All My Tomorrows (23 page)

Maggie returned a moment later and put the implements on the table in front of Chuck. Chuck slid them toward Jordan.

"Please write your full name, your parent's names, where you were born and your date of birth on this piece of paper just the way you would see them on a birth certificate." Chuck pulled his phone out of his pocket. "I also need a picture of you."

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Jordan said.

"You can't have a passport without a picture, Jordan."

Jordan looked at him for a long time, a play of emotions crossing her face.

Chuck put his hand on Jordan's shoulder. "Jordan, I'm asking you to trust me. I promise no harm will come to you or Maggie. I'm not going to turn you into the police. I'm not going to report you to immigration. I need you to cure my daughter. Believe me when I say I will do nothing to jeopardize her chances of living a normal life. The sooner you feel secure in this environment, the sooner you can begin working on this device."

CHAPTER 27

Charles Malone stood before a room of scientists in white coats and waited for the hum of voices to quiet down before he began the meeting. Prominent among them was Dr. Robert Hollinbeck, sitting in the front row.

"Good morning. Thank you for joining me on such short notice," he began. "As you know, my foundation has donated several million dollars to the Vermont Spinal Institute to develop treatment options for people with acute spinal injuries. You also know that nearly two weeks ago, we were presented with a new and novel approach to SCI treatment that claimed not only to restore mobility, but to actually cure the injury. Most of you were at the meeting and will recall the presentation."

Chuck looked around the room and noted several of the scientists were avoiding eye contact with him while Hollinbeck in the front row sat with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face.

"The presentation was given by Dr. Jordan Lewis. You would do well to remember that name, as she is about to become the leading expert nationwide in spinal cord injury rehabilitation."

Hollinbeck stood up. "Where is this going, Malone?" he demanded.

"I'm about to get to that, Dr. Hollinbeck," Chuck said. "You see, after this body of scientists rejected Dr. Lewis' proposal, I went to visit her at her home. It turns out that she herself, has a complete SCI at the L1 vertebrae." Chuck paused to watch the startled reaction spread through the room. "That's right. She is the human test subject she mentioned in her presentation."

"But that's impossible," came a voice from the audience. "She seemed totally unimpaired."

"That speaks volumes for the quality of her work, wouldn't you agree?" Chuck asked.

"Was she able to substantiate her claim?" Dr. Hollinbeck asked.

"Yes. She went so far as to show me the scar on her back and further produced evidence of the device beneath the surface of her skin." Chuck looked out over the room and saw regret on the faces of the scientists. "That said, I have come here today to inform you that the JEM Spinal Injury Research Association will no longer provide funds for the development efforts of this Spinal Institute. Instead, those funds will be redirected to a private foundation to be run by Dr. Lewis."

Hollinbeck jumped to his fee. "You can't do that," he exclaimed.

"Not only can I do that, Dr. Hollinbeck, but it is already done."

"I will take this to the board of directors of the JEM Foundation, Malone. You won't get away with this."

"Dr. Hollinbeck, I
am
the JEM Foundation. You see, JEM stands for Jessica Elizabeth Malone, and she just happens to be my thirteen-year-old daughter who has been confined to a wheelchair for the past three years with a complete SCI. Dr. Lewis took the time to research my foundation and to learn that little tidbit of information. Did you?"

"You are the JEM foundation? How dare you withhold that information from us? Does Robinson know about this?" Hollinbeck said.

"Dr. Hollinbeck, I recall you calling me, and I quote,
the front man for some rich philanthropist
, and not educated enough to voice my opinion on Dr. Lewis' presentation. Well, Dr. Hollinbeck, I am the rich philanthropist. You should be careful about who you treat with such disrespect and contempt. Not only do I find your attitude reprehensible, but your lack of progress and results is unacceptable. Effective immediately, the Spinal Institute will no longer receive funding from JEM. I will leave it to you, Dr. Hollinbeck, to explain that to Mr. Robinson. That's all I have to say on the matter, gentlemen. Good day."

* * *

"Jordan, your phone is ringing," Maggie said from the living room.

