All My Tomorrows

by Karen D. Badger

  "A list of my terms and conditions, the estimated cost of this development, and the number and types of scientists I will need on the team is outlined in the package I will leave with you at the end of this presentation. The return on investment will be substantial, but the real bonus will be to the thousands, if not millions of SCI victims that will benefit from this development. I thank you for your time. I will now take your questions pertaining to the presentation."

  * * *

  "Can you believe the nerve of that woman?" Dr. Hollinbeck said. "Look at this list of terms and conditions. She provided us with her name and information about her degree field, but other than that there are no details about her education or work history. That makes me suspicious."

  "She seemed well informed to me," the man at the end of the table said.

  "No offense, Chuck, but you're just the front man for some rich philanthropist. You have very little background in scientific research. I'm not sure you're qualified to offer your opinion here."

  "I agree with Chuck," another board member said. "She definitely seemed to know what she was talking about. I am very curious about this device of hers. She says it's already been proven functional in a human test subject."

  "Heaven knows we aren't making much progress on our own," said yet another board member.

  "Well I, for one am not convinced she's authentic," Hollinbeck said. "We pointedly asked her how her device works, and she refuses to tell us."

  "It's not unusual for an inventor to keep the details to themselves until funding is secured and intellectual property rights are established. It's a sound business decision on her part," Chuck said. "I mean, she wasn't demanding payment up front, just a commitment for funding. We reserve the right to cancel the project if she is unable to deliver."

  "I don't know. Something doesn't feel right about this. I mean, she leaves this list of demands with us, yet she won't share any information about who she is. Look at these terms and conditions for Christ's sake. She wants to be in charge of the team. I'll be damned if I'll let her come in and take over my lab, never mind give me direct orders. She also wants a generous salary and the IP and patent ownership for the device. What's in it for the institute if she gets all the credit and royalties from the design?"

  "She might get IP rights and royalties, but the institute gets the revenue generated from the sale of the device. She was right when she said the return on investment would be substantial," Chuck argued.

  Hollinbeck was not to be deterred. "I still don't feel good about this. Look at this last demand. She wants assistance establishing credentials and identity, whatever the hell that means. As far as I'm concerned, it's not my job to see that she gets all the glory for developing this device. If she really wants to sell this to someone, she needs to learn how to be a team player."

  Chuck narrowed his eyes in Hollinbeck's direction. "What are you concerned about Hollinbeck, her integrity, or taking direction from a woman and giving her credit for her own innovation?"

  "I resent what you are implying, Chuck. Look around this room and ask the others if I give credit where credit is due."

  Chuck scanned the faces of the others in the room and was met by evasive or guarded gazes.

  "Look Chuck," Hollinbeck continued, I admit I was intrigued by her ideas, but without any data to back it up — and without her willingness to share the details up front — this feels like a scam. The last thing we need is to give her a ton of money only to have her skip town on us. I vote no on this one."

  "Are you sure about that?" Chuck asked. "What if she's the real deal?"

  "If she's the real deal, then why all the secrecy?"

  Chuck sat back in his chair. "Suit yourself."

  "So, let's put this to a vote. There are thirteen of us in the room. Raise your hand if you approve her proposal." Hollinbeck looked each member of the board in the eye as one by one, they voted.

  Of the thirteen scientists present, only six found the courage to raise their hands and defy their lead scientist.

  CHAPTER 25

  "Take her up, John," Jordan said as she stood on top of the pallet of hay bales, riding it to the loft where she swung the pallet onto the deck. "Give me a minute to unload these and I'll send it back down again," she said.

  "I can come up there and give you a hand with that, if you'd like," John offered.

  "Not necessary. It'll just take me a minute or two. In fact, I'm nearly finished already." Jordan hopped onto the empty pallet and gave John the signal to lower it back to the barn floor.

  "I'm kind of glad you're home, Jordan. Miss Maggie worked herself into an unhealthy state after you left."

