”

“Now what’s this brilliant ideas of yours Miss Brady?” She proceeded to tell him of the idea.

“I don’t really know where to start except by telling you that back in college I had this friend, Elizabeth…she was
involved in a charity that I hadn’t really given much thought to until she opened my eyes to it. So I guess. you could
say I’m a little closer to this personally.”

“I’m intrigued.. go on…” He urged.

“Well.. I was the typical college girl doing the usual things… campus activities, projects, papers, you name it. So one
day Liz and I were just casually talking. Can’t remember how the conversation started but she dropped in that she
was involved in a charity that helps the Special Olympics. Me being the idiot I was, I had no inkling of what it was
back then, so I inquired about it. She proceeded to tell me of this little 10 year old girl she visits that is deaf and
mostly mute. At first it was so foreign to me, imagining having to deal with a child such as this, but through her words
and the way she spoke of this girl, I could tell it might be something I would be more interested in supporting.”

Mike listened intently to the story, realizing this was quickly warming his heart to the idea.

“I decided to give the place a call and they told me just to come in and get a feel for what it’s all about. I wasn’t really
sure I wanted to do it but I thought I might as well and in the process I might learn a thing or two. Upon driving into
the parking lot, I was quickly wondering if I was in the right place and not sure at all what I was doing there. But
then.. I got out of my car and that was it for me. This young teenage boy comes over to me and immediately gives me
a hug, not knowing who I am or what I was doing there. He didn’t care, he just loved to hug people. I later found out
that Special Olympics aims to help disabled children and adults overcome whatever obstacles they encounter in their
lives in order to become winners in a society that usually is uncomfortable around them. Many can’t function without
the help of wheelchairs, and some are developmentally delayed. But when I left there I came away with something
much more profound than my life would ever have.

Mike was mesmerized by the story she told and saw the girl he had grown up with, and the woman she had grown
into in that one moment. This defined who Carrie Brady truly was for him.

“Those kids had a sense of who they were, an identity they had created, a presence if you will that they never fully
understood. It was just who they were and how comfortable they were with themselves. I saw a lot of pride that day.
No judgements in that entire building was cast, just pure positive energy, encouragement and support. So I
immediately signed up to help in any way I could. So.. sometimes on my weekends I go and visit them, help in
whatever way I can to help them become the people I admire. And that’s.. why I think we should do the fundraiser
for them.”

Mike was transfixed and for a moment tried to regain his thoughts.

“Mike???” Carrie looked at him quizzically, noticing the unusual look on his face.

“Oh sorry. I’m …I’m …amazed by the story you told and I think, with a lot of time and energy put into this we can
make a hell of a lot of money for them.”

“So that means you approve of my idea??” She smiled slightly, hoping for a nod of approval or some definite sign of a
green light that she could latch onto.

“Absolutely. And I personally want to help you with this down to the last detail.”

“Wow.. Thank you soooo much Mike. You have no idea how happy that makes me to hear you say that.” She
breathed a sigh of relief. Her first fundraiser as the hospital public relations director. Tingles ran down her spine. She
was excited!!!

“Oh and I have the most of the major details worked out but we should still probably go over the budget and all the
necessary information we’ll need to make the night a success. The theme of the fundraiser and all that.”

“Whatever you need Carrie. I’ll support you one hundred percent.” He met her eyes and quickly she realized it was a
little longer of a look than she intended. The awkwardness returned to her and she looked down, not exactly sure
how she felt about that.

He knew he had made her uncomfortable and attempted to move the conversation along.

“So do you want any dessert before we head out? Chocolate mousse maybe?” Mike smiled temptingly.

“No I’m fine. Although I probably need to walk off all the dinner I ate.”

“Then let’s get out of here. We can walk back to the hospital and take a drive maybe.” He stood up and grabbed her
sweater to help her into it and then went to pay the check while she waited outside for him.

He walked out and saw her standing in the cool October breeze. The wind caught her hair several times. He couldn’t
stop thinking of that story she told. Looking in her eyes he could tell that she was an amazing woman, not that he had
ever thought otherwise. There was just something about the way she told it, the concern and caring in her voice that
touched something inside of him. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe one day he would be able to.

“So are you ready to help me if my stomach and I can’t make it up the small hill? I can’t believe how stuffed I am.”

“Sure Mike.. maybe we need a doctor for you.” She laughed at her own joke and laughed at him.

“Great.. I am a doctor and I need a doctor? Will wonders never cease. Just don’t get Dr. Kevorkian for me, deal?”
She broke into a soft laugh and could only manage a “Deal” back. He was ready for the next phase of his surprise for
her.

He offered his arm to her and she accepted as they strolled along, arm in arm, in the moonlight back to the hospital.

Life was good.

TBC

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