The ballroom of the Olympic Hotel was filled with the low hum of conversation and the clink of crystal glasses. One year. It had been one year since the Valerio Community Center opened its doors. One year since I stopped driving and started building. I stood at the edge of the stage, holding a glass of sparkling water, watching the crowd. They were a mix of donors, community leaders, and the kids who used the center. They looked happy. They looked hopeful.
Eleanor found me near the curtain. She was wearing a deep blue dress that matched her eyes. She looked confident, authoritative. She was running the show.
"You're on in five," she said. She handed me a small card with bullet points.
"I don't need the card," I said. I tucked it into my clutch anyway.
"Read it anyway," she said. She sm
