Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“You never did that.”
But Robin is wrong. I lived my own life, separate from my sister and brothers. I chose a life different from what they chose. I was ready to leave the ranch behind. But no longer. Here is where I belong, and I want to get closer to my sister. After all, we shared the same space for nine months.
“Thanks for saying that,” I tell my sister. “I appreciate it.”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself, Raven.”
Again, my sister means well, but she doesn’t get it. When you survive cancer, you see the world differently. You appreciate every little thing, all the nuances. That includes the members of your own family. I appreciate them in a way that they probably don’t appreciate me. Not to say that they aren’t all thrilled that I’m still with them. I get that. I totally do. But they’re not the ones who almost bit the big one. That’s me. Now that I’m here and I have a high chance of living to a ripe old age, I want to spend time with my family. Truly get to know them. And as much as I love my brothers, I need to start with my twin sister.
“I’m not trying to be hard on myself,” I say. “But I feel a need to do this. And I want you involved.”
“I’ll do whatever I can for you. You can have a big infusion from my trust fund to get you started. But I don’t know that I can be of any other help. Work has been crazy lately, and—”
I hold back a sigh. Well, I tried. “No worries, Robin.”
Another pause.
Finally, “You know what? Let’s do it. What about the guys?”
Happiness surges into me. “They can certainly be involved if they want to.”
I don’t mention to Robin that they’re keeping secrets from me. They’re probably keeping them from her as well. And unlike me, she would go barreling into them and demand to know what’s going on.
For their sake, I don’t want that.
“Okay,” she says. “Sounds great. Just let me know what you need.”
“Thanks. I’m going to do some simple research on how to set up a nonprofit. That’s the easy part. Our lawyers can do it quickly. Then I’ll need to start figuring out how to fill our coffers, and then figure out who to give the money to.”
“You could set up a grant,” she says. “Organizations could apply for the money.”
“Yeah, I’m sure we could do that. But honestly, I’d like for the money to go to actual people. People who need treatment but can’t afford it. Or research facilities.”
“Yeah. I bet Dad has an attorney who can help you with all of that.”
“I agree. And I want you sitting on the Board of Directors with me.”
She laughs lightly. “All right, Raven. I’d be honored.”
“Thanks Robbie. Talk to you soon.”
“Yeah. I’ll be over this weekend to see you.”
After I end the call, I find my mother.
“Mom, is Dad around?”
“Yeah, he’s home today.” She gestures down the hall. “He’s in his office.”
“Great.” I walk through the large ranch house to the hallway that houses my father’s office. I knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Daddy. Raven.”
“Come on in, sweetheart.”
I open the door. My father sits behind his desk, his eyes on his computer screen. He smiles when I walk in. Everyone smiles at me now. And I have to say I don’t hate it.
“Daddy, I need your help.”
“With what?”
“I need a project. I want to start a nonprofit organization to benefit the research and treatment of blood cancers.”
Dad leans back in his chair. “That’s a big undertaking, Raven.”
“Yes, but I want to do it.” I cross the study toward his desk and take a seat across from him. “I can’t just sit around here doing nothing. I want to give back. I have a second lease on life, and I don’t want to waste it. I realize I’m one of the lucky ones. If it weren’t for Falcon’s bone marrow—”
Dad holds up a hand. “Let’s not go there, baby girl. It’s over, thank God. You’re going to live, and we need to just be grateful for that.”
“I am grateful, Daddy. Falcon is sick and tired of me thanking him. But my point is that it did happen. And without Falcon… Well, we all know what would’ve happened. What about the people who weren’t so lucky? What about the people who don’t ever get a match? Or what about those who do find a match, but they die anyway? I want to help them all. I have the resources, and I want to do it. I just need you to point me in the right direction.”
“I have no idea how to set up a nonprofit organization.”
“I know you don’t. But you have attorneys, Daddy.”
“Land-use attorneys. Contract attorneys.”