“Michaela, when she was at Stanford, brought Gloria and Ivan Madden together to build FoodFast. That was her idea. She saw a need in the community, and she saw two people who had the right skills, two people who would make a great team, and she brought them together to create something extraordinary. And now that’s what she does. She brings people together, whether it’s for a new venture, a sale, or a love match. They call her the billionaire matchmaker.”
Michaela’s cheeks heated at his praise, at the admiration in his eyes, but she expected another disdainful snort, or even a litany of swear words from the boy.
Into that silence, Troy said, “I believe we can all make our dreams into reality. But I also know that we cannot do it alone. If we don’t have family, we need friends, we need peers, we need adults who see our potential. But we also need to ask for that help.” He stared Nathan down, then he asked again, “Do you have a dream?”
The young man didn’t snort this time. He didn’t sneer. He simply said, in a soft voice Michaela hadn’t believed could ever come out of him, “I want to build race cars.”
Troy snapped his fingers, jutted his chin at Gideon, and said, “Will Franconi.” Then he addressed Nathan again. “Are you willing to ask for help? Are you willing to find someone who will believe in you?”
That was Troy’s message. It wasn’t only that a person could do whatever they set their mind to. It was about setting aside your pride and asking someone to help you, to believe in you. You could tell a young person all you wanted that he or she could accomplish anything they put their mind to, but you also had to offer them a pathway to get there.
Nathan sat for a long time while the other kids studied him, waiting for his answer. Finally, after an interminable silence, the young man asked, “Gideon, can you help me?”
Gideon’s heartfelt smile spread across his whole face. “All you have to do is ask, Nathan. I never even knew you had a dream of building race cars. But I know a man who rebuilds cars, and I bet he could help you. Would you like me to introduce you?”
Gideon left it up to Nathan. He didn’t push anything on him. He offered. It was up to Nathan to take him up on it.
And finally, Nathan said, “Yes. Please. I’d like that a lot.”
Then all the kids in the room began calling out their own personal dreams. Troy questioned them about how they thought they could get there and who they thought could help them. It was the most amazing sight of her entire life.
All because Troy Harrington had stood up there and told his story. And he’d honored her.
She wanted to cry.
She wanted to throw herself into his arms.
Chapter Sixteen
Troy couldn’t be more pleased with Nathan’s reaction. That was worth more than the resounding applause he received.
Gideon clapped his hands loudly for everyone’s attention. “Thanks so much to Troy Harrington and Michaela Killian for sharing their stories with us.” His eyes grew shiny with what might have been tears. “You two are amazing. Thank you.”
Troy felt the warmth in those words.
Then Gideon spread his arms. “It’s time for bowling,” he called. “Go next door and grab your shoe size.”
As the kids dashed for the door, Gideon approached Troy, his hand out. When Troy took it, Gideon pulled him into a man hug, then stepped back. “That was freaking amazing. Nathan has been a hard case all along. But you softened him up.”
“I can’t take all the credit.” Troy held out his hand to Michaela. When she walked over, he thought she might take his offered hand, but she didn’t even look at it.
Yet her words were like a balm to his soul. “You were incredible. I’ve never seen anyone take over a room the way you did.”
Her words meant more than all his gold medals. “It was your story that swayed Nathan and the rest of them. With you, they saw a way to open up all the possibilities.”
She snorted like Nathan. “Don’t be silly. It was all you.” But she blushed at his compliment.
He wanted to catch her up in his arms and swing her around.
Gideon took her hands in his. “Thank you. You don’t know how much it means to these kids when people like you are willing to share so much of themselves.” He hugged her, too, more than a man hug. Then he asked, “Are you two bowling with us?”
Troy didn’t want the evening to end. “I’m game if you are,” he said to Michaela.
Gideon cajoled as if Michaela were a holdout. “Come on, you guys, we’ve got enough for five teams.”
Troy tried to will her to say yes.
Then Rosie said, “Yeah, Michaela, we need to make up a girls’ team.”
