Bliss by Kaylee Ryan Page 0,57
a nonprofit organization.”
“Cooper.” Reese turns her head to look at me. “That’s amazing.”
“There’s more,” I say, smiling at her.
“These papers are the official filing for the nonprofit status,” John explains.
“What kind of nonprofit?” she inquires.
I nod at John. “The foundation will be set to help foster children. The conditions are clearly outlined. The foundation will provide suitcases and duffle bags for the children’s personal belongings,” he begins to explain. Reese keeps her eyes on his but reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Without giving you every detail, there will be things such as transition help for those going on to college, celebrations for those who are placed and adopted. Scholarships will be awarded each year, as well as group activities for those in children’s homes. That’s the basic idea of the foundation. I have a copy of the full outline with details of the foundation for each of you.”
“I don’t understand?” Reese says, glancing over at me.
“It’s not just my foundation, baby. It’s ours. We both have to sign today. I’ll be the President, and my job is to silently fund it, and hopefully use my career for fundraising and awareness. You are listed as the executive director of the foundation. You run it all. It’s all in your capable hands.”
“What does that mean?” she asks with tears in her eyes.
“It means that all the things you wished that you could do for your kids, you can do. Only this is on a grander scale. You will have free rein to organize fundraising and distribution of supplies, and everything else that’s involved. It’s a startup, so there will be a lot of work to get it off the ground.”
“I-I can’t believe you did this.”
“You said you wanted to do more. I’m giving you the power to do that.”
“Cooper.” She sobs my name as she covers her face with her hands.
“I’m going to step out and give the two of you a few minutes. Just open the door when you’re ready,” John says, standing and leaving us alone in his office.
“Come here.” I pull her from her chair and place her in my lap. My arms wrap around her as I hold her close. Her tears come fast, but I’m there to catch them. “I thought this would make you happy,” I say, feeling her out. I think the tears are happy tears, but I’m not sure.
“It does, Coop. You have no idea. This is…. I have no words. I can’t believe you did this for me.” She wipes at her cheeks with the backs of her hands.
“Haven’t you realized by now I would do anything for you?”
She nods. “I’m in shock. I don’t really know what to say to this. I don’t know…,” she says, shaking her head.
Time to put it all out there. “I was hoping you would want to do this full-time. Run the foundation. I was hoping you would move here with me. That we could buy a house, change your last name, have a couple of kids. What is it they always say? And they lived happily ever after? I want that to be us, Reese. All of it. I want it all with you.”
More tears, but an even brighter smile, greets me. “I guess we have some papers to sign.”
I kiss her quickly before she moves to her seat, and I get up to open the door, letting John know we’re ready for him.
“All right, so this is all the legal filings for the Latham Reeves Foundation.”
“Oh my God,” Reese says breathily.
“We can change it,” I tell her, then look at John for confirmation. “Right?”
“Of course, we would just need to adjust the documents and reprint,” he says without an ounce of annoyance. With what I’m paying him, there better not be a sign of any.
“No.” She shakes her head. “It’s perfect.”
“Wonderful, let’s get started,” John suggests.
John takes his time going through each document to explain what we are signing. Reese asks great questions, and they all boil down to one answer. This is her foundation to build and to grow. She smiles the entire time, and she keeps having to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
An hour later, we’re walking out of John’s office with two folders holding identical information. “I can’t believe that you did this,” Reese says once we’re in my truck.
“Good surprise?”
“The best. Cooper, this is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“I know. You told me.”
“And you listened.”
“So, what do you say we grab some dinner since there are no groceries in the