“Six hundred people!” the anchor says. “That’s certainly a lot of coffee.”
As they continue to marvel over the miracle at the drive-through, Teddy turns to us, his face lit with excitement. “See? It’s already working.”
“Yeah, coffee for everyone,” Leo jokes, but Teddy shakes his head.
“No, did you hear what she said before that? She started volunteering. At a hospice! All because of that tip.”
On the screen they’re still talking about coffee. But the idea that this is only the beginning—that we’re going to get to do more of this, that the ripple effect of such a simple act of kindness could be so boundless and lasting, longer even than the chain of cars in that drive-through—is enough to keep us standing there for a very long time.
It’s nearly noon when Leo stops what he’s doing—which is sitting on the kitchen counter, systematically working his way through his third sheet of Bubble Wrap—and looks around. “Are you guys gonna be okay if I take off?”
“Why,” I ask, “are those bubbles getting to be too much for you?”
He makes a face at me as he pops another one. “I’m supposed to meet Max for lunch,” he says, surveying the sea of scattered boxes and overstuffed plastic bags. “But I feel a little guilty leaving. Though I guess youarea multimillionaire, so if you really needed the help you could’ve hired someone to do this.”
“It’s more fun making you guys do it,” Teddy tells him. “Plus, it leaves more money for the people who actually need it.”
“I think you’ve been brainwashed by Alice,” Leo says, then holds up his hands in defense when he catches me shooting him a look. “Which isn’t the worst thing. But while you’re putting all this money aside for the nonprofit, don’t forget to save a little for something fun too. It’s not every day you win the lottery.”
“He’s right,” I say, and Teddy looks over at me in surprise. “I mean, I’m really impressed with everything you’re doing, and I’m really proud of you, but—”
“I think what she’s trying to say,” Leo interrupts, “is that it’s good to be a little more like Alice. But don’t stop being Teddy either, okay?”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you guys say that,” Teddy says, dropping onto the couch, “because there’s one thing I wanted to—”
“I knew it,” Leo says immediately. “You bought an island.”
“Not exactly,” Teddy says with a smile. “But my twelve-year-old self would be pretty disappointed if I didn’t at least try to make some of our childhood dreams come true. Which is why you’re now the proud owner of a puppy. And why my mom has her new house. Which, incidentally, will have a pool table and pinball machine in the basement.”
“Naturally,” I say as I sit beside him on the couch, taking his hand in mine. It still feels so strange to be able to do this and to see his face soften when I do, his eyes resting on me with a focus that still makes me a little dizzy and probably always will.
“I got you a thousand colored pencils too,” he says, turning back to Leo, who laughs.
“A thousand? Literally?”
“Literally,” Teddy says. “I’d never short-change you on something as important as art supplies. You can even count them. I figured I’d wait and have them sent over to your dorm whenever you get assigned, since that’s probably where you’ll be doing most of your drawing from now on. Oh, and I took care of that too.”
“Of what?”
“Paying for your dorm,” Teddy says with a grin. “And your tuition.”
Leo opens his mouth, then closes it, completely at a loss. “You did?”
“I did.”
“Wow,” he says, shaking his head. “I mean…wow. Thank you. Really. That’s…so much better than an island.”
Teddy laughs. “I’m glad you think so. I actually put some money aside for me too. Just in case.”
“Really?” I ask, sitting up. “For college?”
“It wouldn’t be till next year,” he says quickly, “and that’s only assuming I even get in somewhere—”
“I have a feeling you’ll be fine,” Leo says with a smirk. “You’ve got some pretty solid material for your personal essay.”
“I’m gonna be really busy with the nonprofit,” Teddy continues, clearly nervous that my hopes are already too high, “so it might not work out anyway. But I’ve been thinking about the whole coaching thing, and I guess there’s still a part of me that wonders if maybe—”
“Teddy,” I say, and he stops. “I think you’d make a great coach one day, if it turns out that’s what you want.”
