“Columbia is an excellent school. My grandson is due to go there next year. Maybe I could introduce the two of you? I’m sure he’ll have some advice on how to win over the admissions board.”
Oh, dear God. Was this all a setup? Mom’s covert way of introducing me to a boy she thought worthy of my affections? I wouldn’t put it past her. Or Dad for that matter.
They probably worried that Harleigh’s penchant for bad boys from The Row would rub off on me and wanted to nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.
I suppressed a groan.
“Celeste?” Mrs. Sinclair’s eyes crinkled with concern.
“I’m sure your grandson is very excited about starting at Columbia.”
“Indeed. He’s going to be a surgeon.” She beamed. “Good with his brain, steady with his hands. Oh, listen to me, I sound like a bad dating ad.” Her laughter turned a little strangled.
“I’m very much focused on my studies this year. It doesn’t leave much time to have fun, I’m afraid.”
“No, of course not. And now you’ll be volunteering. But you know, my Cooper stops by now and again and helps out. Such a compassionate soul.”
“That’s… great.”
And my worst nightmare. I didn’t want to be set up with one of Mom’s friend’s sons.
“Once we figure out your schedule, I’ll pass it onto Coop and see if he can make it.”
“Oh no, you don’t need to—”
“Nonsense, I think the two of you would have a lot to talk about. He’s also an honors student.”
I pursed my lips, hoping to end this line of discussion.
“Now, did your mom explain that we have a wide range of projects you can get involved with?” Mrs. Sinclair pushed a brochure toward me.
“She did.”
“Good. Some of our projects are very well staffed. But others struggle to attract volunteers. I’ve marked a couple that might be of interest to you where we could really use the help.”
“Great, thanks.” I flicked through the brochure, pausing on the passages she’d highlighted. “MS support group, for people with multiple sclerosis?”
“That’s correct. We have around twenty clients who access the group, and our focus is on support, advocacy, education, and wellness and healthy living. Attendees can also access any of the other services we run. Do you have a particular interest in this area?”
“I’ve been reading some papers on the impact of support groups on the overall quality of life for people across a range of diseases. MS sufferers were one of the sample groups.”
The research demonstrated a significant impact in nearly all sample groups. It wasn’t a perfect science, no intervention was. But if people had a safe space to share their experiences, seek and give support, and interact with people in a similar situation, their mental health generally improved which in turn usually reduced pain and symptoms.
“The group is actually meeting right now, if you’d like me to introduce you to Claudia, the project supervisor?”
“I’d like that.”
“Great, I’ll take you down and the two of you can have a chat. Then you can stop by and fill in the rest of these forms. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good.”
I followed Mrs. Sinclair into the hall and down to the main meeting room. It was a big open-plan space with a kitchen hatch at one end and some clusters of tables. People milled about, talking and laughing. A couple were playing chess.
“Claudia.” Mrs. Sinclair waved at a woman in a pale pink pantsuit. She reminded me a lot of Mom. Perfectly poised, not a hair out of place.
“Jeanine, is there a problem?” She looked me up and down. So much for the welcoming committee.
“This is Celeste Rowe. Sabrina’s daughter.”