“My hacker is back.” She kissed him, and he pulled her down onto the couch. “How did it go?”
“It got a little intense there for a while—I won’t bore you with the technical stuff—but we were successful in blocking the attack. We saved a lot of consumers the giant headache of having their financial information compromised.”
“You love it, don’t you?”
“It’s not the same kind of cybercrime my dad fell victim to, but it still feels good every time I stop it from happening.”
“I think it’s wonderful.” She smiled and kissed him. “Ready for lunch?”
“Thai?” he asked with a wide, hopeful smile.
“Thai.”
While they were eating, Kate said, “Can I talk to you about something?”
He looked a little worried. “Sure.”
“It’s nothing bad,” she said. “I just have a favor to ask. Do you remember the little boy named Georgie? We bought that Curious George hat for him at Christmastime?”
“Yes, of course.”
“When he came in with his mom and sisters to pick up their box of food last week, I could tell that Samantha was really upset about something. I pulled her aside, and after a little prodding she admitted how bad her financial situation has become. Georgie had been sick and needed two rounds of an expensive antibiotic, and the girls had outgrown their shoes. The budget billing on her gas and electric bill had increased by eighty dollars, and she told me she was trying to decide which bill she could put off. I felt horrible for her, but she said not to worry, that she’d figure something out. After she left I tried to come up with a way to help her, but I’m not equipped to provide for a family of four on an ongoing basis, and I don’t want to create a potentially problematic situation down the road. I told myself when I started the food pantry that getting personally involved was a slippery slope.”
“Do you want me to help her? Because I’d be happy to.”
“Yes. But it needs to be anonymous. She’s very proud, and it’s hard enough for her to accept help from the food pantry. But I don’t want you to give her any of your money.”
She could tell by his surprised expression that he hadn’t seen that coming. “You don’t?”
“No. I want you to find the most obnoxious thief who’s bragging the loudest and just take it. It’s not fair. Samantha works hard and has three children who never asked to grow up this way. And yet there are people out there who steal and have more than they’ll ever need.”
“Write down her name for me and I’ll take care of it.”
Kate thought about how relieved Samantha would feel upon receiving the money. How the kids would pick up on the fact that their mother was no longer stressed out and afraid. “Something so wrong shouldn’t feel this good.”
“Ah, she understands me now.”
“I always understood you, but now I can feel it for myself. Thank you for helping her. It means a lot to me.”
Ian pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Anytime, sweetness.”
After lunch she put on her coat and got ready to walk back to the food pantry. Before she returned to the couch to say good-bye, she lingered near the entrance of the room and watched him as he tapped out a message on his phone. She admired the perfect angle of his nose, his well-defined cheekbones, the square line of his strong jaw, his mouth. Ian was gorgeous, there was no doubt about it, but it was the mischievous sparkle in his smile that gave him the extra edge.
He looked up suddenly, catching her in the act, and her cheeks flamed. “Did I just bust you staring adoringly at me, Katie?” He crossed the room, and when he reached her he leaned in for a closer look. “Aw, I’ve missed those blushing cheeks.” He tickled her, and she pulled his hands away.
“Did you know that when you smile, your whole face lights up and there are little crinkles right here in the corners of your eyes?” Kate said, pressing lightly on them.
“I do now.”
“You make me really happy.”
He held her face tenderly in his hands and kissed her. “You make me really happy too.”