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for a lot less money. That’s never a
winning combination.”
    Will sighed. No arguing that. Even his company felt the pinch.
New construction was down, and with so many people struggling to pay mortgages,
renovations were a luxury many couldn’t afford.
    Or maybe Will had been so involved trying to solve Angel
House’s problems that he hadn’t been focusing enough on his business. That was
also a possibility.
    “Whatever happens, Will, you should be at peace. You’ve gone
above and beyond to help us qualify for this grant. Even if we can’t apply with
the Ramsey Foundation, you’ll find some way to raise awareness about autism. I
know you will, and we have no way of determining what good might come from
that.”
    “Not after all this work.” He’d won a seat on the city council
to make this miracle happen—one more job he didn’t have time for. “I’m not going
to let a few months take away our chances. That’s really all it amounts to. The
deadline for the annual walk-through isn’t until August thirty-one—”
    “August thirtieth , remember? The
thirty-first falls on a Saturday.”
    Great. Not even the calendar was on board with the plan. “One
day isn’t going to matter. If we can’t keep operating here until next summer,
then we have no choice but to move up the timetable and make this year’s
deadline.”
    Deanne sank back in her chair and stared at him. “Is that even
possible?”
    Not without a real miracle because
the manufactured kind didn’t seem to be cutting it.
    But what was Will supposed to do—let Angel House close its
doors? Sam needed more help than the government offered with all their special
services, and the insurance company fought him every step of the way on
additional therapies. But without the extra help, Sam wouldn’t be accepted into
a regular school. He’d be labeled “intensive needs” and sent to an exceptional
center that still didn’t have the services he needed.
    Angel House filled that gap. It provided the extra training
necessary to help Sam become higher functioning so he could get by with the
level of special services the school system provided and continue to progress in
the least restrictive classroom environment.
    That’s what Will wanted for Sam. He wasn’t going to accept
anything less. Period.
    “We’ve got everything else in place, Deanne. All we need is a
permanent location that fits specs for the grant. We’ve found that, too. We just
need to move in.”
    She frowned. “You’re talking about extensive renovations on a
building that covers nearly an entire city block.”
    “Did I mention I own a construction company?”
    Of course, he couldn’t start the renovations until he had a
partner to share the space and offset the private status of Angel House, thereby
fulfilling the last requirement for tenancy.
    “Tell me about this agency. Give me something to work with
here.” Stretching his legs in front of him, Will rubbed his temples. A tension
headache on the way. What was new?
    Deanne must have recognized the symptoms or was getting a
headache of her own because she shoved away from the desk and stood. “You want
coffee? I need a cup.”
    “Please.” Maybe caffeine would constrict the blood vessels and
cut off the throbbing before it worsened.
    She headed off to the nearby staff room then returned with two
foam cups.
    “Here you go.” She handed him one. “Judge Parrish sits on the
board for the Young Leaders Camp Initiative. I presented to the board this week
about developing more opportunities for our lower-functioning kids.” She took a
tentative sip as she sat. “After the meeting we talked about our potential
involvement in Family Foundations, and Judge Parrish mentioned a divorce
mediator who has an independent agency based here in Hendersonville.”
    “What’s the name?”
    “Positive Partings.”
    “Why does that sound familiar?”
    Deanne shrugged. “Maybe you read about it? Apparently the owner
has been active