with people to get the best out of their bodies. With Brigid Care I’m building it to get the best now and in the future.’
‘But you’re a doctor. You can heal people. Sports medicine mightn’t be important, but you could…’
He looked at her with a wry, disappointed twist to his mouth.
She realised what she’d said, denigrating his chosen profession. However when she was right, she was right. Helping athletes win a medal didn’t compare to saving lives, and doctors were desperately needed in Australia and around the world.
‘There are lots of ways of being a snob, aren’t there, Cassie?’
The jab reminded her that they weren’t friends. She sat back as Paula collected their empty plates.
‘I’ll bring your desserts in two ticks.’
‘And coffee, please?’ Theo asked. ‘Espresso.’
‘You won’t sleep,’ Paula said. Flirting .
‘I’ll dream of Cassie, instead,’ he promised.
Paula giggled.
Cassie frowned. ‘Was that necessary?’ she whispered as Paula retreated to the kitchen.
He shrugged, muscled shoulders relaxed. A faint smile curved the corners of his mouth, taunting her. Then abruptly he leaned forward. ‘Do you know what I like about sports medicine? My patients were every bit as involved in their health as I was. They lived their lives for optimum health. I liked that; I liked helping them achieve more. And I can do that with Brigid Care.’
‘What? You’re going to go into body-building supplements?’ She was honestly confused, but apparently she sounded narky.
Theo leaned back from her, dark eyebrows pulling together in annoyance. ‘Brigid Care already sells supplements. And that’s not what I’m talking about. When Connor, my great-great-grandfather, started the company, he named it Brigid Care for a reason. Connor was Irish and he had a devotion to St Brigid, a patron of healing. He believed she’d saved his life when he had pneumonia as a young man.’
‘One espresso.’ Paula placed the offering in front of Theo, and unasked, placed a fresh glass of soda water in front of Cassie. ‘Apple pie, and a super-duper sundae with extra hot fudge sauce.’
‘Thanks, Paula.’ Cassie smiled. Family could be annoying, but they also cared and showed that love.
Paula smiled back, and out of view of Theo, mouthed, go for it .
Cassie fought the urge to roll her eyes by taking a large spoonful of sundae. It was good.
Theo was more focussed. He returned to his story of his grandfather. ‘Connor believed everyone should have access to good quality health care, not simply doctors, but everyday products that helped them look after themselves.’
She licked the spoon. ‘How do you know what he believed?’
‘He was interviewed for a newspaper article late in life. It was by keeping to those values that Brigid Care not only survived, but grew through the Great Depression. You should understand. JayBay’s the same, a business driven by its underlying values. That’s what I want to return to and protect with Brigid Care. Dad was never so focussed on helping people to help themselves. He believes in the grand vision of medical science heroically saving the day.’
That grand vision made for a good story, but she’d seen the reality in Africa. Incremental steps, building the capacity for communities to help themselves was what was improving lives in the third world — and those lessons applied everywhere.
Cassie paused, long-handled sundae spoon dangling, as she had an epiphany. ‘You’re right.’
‘I know.’
This time she did roll her eyes. He sounded so smug.
His mouth relaxed into a smile. ‘Sometimes saving lives isn’t about direct intervention as a doctor — or nurse — but supporting people’s own actions. With Brigid Care I can ensure people have access to affordable, quality products that build healthy lives.’
She admired the clarity of his mission and his commitment, and envied him his confidence. When she’d criticised him abandoning his medical
‘But you’re a doctor. You can heal people. Sports medicine mightn’t be important, but you could…’
He looked at her with a wry, disappointed twist to his mouth.
She realised what she’d said, denigrating his chosen profession. However when she was right, she was right. Helping athletes win a medal didn’t compare to saving lives, and doctors were desperately needed in Australia and around the world.
‘There are lots of ways of being a snob, aren’t there, Cassie?’
The jab reminded her that they weren’t friends. She sat back as Paula collected their empty plates.
‘I’ll bring your desserts in two ticks.’
‘And coffee, please?’ Theo asked. ‘Espresso.’
‘You won’t sleep,’ Paula said. Flirting .
‘I’ll dream of Cassie, instead,’ he promised.
Paula giggled.
Cassie frowned. ‘Was that necessary?’ she whispered as Paula retreated to the kitchen.
He shrugged, muscled shoulders relaxed. A faint smile curved the corners of his mouth, taunting her. Then abruptly he leaned forward. ‘Do you know what I like about sports medicine? My patients were every bit as involved in their health as I was. They lived their lives for optimum health. I liked that; I liked helping them achieve more. And I can do that with Brigid Care.’
‘What? You’re going to go into body-building supplements?’ She was honestly confused, but apparently she sounded narky.
Theo leaned back from her, dark eyebrows pulling together in annoyance. ‘Brigid Care already sells supplements. And that’s not what I’m talking about. When Connor, my great-great-grandfather, started the company, he named it Brigid Care for a reason. Connor was Irish and he had a devotion to St Brigid, a patron of healing. He believed she’d saved his life when he had pneumonia as a young man.’
‘One espresso.’ Paula placed the offering in front of Theo, and unasked, placed a fresh glass of soda water in front of Cassie. ‘Apple pie, and a super-duper sundae with extra hot fudge sauce.’
‘Thanks, Paula.’ Cassie smiled. Family could be annoying, but they also cared and showed that love.
Paula smiled back, and out of view of Theo, mouthed, go for it .
Cassie fought the urge to roll her eyes by taking a large spoonful of sundae. It was good.
Theo was more focussed. He returned to his story of his grandfather. ‘Connor believed everyone should have access to good quality health care, not simply doctors, but everyday products that helped them look after themselves.’
She licked the spoon. ‘How do you know what he believed?’
‘He was interviewed for a newspaper article late in life. It was by keeping to those values that Brigid Care not only survived, but grew through the Great Depression. You should understand. JayBay’s the same, a business driven by its underlying values. That’s what I want to return to and protect with Brigid Care. Dad was never so focussed on helping people to help themselves. He believes in the grand vision of medical science heroically saving the day.’
That grand vision made for a good story, but she’d seen the reality in Africa. Incremental steps, building the capacity for communities to help themselves was what was improving lives in the third world — and those lessons applied everywhere.
Cassie paused, long-handled sundae spoon dangling, as she had an epiphany. ‘You’re right.’
‘I know.’
This time she did roll her eyes. He sounded so smug.
His mouth relaxed into a smile. ‘Sometimes saving lives isn’t about direct intervention as a doctor — or nurse — but supporting people’s own actions. With Brigid Care I can ensure people have access to affordable, quality products that build healthy lives.’
She admired the clarity of his mission and his commitment, and envied him his confidence. When she’d criticised him abandoning his medical
Similar Books
