Heaven Knows

Six

I tell Gail about the last interaction I had with Tyler. She quietly listens as she organizes today's floor meeting.

"I don't know, Gail," I say with a soft sigh. "There was this moment that...I believed him. He sounded so sincere about his story but there was something about his look. His smile. Almost as if...he's happy all that misfortune happened to him."

"Maybe because it made him realize the mistake he did with you." Gail's usual bright eyes are soft now as she looks back from the board.

I scoff. "Yeah. Of ever laying eyes on me."

"If you listened then maybe you'd see that he only wants you back. He's only trying to save his marriage."

"No," I firmly say. "I won't let that happen. Not again. Sure. We can be friends, but nothing else."

"Why?"

I scoff in disbelief at her serious question. "Because he hurt me! He made me miserable! Because he's a liar! A fake!"

"Or maybe because you're afraid."

This makes me step back as she hits the bullseye. I find the words to shoot back but nothing comes out. Gail looks back at me with a small smile and gently says, "Honey. It's okay to be afraid. I know what pain can do to you. The past tends to keep our vision short of what we can really accomplish."

"And I have," I softly say. "This." I gesture around me. "My career. That's all I need. And you. You're my friend. I don't need anything else."

Her eyes soften at my weak argument. She only gives me a soft smile and says, "Oh sweetheart...money will never be enough to be happy. It's the invisible that truly makes one complete."

My eyes fall and I'm silent for the first time. I let her words sink in as people on our floor start to walk into the meeting room. Gail gives me a quick squeeze on my shoulder and goes off to greet them all. I take a deep breath and shove any feeling that will distract me today.

I shove Tyler deep down.

I stand when I see Anna walk in. I give her a small hug as I lead her to a seat by my side and soon enough, everyone is ready with their notebooks out.

"Alright," Gail says. "Today is the big fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Mark. How are the information stations going?"

"Everything ready to go and prepped up. Logan, you got the preps up?"

"Yes, sir," Logan says with his usual clown smile.

Gail nods and looks over at one of our youngest coworkers. "Liv? How are you doing with the decorations?"

"Splendid," she says with her usual excited voice. "This event is going to shine so bright tonight, that all those people will have to put money in. Of course, everything for the children."

"Tess. You do have the musical part ready, right?"

"Yes," I say with a wide smile. "My friend here recommended a group of kids at our local university that's looking for places to practice at." I look at Anna and she shyly smiles back at me.

"That's great! We are not only helping children fight cancer but helping our young musicians be better for their performances."

Gail continues on checking off every other aspect of our fundraiser tonight until she happily lets out a sigh. Her bright eyes look around the room as she says, "I believe we'll change lives tonight. Every single penny is one step closer for a child to spend this Christmas with their families instead of at a hospital. For a child to ring that glorious bell of a battle finally won. Who's ready to party tonight?!"