Page 62 of Sin Bin

“Thank you.” Lois’s blue eyes were shiny with tears. “We can never repay you for giving so selflessly of your time and talent these past eight years. You’ve touched the lives of everyone in this room, as well as countless others. Wherever life takes you, please know that your generous heart, passionate advocacy and legacy of service will never be forgotten.”

As more tears streamed down Meadow’s face, Lois pulled her close for a hard hug. Cheers and applause erupted around them until they drew apart, laughing warmly and wiping tears from each other’s cheeks.

“Come see your cake, Meadow.” Zari grabbed her hand excitedly and tugged her toward the long refreshment table. The centerpiece was a huge chocolate cake decorated to look like the solar system.

“Oh my gosh!” Meadow laughed through her tears.

“Do you like it?” Zari asked anxiously.

“Are you kidding? It’s amazing!”

Zari beamed with delight. “I picked it out.”

“Aww. I really appreciate that.” Meadow hugged her around her waist, grinning when the tall teenager slung an arm around her shoulders and rested her cheek on top of her head. Zari had started playing volleyball after she was adopted. With her height and powerful right arm, she was the best hitter on her team. Meadow had attended most of her games over the past two years. Like many others, she truly believed that Zari would receive an athletic scholarship someday. She was that good.

“You might have picked out the design,” piped up fifteen-year-old Diego, “but the solar system cake was everybody’s idea.”

“I never said it wasn’t,” Zari retorted.

“You implied it,” Diego shot back.

“Did not.”

“Did, too.”

“It’s okay,” Meadow intervened, laughing. “I absolutely love the cake, so that’s all that matters. You know what else I love?” She put her arm around Diego’s shoulders and turned him toward the banner that hung from the ceiling. “Did you make that?”

He smiled shyly and nodded, a blush creeping up his neck.

She sighed appreciatively. “It’s the most beautiful banner I’ve ever seen.”

His smile widened with pleasure.

“I’m taking it home,” she said, “but first I want you to sign it for me.”

“Really? Why?”

She grinned at him. “Someday when you’re a famous artist, I’ll pull out the banner and proudly show off your autograph—which will be worth millions, I’m sure.” She ruffled his dark hair and received an adoring grin in return.

Diego and his younger brother had been orphaned when their parents were deported several years ago. They were torn apart and sent to different foster homes, a traumatic separation they’d endured until a childless couple adopted the siblings and gave them a permanent home.

“I’ll get the banner down for you before you leave,” Diego promised Meadow.

She thanked him warmly and hugged him around his shoulders.

“Here, baby.” An older black woman brought Meadow a plate loaded with barbecue ribs, baked beans and potato salad.

She accepted the food with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Agatha.”

Agatha winked as she plucked bits of confetti out of Meadow’s hair. As the agency’s adoption program administrator, she’d taken Meadow under her wing the very first time they met. She always had a smile and a kind word for her. She listened to her, supported her and generously shared her wisdom. Meadow would miss her stories and affirming hugs.

Everyone wanted to know what she would be doing at Gamenetic. As they sat around eating and talking, she answered their questions and shared some ideas she’d come up with for youth development programs.

“God, I wish we could have found a salaried position for you,” Lois lamented, shaking her head. “You know I would have hired you in a heartbeat if there’d been any room in the budget.”

Meadow smiled. “I know, and I appreciate that. But working with all of you has been more rewarding than any salary you could have paid me. I mean that.”

A chorus of “Awww” went through the group.

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