“Wow, that’s cool.”
“It is, but it has to be shuttered for now. It’ll have to be passed on to someone else once the center can start rehiring OTs.” Her eyes flash with pain and regret.
“I don’t see why our foundation can’t jump in and offer something,” I say. “I can’t make any promises, but this is something you obviously care deeply about and to have it taken away is a disservice to the community.”
Charlotte’s eyes light up. Her smile is brilliant. Beautiful.
“Wait. I’m sorry.” Raj steps forward, not sounding sorry at all. As the director of my foundation, I suppose he has the right to speak up, but I’m immediately uneasy. “You can’t just say that, Taysom.”
“I can’t say what? It’s my foundation.”
Raj sighs. “Right, but it’s also a 501C, so there are rules in place and… besides, the money is spoken for this year. I’m sorry.” The way he’s saying it sounds so final. A shadow crosses Charlotte’s eyes.
“There’s got to be something we can do, Raj,” I say. This is ridiculous. It’s my foundation.
Once again, I’m coming undone, like things are unraveling out of my control. Just a week ago, the NFL draft proved that, just like I feared, my life is on a crash course to who knows where. My biggest fear was realized and now I’m slow and burdened. My leg is suddenly withering away, and I’m trying with all my might to stumble and limp into the end zone.
Charlotte’s lost her job, and I’m not about to bring this up right now, but I may very well lose mine, too.
And it guts me, which is probably why I’m feeling protective about the foundation that bears my name.
Raj shoots out a quick breath and turns to Natalie. “Cut!”
Chapter 7
Taysom
Nataliefrownsbutlowersthe camera and focuses on manipulating switches and knobs.
“The Institute already has the funds from us, Taysom,” Raj says. “We can’t ask for them back.”
Charlotte blinks. “It’s fine.” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Raj chews his bottom lip. “Look, I know you think sports are the big, bad wolf here, but the revenue generated from the sports on this campus subsidizes a lot of what goes on in this school. They’re vital to the university.”
She nods, but there’s a steeliness in her eyes.
“And you had the nerve to ask how he can sleep at night?” Raj takes a deep breath. “Listen, the funds from his foundation, which he started himself using his own money, aren’t going towards ice baths. They’re going towards concussion research and testing. I’d say that’s pretty important, wouldn’t you?”
“Raj, that’s enough,” I say.
He dashes me a look. “It would help if she were more informed.”
“Just don’t take that tone with her.”
He rears back, probably surprised at the sharpness. “Sorry.” Raj shakes his head. “I apologize, Ms. Mercer.” He rests his hands on his hips, his suit coat falling open. He nods towards Natalie, who nods back and begins putting her equipment away.
Raj is a decent guy with experience and connections. I’m lucky he agreed to come and work for the foundation. He does such a good job with it, I hardly know what’s going on half the time.
I study Charlotte and am happy to see she smiles a little at that. “I want this center in my documentary. Getting the word out can only help, right?”
Something in Charlotte’s posture straightens. “Please don’t humiliate me.” She turns to Natalie. “Can we redo the interview?”
“We’ll cut it the way we think is best,” Natalie says with a sympathetic smile.
I look at Charlotte. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
Her features soften and she blows out a breath before she knits her brows together. “That’s cool about the concussion thing.”She looks at the floor before returning her gaze to Raj. “I didn’t consider concussions. That is important work.”
