That was what she liked about Dan. He’d always been good about letting things be her decision. When she’d gone back to work after leaving Chris, he’d stood by her and refused to let Chris’s bullying tactics work. Chris had even threatened to ruin Dan’s business if he kept Rachel employed. Dan had told him to get lost.
For the first time she realized that as much as she had always told herself she’d been completely alone during the situation with Chris, she had had someone looking out for her. Dan had given her a job and let her keep it when everyone else had turned their backs on her because of him.
Janie had told her that maybe instead of looking for everyone to let her down, she should look around and see how people had actually been there for her. Like God. That maybe some of the ways in which she felt she’d been let down by God were actually places where God had been taking care of her in ways she hadn’t recognized.
Like with her job.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “To be honest, I’m a little baffled that they’re so eager to work with me when they were so busy with other things that we never had much of a chance to talk about it.”
Dan nodded. “The kidney donation project.”
They’d told him that, too? Dan knew she had medical issues, but she hadn’t told him about needing a transplant. One more thing she knew she needed to do sometime soon, but hadn’t gotten around to it. Legally, her job would be safe and she had plenty of short-term disability coverage. But for some reason she hadn’t been able to tell him.
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed a kidney?” Dan asked.
Because she didn’t tell anyone much of anything, let alone her boss. Maybe, as much as she had been feeling alone in everything, some of this was her fault.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m starting to realize how much I shut people out. After everything with Chris, I was afraid to trust people.”
At least that much she knew he’d understand. She hadn’t told him everything about the situation, but he had seen enough.
“I guess I would have thought that you would have known I’d have your back.” Dan gestured around the empty office. “A lot of people here would have. I know you’re focused on raising your daughter so you don’t socialize with everyone outside of work, but you have to know that many of your coworkers see you as a friend. Someone they care about. Brenda and I care about you.”
Dan’s wife, Brenda, often invited them to spend the holidays at their house. Rachel had always refused, not wanting to intrude or be a bother. But the sincerity in Dan’s eyes made her feel guilty for those refusals.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I guess I thought—” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I thought. Other than I didn’t want to be a bother. I promise I’ll do better in the future.”
The warm smile Dan gave her brought tears to her eyes. “First of all, you can tell me how you really feel about taking on the ranch account and spending the summer out there. After that, I would like to know more about your kidney situation, and more specifically, how I can be tested to be a donor. I haven’t asked about your medical issues because I know they’re protected under privacy rules. You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”
He wanted to get tested? It hadn’t even occurred to her that Dan, or anyone else currently in her life, would be willing to make such a sacrifice. But she had also been surprised by how many people at the barbecue had signed up for more information on becoming a kidney donor.
Had she been underestimating people?
Rachel took a deep breath and, as she had been starting to do regularly since talking to Janie, she said a prayer that God would show her the right thing to do, and give her the right things to say.
Yes, technically, she didn’t have to tell Dan anything. She’d only given the bare minimum information about her medical situation to protect her privacy, but also because she didn’t think anyone would care. And yet, as Dan stood there in her office, she could see that he did care. All these years, he’d been offering her friendship, as had his wife, and she hadn’t been able to see it. She’d been too afraid after everything that had happened with Chris.
She explained more about her kidney problems, basic information she’d lived with for months now, but was brand-new to him.
When she was finished, Dan said, “So that’s why they were asking about what it would cost to put ads in major publications about kidney donation. Ricky said he would spare no expense, but I told him I didn’t think this was the most effective method. We brainstormed some ideas, and I hope you don’t mind, but he said he would rather me handle this one and keep you on the ranch account, because he says you’re too modest to ask for help for yourself.”
It wasn’t so much modesty, but that she didn’t think anyone would be interested.
Then Dan gave her a sad look. “I hate to say it, but I agree with him. I know you are a private person, and I’ve always respected your privacy. But we can’t just let you die because you refuse to ask for help. My conversation with them made me realize that you’re likely not the only person unwilling to make your condition known. So I hope it will make you feel better that we’re not just doing a campaign to help you, but