  "What do you mean?" Jordan asked as she stacked new bales of hay onto the pallet.

  "Well, she was neglecting Shawny and not taking very good care of herself. The morning Miss Gina came after her, I knocked on her door at ten in the morning and she was still in bed. That's not like her."

  "Well, I'm back and nothing is going to chase me away again."

  "That's good to hear. You're good people, Jordan… and you're good for Miss Maggie.”

  "Thank you, John."

  Jordan stacked several bales onto the pallet in silence before addressing John once more.

  “I understand you saw my transfer into the barn on the morning the winch fell from the rafter. Why didn’t you ask me about it?” Jordan asked.

  “It all happened so fast. I saw the flash of light, then Maggie came out of Shawny's stall, right into the path where the winch fell and you pretty much acted on instinct and pushed her out of the way. I knew right then that you meant us no harm,” John explained.

  “But weren’t you even curious about it, John?”

  “Sure I was, but I figured if you wanted me to know, you’d tell me yourself. Besides, if I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that it don’t matter none where you come from as long as you’re good people.”

  Jordan wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her sleeve. “Well, I certainly appreciate your open mindedness, John. I want you to know I love Maggie with all my heart and I would do nothing to hurt her. I came here to save her from Jan — not to hurt her.”

  "So, Maggie tells me you're a scientist. I kind of thought as much. You seem smarter than the average person. I wish you all the luck in the world on your research project."

  "I've got my fingers crossed that it will be funded, John. I should be hearing from the board at the spinal institute in a couple of weeks about whether they've accepted my proposal."

  "And if they don't?"

  "Then I'll seek funding elsewhere. I'd like to keep the research local, but I'll go national if I have to." Jordan once again climbed on top of the pallet. "Round two… take her up."

  Jordan had just finished unloading the second pallet of hay bales when she heard Maggie calling her name from across the barnyard.

  "Jordan? Where are you? The mailman just delivered a letter from the institute."

  "In the barn, Mags." Jordan rode the second pallet to the ground as Maggie waited below.

  "You go on and take care of business. I've got this next load," John said.

  "Thanks, John." Jordan draped her arm around Maggie's shoulder and walked out of the barn with her. Once outside, she took the letter from Maggie and stared at it intently.

  "This doesn't feel right, Maggie. It's too soon. My presentation was only this past Monday, just four days ago. I'm afraid that's not a good sign."

  "Or it could be a good sign," Maggie said hopefully.

  "Sweetie, no one makes a decision to spend this kind of money without thinking about it long and hard, and running it through a lengthy return on investment analysis. Trust me, I've been here before."

  "Well, open it," Maggie said.

  Jordan tore open the flap and retrieved a one-page, typewritten letter. She quickly scanned the letter then lowered her chin to her chest. "It's just as I thought," she said.

  "Let me see it," Maggie said, taking it fro
m Jordan and reading it out loud.

  Dear Miss Lewis.

  Thank you for presenting your ideas to us this past Monday on your approach to the treatment and cure of complete SCI's. We regret to inform you that your application for a research grant has been denied. This rejection is due to your lack of verifying credentials as a certified expert in the field of spinal cord injury treatments. We feel irrefutable and spotless credentials are a requirement to move forward with a project that would require the degree of funding your proposal implied. We sincerely hope this will not discourage you from continuing your research.

  Sincerely,

  Dr. Robert Hollinbeck, PhD.

  Assistant Director of the Vermont Spinal Cord Institute

  University of Vermont Medical Center.

  Maggie put her hand on Jordan's back. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry."

  Jordan fought hard to hold back her tears of disappointment. "I was so sure my presentation would convince them to fund this project. They are being so shortsighted."

  "The letter implies they rejected the proposal because of your lack of credentials. I don't think it has anything to do with the project itself."

  Jordan nodded. "I guess I can't blame them. After all, what do they know about me? I'm an unknown entity that literally fell from the sky. I'll need to find a way to fabricate my credentials before I try again. I don't want to risk another rejection."

