Thirteen Years Later, Two Blue Competition Badges Answered Every Question

“I know it’s been very hard on you,” he said.

Claire thought of the past-due utility notices folded tightly in her purse.

She thought of the silver necklace sitting in the cash register of a cheap roadside diner.

A corporate college fund would fix every lingering worry written in her spiral budget notebook.

It would mean she never had to check her bank balance before buying groceries again.

She reached out and took the business card from his fingers.

The heavy, expensive paper felt thick against her thumb.