13. Raven

13

RAVEN

D ad lets me use his office for the meeting with the attorney today.

I'm more than a little freaked about what I learned from my brothers yesterday, but I use my desire to give back to the medical community to keep my mind at bay.

I'm going to start a nonprofit organization to benefit the research and treatment of blood cancers.

It's what I feel called to do. After all, I'm lucky to be alive.

Our housekeeper shows the attorney to the office where I'm sitting behind Dad's desk.

The attorney, a handsome man with a chiseled jawline and wearing a tailored suit, strides in. He looks professional, yet his eyes hold a touch of warmth that soothes my anxiety. He takes the seat across from me, his briefcase resting on his knees.

I rise. "You must be Mr. Latham."

"Yes, I'm Brick Latham, and you of course are Raven Bellamy."

I nod, taking a deep breath. I straighten my spine and meet his gaze. I'm nervous, yes, but this is important.

"I want to start a nonprofit organization," I say, my voice steady. "For blood cancer research and treatment."

Of course Latham already knows this. We spoke on the phone. He opens his briefcase to take out some documents. "Very well," he says. "We have quite a bit of paperwork to go through." He leans forward. "Blood cancer research and treatment is a wonderful initiative, Ms. Bellamy."

"Please, call me Raven," I say.

His eyes brighten. "Of course, Raven." He returns his attention to his materials. "Starting a nonprofit involves several key steps. Let's break it down. The first thing you need to do is to clarify your mission. What specific support services and resources are you planning to offer?"

I nod, smiling. I've thought this through a bit since last night. "I think I'd like to arrange support groups for emotional support, raise money to allow patients to apply for financial assistance, and champion awareness campaigns."

"That's a comprehensive mission." Brick jots down a few notes on a legal pad. "The next step is to form a board of directors. This group will guide the organization and ensure it stays true to its mission. Do you have people in mind who might join your board?"

"I've talked to my sister, Robin, about being on the board."

He nods. "Anyone else?"

I scratch my chin. "Not really. But I'm sure my parents would be interested."

"Perhaps someone who isn't related to you?"

My mind immediately goes to Vinnie. I barely know the man, but I can't shake the feeling that he would be a passionate advocate for my cause. But his hands are full with both the business of his family and now the mess my brothers are in.

I twiddle my fingers. "I'm sure there are some doctors at the hospital who would be interested. They would also provide some important insight from their perspective. And I've recently reconnected with a college friend, CJ. Her father just passed away from cancer, so I imagine she would be interested."

"Great. It's important to have a diverse and committed board." Brick leans back slightly, his gaze matching mine. "The specifics will come with time after you've talked to some potential members."

"I'll make time to gauge interest among the community."

"That'll be great." Brick smiles. "After forming your board, you need to draft your nonprofit's bylaws. These are the rules that will govern how your organization operates. I can help you with this, but you might also want to consider consulting with other experts in nonprofit law. They can even give you some templates to look at if you're at a complete loss of where to begin."

I realize I should be taking notes as well. I grab my phone. "I'm not texting, I promise you. Just want to write all of this down. What comes after the bylaws?"

Brick's smile widens. "The next step is to incorporate your nonprofit. This involves filing articles of incorporation with the Texas Secretary of State office. That will include your nonprofit's name, purpose, and the names of your board members, so you'll need to solidify all of those. I can help you with the nitty-gritty of what Texas specifically requires."

"Is there anything specific we need to include in the articles of incorporation?"

"Yes." He leans a little closer. "You need to ensure that your articles of incorporation include specific language required by the IRS if you plan to apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This includes a statement of purpose that aligns with IRS requirements and a clause dedicating your assets to another 501(c)(3) organization if your nonprofit dissolves."

"Whoa. Slow down." I tap away. "Five-oh-one-see-three?"

"That's the IRS designation for nonprofits organizations. That'll ensure that you don't have to pay taxes on any donations you receive. All of the money will go toward your mission. And because it isn't a for-profit business, you don't have to worry about investors or anything like that. Just throw a gala or two each year to keep your donors happy."

I nod. "Got it. And once we've incorporated?"

Brick looks down at the documents in front of him. There's a small patch of pink in his cheeks. "After incorporation, you need to obtain an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, from the IRS. This is like a Social Security number for your organization. You'll need it for tax filings and opening a bank account."

"Okay, I'll make sure to do that." I tap the letters EIN into my Notes app. "And how do we go about getting tax-exempt status?"

He pushes a sheet of paper toward me. "You'll need to complete and submit IRS Form 1023. There's a long form and a short form depending on the size and scope of your nonprofit. The application process can be detailed, so it's often beneficial to work with someone experienced in nonprofit law to ensure your application is complete and accurate."

I smile at him. "Good thing I've got you to help me, Brick."

Brick scratches his arm, his eyes warm and soft. "I'm more than happy to help you through all of this, Raven. It's a noble cause, one that I'm honored to assist you in."