  "That might be best," Maggie said. "Why don't you come into the house and have an iced tea with me before going back to the barn. Okay?"

  Jordan nodded as she and Maggie walked toward the house. Just then, her cell phone rang.

  "Who could that be? The only people I really know around here are you, Gina and Sam, and this is definitely not one of their cell numbers," Jordan said as she looked at the screen. She pushed the answer button and held the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

  "Jordan Lewis?" a man's voice said.

  "Yes, this is she."

  "Ms. Lewis, my name is Charles Malone and I…"

  "Charles Malone. Yes, I know who you are." Jordan looked at Maggie and raised her eyebrows.

  "Yes, anyway, I have reason to believe you received a letter today from the Vermont Spinal Institute. Is that correct?"

  "As a matter of fact, I'm holding it in my hand right now."

  "I'd like to talk to you about that letter, and about your proposal, if I may."

  "Of course, Mr. Malone. What time would be best for you?"

  "I can be there in five minutes."

  "Five minutes? I… I'm afraid I've been working in the barn and…"

  "Don't worry about the way you look, Miss Lewis. It's your brain I'm interested in, not your hygiene."

  "Well, in that case, Mr. Malone. I'll have a glass of iced tea waiting for you when you get here. We're located at—"

  "I have your address from the funding application. I'll find you."

  "Okay then. We'll see you soon."

  Jordan shut her phone off and slipped it into her back pocket. "I've at least got to wash off the barn dust. Could I bother you to pour us all some iced tea?" Jordan asked.

  Maggie smiled. "Of course, love."

  Jordan ran up the front steps, taking them two at a time while Maggie followed at a slower pace. By the time she heard the sound of tires on gravel, Maggie had three glasses of iced tea poured, as well as a selection of sweet breads laid out on a plate. "I just heard a car pull up out front, Jordan," Maggie called out.

  Jordan entered the kitchen just as they both heard a car door close. She was visibly nervous.

  "Calm down, love. It'll be okay," Maggie said. "Deep breath."

  A knock on the screen door called their attention to their visitor on the front porch. Maggie opened the inside door then pushed open the screen door for Mr. Malone to enter.

  Jordan's eyes opened wide. "You! You were at the presentation," she said.

  Mr. Malone stepped forward and extended his hand to Jordan. "Yes. Chuck Malone," he said, firmly grasping Jordan's hand.

  "It's nice to see you again," Jordan said. She stared at him for a few seconds, before shaking herself out of her reverie. "I'm sorry, but you remind me of someone."

  "I get that a lot," Malone said. He turned to look at Maggie. "So who is this lovely lady?"

  "Sheesh, where are my manners? Mr. Malone, this is my fiancée, Maggie Downs. Maggie, Charles Malone."

  Mr. Malone shook her hand warmly. "Your fiancée, huh?"

  "Is that a problem, Mr. Malone?" Jordan asked.

  "Chuck. Please call me Chuck, and no, it's not a problem. It's so nice to meet you, Ms. Downs."

  "The pleasure is all mine, Chuck, and since we're on a first name basis, please call me Maggie."

  "Maggie it is." Chuck looked around. "You have a beautiful home. It's very comfortable."

  "Speaking of comfort, please have a seat. I've poured some iced tea for all of us," Maggie said.

  Chuck pulled out a chair and made himself comfortable at the handmade wooden table, then helped himself to the sweet breads on the table in front of him. "These are amazing," he said.

  "Maggie's the cook. I'm afraid I burn water," Jordan joked.

  "You too, huh? My wife wouldn't even let me in the kitchen. Maggie, you'll have to give me the recipe for these before I leave. My daughter, Jessie will love these."

  "How old is she?" Jordan asked as she too bit into a sweetbread. "Wow, Mags, Chuck is right. These are incredible."

  "Thanks, love," Maggie said. Then, to Chuck, "So how old is Jessie?"