"Answer it, would you?" Jordan called from the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Jordan? This is Chuck Malone."

"Hi, Chuck. Actually, this is Maggie. Jordan went to the kitchen to refill our coffee cups. She'll be back in just a second or two."

"Okay. Maggie, while we wait for Jordan, let me say what a pleasure it was meeting you and Jordan last week."

"Thank you, Chuck. We enjoyed meeting you as well. Jordan couldn't stop talking about how much you remind her of her friend Kale."

"That's a good thing, I hope."

"Very good. She loves Kale very much. Oh, here she comes. It was nice talking to you Chuck."

"You too, Maggie."

Maggie accepted her coffee and handed the phone to Jordan. "Thank you, love. It's Chuck Malone," she said.

"Hi, Chuck."

"Jordan. How are you today?"

"I'm fine, and you?"

"I'm actually feeling quite good. I just had a meeting at the spinal institute this morning and informed them I'm pulling their funding in favor of yours."

"Wow. You don't waste any time, do you?"

"It seems I've wasted enough time on them already. Look, Jordan, do you mind if I come over this afternoon?"

"Hold on, let me ask the boss." Jordan looked at Maggie. "Do we have anything planned for today, Mags?" she asked.

Maggie put down the paper she was reading and shook her head no.

"Looks like a go, Chuck. What time should we expect you?"

"I have to make a stop at home first, so let's say in about an hour. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

* * *

Jordan and Maggie stood on the front porch and watched Chuck pull his SUV up to the front steps. He got out and circled around to the tailgate. "Hey ladies," he called out as he lifted the hatch.

"What's he doing?" Maggie asked.

"I don't know. Why don't we go find out?" Jordan replied.

Maggie and Jordan approached Chuck. "Do you need a hand with something?" Jordan asked.

"Nope. After three years, I'm an old hand at this," he said as he pulled a medium sized wheelchair out of the back of the SUV and opened it.

Jordan and Maggie stood by as Chuck wheeled the chair to the side of the car and opened the back passenger door.

"Come on, sweetheart," Chuck said as he lifted the young girl out of the car and placed her in the chair, then swung the chair around to face Jordan and Maggie. "Ladies, I'd like to introduce to you, my daughter, Jessie. Jessie, this is Jordan and Maggie."

Maggie was immediately on one knee beside the wheelchair. She took Jessie's hand in her own and shook it. "Hey, Jessie, I'm Maggie."

"Nice to meet you, Maggie," the girl replied somewhat sullenly.

Instead of squatting down, Jordan stood beside the chair and extended her hand. "Jessie, I'm Jordan," Jordan said, forcing the girl to look up at her. Jordan maintained eye contact with her as she shook her hand. "You and I are going to become good friends," she said.

Jordan noticed how uncomfortable Jessie was at making conversation as the girl looked away. She squeezed Jessie's hand to get her attention once more. "Hey, do you like horses?"

Jessie nodded.

"Maggie, would you mind taking Jessie to the barn? I think Shawny and Sally might enjoy meeting her." Jordan spoke volumes to Maggie with her eyes.

Maggie smiled. "Of course I will. Come on little one. You're in for a treat," Maggie said as she pushed Jessie across the barnyard.

Jordan turned to Chuck. "How long has she been depressed?"

Chuck shoved his hands deep into his pockets as she watched Maggie and Jessie enter the barn. "Almost from the beginning. As you said, being in that chair is the worst part of this for her."

"Does she know about your association with me? Have you talked to her about the implant?"

"No. I thought it might be good for her to get to know you and Maggie first."

"Okay. I just didn't want to blindside her with anything you hadn't prepped her for."

"I appreciate that, Jordan," John said. "Oh, I almost forgot." Chuck opened the front passenger door of his car and retrieved a legal sized manila envelope. "This is for you," he said as he handed it to her.

Jordan looked between Chuck and the envelope before opening it and retrieving the documents inside. Her eyes opened wide. "Chuck, I can't thank you enough. How did you do this?" she asked as she scanned the birth certificate, social security card and passport she pulled out of the envelope.

"Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it," he said.

Jordan's eyes filled with moisture. "I can't tell you what this means to me."

"Well, I can't tell you what your work means to me, and to Jessie."

"Chuck, I would have helped Jessie regardless of whether you could produce these documents or not."

Chuck nodded his head.

"So, I assume you had to go through illegal channels to do this. Is there anything I need to do to assure neither of us gets into trouble over this?" she asked.

"Just stay on the right side of the law and no one will get hurt," Chuck replied. "The way I look at it, you're not really an illegal. You're just here at the wrong time."

"So you know how I got here?"

"I suspect how you got here. What was it like?"

"Bright light, brilliant color, a little pain. Kind of like I would imagine being born would be like."

"Are you able to go back?"

"No, but then, I don't want to. I am here for Maggie, and to help people like Jessie."

Just then, their attention was drawn to the barn where Maggie and Jessie emerged. Jessie wore a huge smile on her face as Maggie pushed her back across the yard and stopped in front of Chuck and Jordan.

"Anyone interested in a horse ride?" Maggie asked.

"Can we, Dad? Can we? Please?" Jessie begged.

"I thought we'd ride out to the north pasture and check on the new foals," Maggie said.

Chuck looked at Maggie worriedly. "Is it safe for her to ride?" he asked.

"She'll be fine. In fact, she can ride in the saddle in front of me," Maggie offered.

"Maggie is one of the best horsewomen I've ever seen, Chuck. I don't think you need to worry."

"Please, Dad," Jessie said, batting her eyes at her father.

He pointed at Jessie and looked at Jordan. "See what I have to deal with? How can I resist that face?"

"Is that a yes?" Jessie said hopefully.

"I guess so, but you need to mind Maggie, okay?"

"I will. I promise," Jessie said excitedly.

"Why don't we all go?" Maggie suggested. "Jordan, we can saddle Trixie for Chuck. She's a pretty gentle mount. Do you ride Chuck?"

"I haven't ridden since I was a boy, but I'm willing to give it a try."

"All right then," Jordan said. I'll go saddle the horses."

"I'll give you a hand, Jordan," Chuck offered as they both headed toward the barn.

Maggie turned to Jessie and put her hand out for a high-five.

* * *

For the next three hours, Maggie, Jordan, Chuck and Jessie rode out to the north pasture and spent time with new foals. When they reached the new barn, Jordan fashioned a make-shift chair out of some hay bales and covered it with a horse blanket so Jessie would have a comfortable place to sit. The smile never left Jessie's face as she fed the young colts and brushed their shiny coats.

"They're beautiful," she exclaimed over and over.

"I haven't seen her this excited and animated for three years," Chuck said to Maggie as Jordan led another foal toward Jessie to be brushed and fed. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness and attention to her."

"Some day I hope to establish a riding school for handicapped children, right here on this farm. I've been researching what it will take to get it off the ground. We've got a lot of work ahead of us… permits, improvements to the farm, including new safety features, and I need to design a saddle that can be used safely, regardless of the child's handicap. It will take some time and money, but I'm determined to do it. Its reactions like Jessie's that fuel my drive to do this," Maggie said.

Chuck nodded. "She seems to have taken a liking to you. She's hasn't been close to anyone since her mother died in the same accident that put her in that chair. Again, I can't thank you enough."

"No thanks necessary, Chuck. She's a lovely young lady." Maggie looked at her watch. "We should probably head back. It will be dusk soon."

Jessie insisted on riding once again, in the saddle in front of Maggie. On the way back Maggie let her control the reins, and she soon learned how to manipulate the direction of the horse by pulling on one rein or the other, all the while receiving direction and reassurance from Maggie that she was doing a good job.

When they returned to the barn, Chuck dismounted first and gave his horse to Jordan as he put his arms out for his daughter to slide into. Maggie and Jordan put the horses in their respective stalls and walked Chuck and Jessie to their car. Jordan opened the back passenger door, but before Chuck could place Jessie inside, the young girl reached out and wrapped her arms around Maggie's neck and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you, Maggie. Can we do it again some time?"