We ride off to the party with a convoy of new friends following in a variety of pickups and trucks. Elliott, and me to a degree as well, have earned respect from some fairly hefty folks within the logging community who are impatient to celebrate the charity work we’ve done in the name of their industry.

The goodwill is also emanating from the cabin when we pull up; high spirits radiate from within. Jessie has done another fabulous job of warming up our crowd of journalists, and the party is in full swing.

After we busy ourselves waiting for the competitors with whom we are now firm friends to pull up, we walk to the door. Elliott opens it and the throng inside immediately notices. The room fills with an almighty roar.

Their applause turns stereo as it starts up behind us. And that’s when I feel it. I’m hauled up from under each arm. Someone grabs both legs and before I can stop it, I’m bobbing around above our crowd of well-wishers.

Cameras snap and the cheers continue as my bruised and aching body wobbles through the process of leveling out and being secure enough in my temporary hoist to snatch a glance at Elliott. Our eyes lock, and my heart does that funny, heart-skipping-a-beat thing, sending butterflies raging around my core.

And that’s when a grin splits my face so much that my cheeks ache, sitting there, refusing to shift. That man is my entire life. I’ve never met anyone capable of creating so much just because it’s what he sets his mind on.

Someone grabs a microphone and static screeches through the air. The crowd groans, but then the chairman of our chosen charity starts to speak.

“Bring these boys up here.” He gestures toward the stage with his hand. “Didn’t they do well today?”

There's another huge cheer as Elliott and I are deposited on the makeshift podium at one end of the long room. We both wave to our adoring crowd, milking the good humor in the spirit it’s intended. I’m not one to generally get off on the celebrity life, but this type of recognition is different. Not only have we overcome our personal barriers to be here today, but in the process, we’ve accomplished something great for generations to come.

“I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done for us. You’ve trained hard and your work hasn’t gone to waste because look at what you achieved.” He holds up the trophy, which was presented to Elliott an hour earlier.

“What, you think I mean this old thing?” The chairman laughs as Elliott takes a mock bow beside him.

The crowd agrees, “Yeah!”

“No, surely not? No, the real prize today is for us. Elliott and Kyle here have worked tirelessly to be ready for today’s competition. They chopped down much of their own forest while training, and the logs on which you stand today are only here because they traded them for the ones they felled.”

Elliott takes the microphone. “The original plan was to build this cabin from our own trees, but I’m sorry,” he waves his hand to today’s competitors, “that was before we knew they had to dry out first. Rookie error!”

I laugh along with the rest of the experts at how naïve we were only a few months ago, shaking my head and tutting. I wrap my hand around Elliott’s, which is still holding the microphone, directing it to my mouth, “I’m sorry, guys. Such newbies, huh?”

Another surge of applause. Elliott slips his hand around my waist, drawing me in until I’m sealed against his side. Our glistening eyes lock and without any further thoughts, our lips briefly join.

“That’ll be all over the papers in the morning,” Elliott whispers when we pull away.

“Ah, ain’t that cute?”

The microphone has somehow ended up out of Elliott’s hand again. Unable to speak over the din in the room, we take another bow.

“Now, as I was saying. These boys have worked tirelessly, and we couldn’t be happier to accept their donation. This room in which we’re all enjoying alcoholic beverages this evening will be put to work first thing on Monday morning as a classroom to teach all the skills you guys here today make your living from.”

He goes on to explain about the program and how many kids it helps and how many more he’ll be able to place into gainful employment because of the support Elliott and I have given them.

I’ve never had the opportunity to give back like this, to really make a difference. Until I met Elliott, I was always too busy struggling to pay my own rent, let alone to think about using my own skills to aid others.