During the drive, she received another call. Her mother had been moved into intensive care. Marlowe asked the driver to change direction; she was going straight to the hospital. Before she left, she handed me a card and told me to call if I ever needed anything. I thanked her. Then she walked into the hospital.
I thought that was the end of our strange encounter. I was wrong.
The following morning, I arrived at Milo's science program and found him waiting near the entrance. He ran toward me. I lifted him into my arms. For the first time in weeks, I felt like everything was going to be okay.
Then a black SUV pulled up. Marlowe stepped out. Milo looked at me with confusion. I introduced them. Marlowe smiled and handed him a small package. Inside was a science kit she had purchased after learning about his program. Milo's face lit up.
But Marlowe wasn't there simply to give him a gift. She told me that her mother had survived the night. She had also told her mother about the man she had met on the plane. Her mother wanted to meet me.
I didn't understand why, until we reached the hospital.
Marlowe's mother was weak, but conscious. The moment she saw me, she began to cry. She told me she knew my name.
I was confused. Then she explained.
Years earlier, when her husband died, she had struggled to keep Marlowe's future alive. A military family assistance program had quietly helped her with housing and expenses. The anonymous donor who had contributed the largest amount had been me.
I had forgotten. It had happened during a fundraising program for families of fallen and injured service members. I had donated almost everything I had saved. I had never expected anyone to know.