The Doctor's Secret Bride(32)

Michelle turned as a teenage girl burst through the door. “Hey, Amanda.”

“Hey, Michelle. Sorry I’m late, but I had to stop at the bank and drop off a deposit for my boss.”

Michelle smiled at the young girl. She was one of the volunteers who came into the center to help out the kids. As a matter of fact, she was a graduate of the center. Michelle had helped her out with her essays during her senior high school years. Amanda was giving back to the community. That’s the way life should be—give and take.

Back when she did have a job, Michelle used her own money to pay for tutors when funds were low. She didn’t mind spending her money as long as the kids were learning something. Since their parents were too busy, too lazy, or too negligent to help develop their curious little minds, Michelle had assumed the responsibility.

“Okay, guys, Amanda is here, so get cracking. Later we’ll have some snacks.”

They scrambled around the long table in the room while Amanda began giving them instructions.

Michelle headed for the office where Rose, a seventh-grade science teacher and co-founder of the youth center, waited for her.

“It’s about time you got here,” Rose said, glancing up from her task of stuffing envelopes. “I thought we’d never see you again since you’ve living in a ritzy town, driving fancy cars—”

“It’s nice to see you, too, Rose.” Michelle winced as a wave of heat hit her in the face. The room was next to the boiler room and that made it as hot as a sauna. The air-conditioned car had kept her cool and comfortable, but now... She pulled a tissue from the box on the desk and mopped her forehead. When the sweat kept pouring she crouched down in front of the box fan and rotated her head to get the cool air on every inch of her skin.#p#分页标题#e#

“I guess you don’t have that trouble anymore?” Rose declared, giving her that ‘have you slept with him yet?’ look.

“No, I don’t. They have central air in those parts.”

“Still sleeping naked?”

“Rose!”

“Just asking because...” Rose unlocked a drawer, pulled out an envelope and gave it to Michelle. “This was hand-delivered today.”

Michelle opened the envelope and pulled out a check. “Whoa!” She exploded with disbelief at the generous amount made out to the center from Dr. Erik LaCrosse, Jr., OB/GYN.

“You had anything to do with that?” Rose asked.

Still in a sense of shock, she stared at Rose. “I mentioned that I volunteer here sometimes. Had to since it was on my resume. But I haven’t spoken to him about the place since...” She did mention it last night on the patio.

“You didn’t even ask him for money? You are campaigning, aren’t you? Everybody you come into contact with is a potential donor, Michelle.”

“I know but, I just started working for the man. I don’t want to be hitting him up for money already.” Michelle handed the check back to Rose.

“Well,” Rose said, returning the envelope with the check to the drawer. “He must be quite a man and have a lot of money at his disposal to have written a check this big.”

Apparently. Michelle didn’t want to discuss her relationship with Erik, especially with Rose, who was known as Gossip Girl. “Have you seen Jessica today?” she asked of an eight-year-old girl who frequented the center—her favorite little one—because she reminded her so much of herself as a child—skinny, feisty, and tough.

Rose nodded. “She’s here. She wanted to be alone, so I sent her to the quiet room.”

“She okay?” Michelle asked, frowning.

“Are any of these kids okay, Michelle? Every day brings a new challenge and a new set of trouble for them. You can relate.”

Michelle walked to an adjoining door that opened up into the quiet room.

She knocked. When she got no response, she opened the door and peeped in. Jessica was sitting on a bench and staring out the window. The room was humid and stuffy, and she wondered how long she’d been in here. She went over and sat next to her. “Hi, Jess.”

Jessica didn’t move a muscle.

“Why the long face, honey?”

Sad, blue eyes stared back at Michelle, and the lower lip hung a little lower. “I can’t go to summer camp.”

“Why not? You told me your mom had been saving up all year to send you to camp.”

“She was, but her car broke down. She has to get it fixed with my camp money. She says if she don’t fix the car, she can’t go to work, and if she can’t go to work, she can’t pay the rent, and if she can’t pay the rent, we’ll be on the streets.” She swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “It’s not fair.”