My cheeks warm at his words. "Thank you. I'm just trying to make my second chance at life count for something."

He nods. "You are wise beyond your years." His gaze lingers on mine for a moment, but then he sharply cuts away and looks down at the table. "There are a few more things you'll want to do. You'll need to register for state and local taxes, and you may need to apply for a charitable solicitation license if you plan to raise funds publicly. Additionally, developing a strong fundraising plan and a strategic plan for your programs will be essential for your nonprofit's success."

"And you'll help me with all of that?"

Brick adjusts his tie. "Like I said, it would be my honor."

I tap a few more words into my notes and then put my phone down. "Thank you so much for all of this. It's clear I've got a lot on my plate, but I'm determined to get this done and make a difference." I stand up and reach my arm out. "Would you like to join me for lunch? It's the least I can do for all your help."

He stands up and shakes my hand quite tenderly. "I would be delighted, Raven."

We head into the kitchen. The housekeeper has prepared some ham and cheese sandwiches.

"How have you been feeling since your treatment ended?" Brick looks me up and down. "You look fantastic."

I absentmindedly run my fingers over the small growth of hair on my scalp. "You're joking. With this peach fuzz?"

Brick smiles. "A lot of women cut their hair short nowadays. I think it's quite fetching." He widens his eyes. "I apologize. I'm not sure that was an appropriate thing to say to a client."

I chuckle. "I've felt like absolute shit the last couple years, Brick. I'll take a compliment on my looks any day."

Brick inches his hand closer to mine across the table. "I don't think I'll find any shortage of compliments on your appearance, Raven."

My cheeks are quite warm now. But not as hot as they feel when I'm within twenty feet of Vinnie Gallo. "You're flattering me. I am happy that my face is filling out again. I was looking pretty gaunt during the worst parts of my treatment."

Brick nods. "I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through. You're very brave. And your first thought upon completing your treatment is how you can help others who are less fortunate than you."

I swallow. "It just feels like the right thing to do."

We return to our work after lunch. Brick helps me fill out the nonprofit IRS form, and we spend some time revising the draft mission statement several times until we're both satisfied with it. After another hour, Brick gathers the documents and his notes and stacks them together neatly.

"You've done incredibly well," he says. "This might seem daunting now, but trust me, this is just the start." He tucks the papers into his briefcase. "It's been a pleasure, Raven."

For the first time, I notice a dimple on the left side of his chin. It's unusual…and very attractive.

He clears his throat. "Would you perhaps want to discuss this further?"

I'm exhausted, and really, what more is there to discuss at this point? We got a lot done in this session, and Brick was extremely helpful, but I have a lot of work to do before we're started. "Of course. Next week maybe, once I have the chance to work out the business plan and all."

Brick smiles. "That was my failed attempt to ask you to have dinner with me, Raven."

I stop my jaw from dropping as my hand wanders back to my peach-fuzz head. It was one thing for him to compliment me on my appearance, but now he's asking me out?

Me?

A woman who's still practically bald from cancer treatment?

Granted, I'm recovering well thanks to Falcon's bone marrow, and I'm excited about this new project, but…

A handsome lawyer is asking me out?

My surprise must be evident, because his smile fades slightly. "I understand if you're not interested, or if you?—"

"No," I interrupt, shaking my head. "I mean, yes. I mean, I'd love to have dinner with you. I'm just…surprised."

He chuckles. It's a low, warm sound that fills the room. "Surprised? And here I was worried you'd forgotten that you're an incredibly strong and beautiful woman."

My cheeks warm once more at his words. I've been so focused on my recovery and the nonprofit organization that I've forgotten to let myself live a little.

"All right then," he says. "How about this Friday at seven? There's a quiet Italian place about thirty minutes from here."

He'll have to drive here from Austin to get me. It's a long way. I open my mouth to voice this thought, but then close it. He knows that. He did it this morning. Why bring it up?

"That sounds lovely," I reply, warmth flooding my cheeks once again.

The dimple in his chin winks at me as he stands up to leave. "Until Friday then," he says, extending a hand. "I'll pick you up here, if that's all right?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"Good," he says with a nod. He looks ready to turn away, but then pauses to meet my gaze once more. His eyes are warm, genuine—different from the professional lawyer I met hours ago. "And Raven?"

"Yes?"

"Just because you're on a mission doesn't mean you can't enjoy life. Remember to take breaks now and then." His smile is caring, almost tender.

I take in his words. "Thank you, Brick."

I see him to the door and then go back into Dad's office. I lean back into the chair and let out a breath. The road ahead is long and filled with challenges, but for the first time in a very long while, I feel truly alive. I have a purpose—to help those battling blood cancers, save lives like mine was saved by my brother.

And I have a date.

A date!

But one thing nudges the back of my neck.

I wish the date were with a handsome man named Vinnie Gallo.