London readjusted the green-and-white baseball cap that had been in a constant battle with her springy, natural curls since the moment she’d put it on. She stood so that the father and his twin daughters who’d gone to the restroom three times since the start of this volleyball match twenty minutes ago could get to their seat.
Bless his heart—in the true sense of the phrase, not the Southern. This poor man was living testimony that the struggle was real when it came to toddlers.
London settled back in her seat, braced her open palms on either side of her mouth, and yelled, “Here we go, Tigers! Here we go!”
Nina’s eyes shot to hers and she made a cut it out motion, swiping her hand across her neck.
“Well, excuse me,” London muttered. “I was just trying to show some team spirit.”
“Did you come here just to embarrass your little sister?”
She looked up and smiled.
“Hey, you,” she said to Drew. He took a seat next to her, and she immediately planted a loud kiss on his lips. She’d already embarrassed Nina, so she figured what the hell.
“Apparently, my dear sister thought she was getting a quiet, demure spectator,” London said. “That’ll teach her to be more careful about what she wishes for.”
“I’m sure she is thrilled that you’re here, even if she doesn’t show it.”
London had no doubt about that, even if she’d barely made it in time. She’d spent the morning in the OR—Sarah and Charles Jefferson decided that Ahmad should have his surgery after all, much to Peter Foster’s chagrin. But London had been determined to get to the match. She’d arrived at the gym just as the two squads made their way onto the court.
Nina’s wave had been short and brief, but her accompanying smile and the joy radiating from her made London’s sacrifices to get here worth it. Granted, some of those sacrifices were bigger than others, but they were all still worth it. She knew what it was like to have a parent who couldn’t be bothered to spare even the most infinitesimal bit of his time. Neither of her sisters would endure any more of that.
London’s most significant forfeiture, by far, was the fellowship in Chicago.
She’d officially declined it yesterday. Her call with Dr. Bruce Richardson had been immediately followed by a call from Dr. Eveline Mayberry. The older woman had not minced words when it came to voicing her disappointment, but she had also applauded London for doing what she thought was right for herself. Which she had then followed with a ten-minute diatribe about why London was wrong about what she thought was right for herself.
They’d ended the call with a plan to meet for dinner when Dr. Mayberry attended a medical conference in San Antonio next month. She cautioned London that she would continue to push her to come to Chicago, but it was also meant to be a way for them to remain in touch.
The Eveline Mayberry was determined to work with her one day. London still could not fully grasp it.
But London felt it in her heart that she had made the right choice, despite Aleshia Williams ranting that London was out of her mind and offering to take her place, even though it wasn’t her specialty.
London knew she wouldn’t have been happy in Chicago. The fellowship she’d accepted from St. David’s Children’s Hospital here in Austin would allow her to work a number of hours at Travis County Hospital every week, while also studying under the tutelage of Dr. Regina Lewis, another star when it came to Black female doctors. Dr. Lewis also happened to be one of Eveline Mayberry’s most lauded students.
Yeah, she’d made the right choice.
“Nice spike!” Drew called.
“Is that what it’s called when they pounce on the ball like that?” London asked.
“Do you know anything about volleyball?” Drew asked.
She reached into her pocket and produced the earrings she’d taken out of her ears earlier.
“I came here wearing these,” she said.
“These are soccer balls.”
“Exactly.” She looked over at him and saw the effort he was making not to laugh. “You can laugh.”
“I won’t,” Drew said. “At least not to your face.” He wrapped one arm around her and pulled her closer to him, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “The fact that you know nothing about volleyball yet you’re here—especially after that long surgery this morning—makes you a contender for the Big Sister of the Year Award in my mind.”
“I have a long way to go before I can claim any rights to that award,” she said with a laugh. “But I can endure a volleyball match if it means Nina will feel that she has someone in her corner. Sometimes, that can make all the difference. Oh, and the spa day I’ve booked for me, Nina, and Koko will help my chances in the Big Sister of the Year category. I plan to teach them both the importance of self-care.”
“As you continue to learn it yourself?” Drew asked.
“Hey.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a skein of yarn. “I’m doing a lot better. I’m working on your beanie between matches.”
“You’re going for the Girlfriend of the Year Award, too, I see.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips. “Hey, you mind if we talk about work while we watch the match?”
“Of course not,” London said. She tried to ignore the scent of nachos wafting from somewhere behind her as she took a bite of the homemade fruit leather Taylor had delivered to her yesterday. Salty snacks were out; healthy snacks were in. She didn’t like it, but she would deal.
“What’s up?” London asked, holding out the chewy, strawberry-flavored strip to him.
He declined with a shake of his head and rubbed his hands together. Then he flattened his palms on his thighs. London realized it was the first time she’d seen him in jeans—and she absolutely loved them on him.
“Here’s the deal,” Drew said. “I’m making a million-dollar donation to Travis County Hospital.”
London nearly choked on the fruit leather.
“That’s the initial amount,” he clarified. “It’s the start of an endowment that I’m setting up in my mother’s name. It’s to benefit cancer patients, and since the pediatric ward treats cancer patients, the multisensory environment room falls under the endowment’s purview.”
“Drew,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No. You know that money doesn’t solve everything.”
“Except that sometimes it does, London.” His earnest expression went straight for her heart. “There are a lot of problems in this world that could easily be solved if those with an abundance of wealth spread that money around. This is one of those issues. The only reason County couldn’t get that sensory room built is because it didn’t have the money to pay for it. I do. Problem solved.”
London knew he’d purposely delivered this news in that pragmatic fashion with the intent of downplaying the magnitude of his gift. It was his nature. But she would not allow him to minimize this.
“That is amazing, Drew. You are amazing.”
“No, I’m—”
“Yes, you are,” she said, cutting him off. She took his hand and brought it to her lips, placing a gentle kiss on his palm. Then she brought it to her chest and held it there. “That sensory room will make such a huge difference for the patients at County, and it will all be due to your generosity.”
“And your vision,” he added.
Gratitude swelled within her, until it felt as if there were no room for anything else. Except for love. She loved this man with her entire being.
“But this isn’t just about one project,” he continued. “Although your sensory room is the catalyst, make no mistake about that. But, London, I lost my mom because of inadequate health care. My millions couldn’t save her, but they could have given me more time with her if her early treatment had been better. This endowment will ensure that others have more time with their loved ones. I honestly can’t think of a worthier cause to spend my money on.”
“Neither can I,” she said. She palmed his jaw and leaned her forehead against his. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Those two words are so insufficient, but they’re all I can think to say right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Thank you for being the kind of doctor you are. Your patients will never know how lucky they are to have you, London.”
She looked into his eyes and was overwhelmed by the love staring back at her.
Love like this was unimaginable to her just two short months ago. Loving this particular man like this? Never in this lifetime could she have ever conceived of it.
Never had she been so happy to have been proven wrong.