String lights glowed above the tables, and the room smelled of roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and lemon cake.

We raised enough to fund several months of meals and grocery deliveries for people who could not easily leave home.

During the thank-you speeches, Lucia called me to the front.

I tried to wave her away, but Paige began clapping, and the rest of the room joined her.

“Margaret kept us organized, solvent, and on schedule,” Lucia announced.

“We could not have done this without her.”

I stepped forward, my hands trembling.