His tiny body going limp against Noah’s chest. They stood there in the quiet nursery and Noah felt something shift. Not dramatically, but definitely. They were going to be okay. All of them. Not perfectly, not without problems, but genuinely okay. The real crisis came in May, 6 months into their relationship. The board meeting started normally enough.
Financial reports, program updates, routine business. Then David Reeves stood up with a folder in his hands and an expression that made Noah’s stomach drop. I’ve discovered some irregularities in foundation spending, Reeves announced. Specifically, several grants that appear to have been approved without proper vetting. Noah’s mind raced.
He’d been meticulous about every approval, double-checking everything. What irregularities is three families who received emergency housing assistance. All three listed the same case worker as their primary contact, but that person doesn’t appear in our employee database. Reeves opened the folder. Furthermore, the rental payments went to properties owned by the same landlord, a company called Beacon Holdings.
I know about those grants, Noah said. Patricia vetted all three families personally. They were legitimate cases. Then why isn’t this case worker in our system? Patricia sitting beside Noah leaned forward. Because she’s a volunteer, not an employee. Martha Rodriguez. She works with a community center in Parkside and referred three families who needed help.
I checked all the documentation myself and Beacon Holdings. Yo, what? It’s a nonprofit housing organization, Noah explained. They provide affordable rentals specifically for families transitioning out of homelessness. Those three families needed immediate housing. Beacon had units available.
It was the fastest way to help them. Reeves looked skeptical. And you didn’t think the connection between all three cases warranted additional scrutiny. I thought it warranted helping three families who were about to be homeless. Noah shot back. That’s what we do. Ba. What we do is follow proper procedures to ensure foundation resources aren’t being misused.
Victoria, who’d been silent until now, spoke up. David, what exactly are you suggesting? I’m suggesting that Noah may have been too eager to help without properly verifying information. At best, it’s careless. At worst, Reeves paused significantly. It could indicate that someone is taking advantage of his inexperience.
Noah felt rage flash through him. You think I was scammed? Oh, I think you’re new to this work and may have been manipulated by someone who saw an opportunity. Those were real families with real needs. I have documentation on all of them, which could have been falsified. Have you physically visited any of these families? Confirmed they actually exist? Noah hadn’t.
He’d relied on Patricia’s vetting and the documentation Martha Rodriguez provided. Standard procedure, but now it sounded negligent. I want an independent audit, Reeves said. Of these three cases and any others that use similar referral patterns. The board agreed over Noah’s protests. After the meeting, Noah found Victoria in her office pacing. This is a setup.
Noah said David’s been waiting for something like this to undermine the foundation. Maybe, but he’s not wrong that we need to verify. Victoria’s expression was troubled. Noah, did you personally check on those families? Patricia did. I trust her judgment. I know, but David’s right that we need to be above reproach. She stopped pacing.
I’m going to authorize the audit, not because I don’t trust you, but because we need to prove there’s nothing wrong. Noah felt betrayed even though he knew logically Victoria was right. You really think I would be that careless? No. But I think you’re human and humans make mistakes.
If there’s an error somewhere, we need to find it before someone else does. The audit took 3 weeks and felt like the longest 3 weeks of Noah’s life. Investigators combed through every grant decision, interviewed families, checked documentation. They even questioned Patricia, who remained calm throughout, but was clearly angry at the implication she’d done something wrong.
Noah couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat. The possibility that he’d screwed up, that he’d been too trusting or too eager to help ate at him constantly. Emma noticed, of course. “Dad, you look terrible.” “Thanks, sweetheart. Very encouraging. I’m serious. You’re all stressed out.” Emma set down her iPad. Is it because of work? Yeah.
Some people think I made mistakes with the foundation. Did you? I don’t think so, but I’m not sure anymore. Emma considered this. Mom used to say that making mistakes while trying to help people is better than not trying at all because you’re scared of messing up. Your mom was very wise. Oh, I know.
That’s why I remember the stuff she said. Emma hugged him. You’re a good person, Dad. Everyone knows that except maybe you. The audit results came back clean. Every family was real. Every grant properly documented. Every case legitimately in need of help. Martha Rodriguez was exactly who she’d claimed to be, a volunteer case worker who’d been helping struggling families for 15 years.
