The pastor of The Connect Church made his way across the room. “It’s great to see you, Peter. Come on through to my office.”
Shelley leaped out of her chair. “Can you sign this before you leave? We need a little more money for the Christmas baskets.”
John’s eyes gleamed. “Didn’t you tell me the budget you’d set was more than enough?”
“And you said I’d need twice as much money. You were right.” Shelley held a sheet of paper and a pen toward her husband. “Don’t gloat. It isn’t attractive.”
John chuckled. “I don’t often hear that I was right.” He made an amendment to the document and handed it back to Shelley. “I’ve approved more money than what you think you’ll need. Two more families are arriving at The Welcome Center this afternoon. They’ll need Christmas gift baskets, too.”
“Does Andrea and the rest of the team know?”
John nodded. “They’re organizing their rooms now.”
Shelley placed the sheet of paper on the table and smiled at Peter. “Enjoy your meeting with John. If he isn’t agreeable to what you suggest, come and see me. I have a secret weapon in the bottom drawer of my desk.”
From the look in John’s eyes, Peter didn’t want to ask what it was.
Shelley’s cheeks burned. “Ignore my husband. He has an overactive imagination.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” John said with a grin. “Peter probably guessed that you’re talking about my favorite candy.”
He hadn’t, but it was more appropriate than the other things he’d thought about.
With a sigh, Shelley turned to her husband. “You’d better speak to Peter before your next appointment arrives.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Peter smiled when he saw the gleam in John’s eyes. It was easy to see how much in love they were. No matter how much he wanted it, finding someone who made him just as happy seemed like an impossibility.
After they were seated in John’s office, Peter opened a folder. “I appreciate you talking to me. I know how crazy this time of the year is.”
“It’s the least I can do. Richard’s made great progress since he was given the prosthetic leg. Thank you for taking a chance on him.”
If it weren’t for John and Zac’s insistence that Richard was a good candidate, he wouldn’t have made it into the trial. “If you’d called me a day later, we wouldn’t have been able to accept his application. I’m glad we did, but that isn’t why I’m here.”
“I’m listening.”
“My company has been looking at ways we can make a difference in communities. Last time I was here I asked you what Sapphire Bay needs. I went through the list you sent me and I have a proposition for you.” Peter handed John a sheet of paper. “BioTech would like to offer five students full college scholarships to Montana State University.”
John’s eyes widened. “That’s an incredible offer.”
“It’s a start. I’m investigating some other initiatives we’d like to fund, but that will take a little more time.”
John read the letter. “This will make an enormous difference to the students…”
Peter knew what had caused the stunned silence. The last paragraph of the letter contained an amount of money that was more than the church had raised all year.
John looked up and frowned. “Is this for real?”
“It’s as real as it gets. Providing someone with a new limb helps them physically. What you’re doing in the church and in The Welcome Center changes people’s lives. As well as the scholarships, I’d like BioTech to support the programs you’re running.”
Tears shone from John’s eyes. “All I can say is thank you. It’s a constant struggle to fund what we’re doing.”
Peter knew just how difficult it had been. “I spoke to Shelley a couple of months ago. The donation will make it easier to plan ahead.” Peter looked at the sheet of paper. “I only have one condition. I don’t want anyone to know I funded any of this.”
John looked genuinely confused. “Why?”
An uncomfortable tightness filled Peter’s chest. “People look at you differently when they know how much money you have. I want to be treated like everyone else.”
