Free Damage Done by Virginia Duke Page B

cheesecake. She considered
thanking them for meeting with her and offering to follow up in a few weeks,
but then Nancy spoke up.
    "Rachel, can I ask how you got involved in this kind
of work? Where did you get the idea for the web-based support groups?"
    She hated explaining why she was in this line of work, but
people always asked. It had taken her a long time to outline an answer that
didn't make people feel uncomfortable.
    "I always had a hard time socially, coming out of my
shell and talking to people. A friend of mine suggested I get online and start
meeting people who had the same problem, and I stumbled into a chat room with
these amazing people who understood what that felt like. Behind the computer, I
was able to overcame my social anxiety, and I didn't worry as much about
feeling judged, or being afraid that people would run and gossip about things I
shared in confidence. Then I met some people who experienced domestic violence
and they were terrified of being found out in the real world, so they only
shared anonymously with people on the internet. There weren't really any
websites that offered web-based support to that particular demographic, so I
got with a friend and we decided to create one. And when we realized people
needed real material assistance, like money to leave and places to go, we
started to expand our services. And it grew organically from there."
    She took another breath and reached for her tea.
    "I love what you're doing," Nancy said suddenly,
"Will fifty thousand cover the expenses for the fundraiser? And leave some
leftover to use for your direct services?"
    Rachel knocked over her iced tea, Edward never even looked
up from his cheesecake.
    She reached to wipe up the mess, stammering, "Oh, wow,
that is, that is so generous... of course, that's an amazing level of support.
Wow. That would be amazing. Thank you."
    Jake would have been mortified to see her. Graceful under
pressure, she was not.
    They said their goodbyes and Rachel pulled out of the parking
garage, her head buzzing. People didn't just cut checks like that to piddly
little non-profits like hers, not without wanting something huge in return. She
knew a lot of wealthy people who threw money around, but none who would write
her a fifty thousand dollar check after a forty-five minute lunch meeting. She
told herself not to be surprised if the check never showed, and stifled the
passing glimpse at what a fundraiser would look like if they had that kind of
money to spend on table linens, flowers and fancy invitations.
    She dug through the suitcase she called a purse and found
her cell to call Jake. He picked up right away.
    "Hey Honey! How'd it go?"
    "Well, big man, I might just survive without you, I
scored a pledge for fifty thousand dollars!"  she exclaimed, taking her
time to enunciate the last bit for dramatic effect.
    "Get outta here! It must have been my handsome face in
the Courier article. Was he gay?"
    "No, he wasn't gay, you egotist. He spent most of the
time picking over his lunch and looking at his phone, she's the one who offered
us the check. Can you believe it? What if they don't come through? What kind of
a follow up should we do?"
    "We'll send them a hand-written note as soon as I get
home tomorrow. I'll see you around noon. That's so exciting, Honey. I'm
thrilled to the moon for you!"
    "Thanks, Jake. I'm trying to be upbeat about it, but
you know- " she trailed off, she didn't have to explain.
    Jake understood how difficult it was for her to stay
focused on the positive.
    "Hey, this is a big deal. You did good, Rachel. Go
home and celebrate it, we'll start planning tomorrow. This is exciting! We're
going to have the best time! Kenneth might even tell you he's proud of
you!"
    "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, drive safely," she
cautioned, already imagining him having some horrible accident before he made
it home. She'd have to call Mark and give him the news. She wondered how she
would manage without him.
    "Rachel!" Jake