(Ruby's POV)
The letter from the foundation arrived on a Thursday.
I was in the garden, weeding the flowerbeds near the fountain. The sun was warm on my back. The birds were singing. Elle was asleep in her stroller under the shade of the oak tree, her tiny chest rising and falling. A breeze rustled the leaves above her.
Mrs. MacLeod came walking toward me, holding an envelope. Her face was different today. Softer somehow. The lines around her eyes seemed less deep.
"This came for you," she said. "From the foundation."
I stood up, brushing the dirt from my knees. My hands were dirty, my hair falling out of its ponytail. I took the envelope and opened it.
Dear Mrs. Sterling,
We are pleased to inform you that the Sterling Foundation has successfully completed its first full case. The family you helped sponsor has been resettled and is now self-sufficient.
We wanted to share this news with you and your husband. Your support made this possible.
Thank you for everything.