  "Jessie is thirteen, going on twenty."

  "God love you," Jordan said. "Speaking from personal experience, raising girls is not a lot of fun sometimes."

  "You got that right," Chuck exclaimed. "One minute, she's all sugar and spice and the very next moment, she's having a high-speed come apart over nothing."

  "If it's any consolation, it gets better," Maggie said.

  "Well, it can't happen soon enough."

  "So, Chuck, what brings you out here?" Jordan asked.

  "First, I want to tell you how impressed I was with your presentation, Jordan, and I'd like to learn more about how your device works."

  "I'm sorry, Chuck. Since the institute rejected my proposal, I will need to seek other funding, and quite frankly, I need to protect the IP for those donors willing to invest in its development."

  Chuck smiled. "I like your attitude and your conviction, Jordan, and I totally understand your reluctance to release any IP relative this device, but I am that donor willing to invest in its development."

  Maggie reached across the table and took Jordan's hand.

  "You? Chuck, forgive me for being confused, but it's a well documented fact that you are the primary benefactor of the Spinal Institute, and as you know, they rejected my proposal."

  "Correction, Jordan. I was the primary benefactor of the Spinal Institute. I have withdrawn my support starting immediately."

  "But, why?"

  "Let's just say their focus and their priorities diverge with my beliefs. It is time to make a change, for me, and for Jessie."

  "Jessie?"

  "If you've done your homework on me, and I believe you have, you will know that Jessie has been in a wheelchair for the past three years."

  "Car accident," Jordan said. "I read about it. I'm sorry about your wife."

  "I was devastated. At least I didn't lose both of them. Jessie was severely injured in the crash. Her spinal cord was severed at the L1 vertebra."

  Jordan's gaze darted to Maggie as they exchanged a knowing look.

  "Jordan, your presentation has given me a reason to hope again… to hope that some day, Jessie will be able to get out of that chair and live a normal life."

  Jordan closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. When she opened them, she looked directly at Chuck. "Chuck, with the right team and the right funding, I am confident I can get Jessie out of that chair and on her feet within a year."

  Chuck's hand flew up to cover his mouth in an
attempt to stifle a sob that successfully escaped. Tears spilled over onto his cheeks. Jordan reached out for his free hand while Maggie stood and wrapped her arms around the sobbing man. For the next several minutes, no one said a word as Chuck slowly regained his composure.

  "I'm sorry," he said.

  "No need to be sorry," Jordan said. "I feel your pain, Chuck. Trust me on that one."

  Maggie released Chuck and circled around the table to stand behind Jordan, placing her hands on Jordan's shoulders.

  "Don't ask me why, but I do, Jordan… trust you, that is," Chuck said. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

  "Not at all."

  "How long have you been out of your wheelchair?"

  Jordan could feel Maggie's hands squeeze her shoulders. She tilted her head back to look at Maggie, who simply placed a kiss on her forehead.

  Jordan returned her gaze to Chuck. "For about three years."

  CHAPTER 26

  "How did you know?" Jordan asked.

  "I didn't know for sure, but you mentioned during your presentation that your device had already been tested in a human subject and I figured that since the medical community wasn't aware of it then the recipient had to be someone attached to your research. I took a chance that it was you."

  "I see."

  "How were you injured?" Chuck asked.

  "I was thrown from my horse. I was sixteen at the time."

  "And how long were you in the chair?"

  "Fourteen years."

  "Fourteen years? Damn. You said you've been out of the chair for three years now?"

  "Technically, I was out of my chair for two years, then back in it for a few months while a second device was perfected."

  "So, how does it work?"

  Jordan paused.

  "Why don't I leave you two alone to talk business," Maggie said as she excused herself. I'll be out in the barn if you need me for anything."

  "Okay, love," Jordan replied as she watched Maggie leave. She turned her attention back to Chuck. "Chuck, as much as I want to explain the device to you, I really need to understand what your intentions are."