Chapter 9 - The Other Children
Each corsage had a different child’s initials stitched beneath the ribbon.
Lily was not the first.
Victoria’s campaign had used several foster children during donor seasons.
Some appeared in holiday photographs.
Others attended galas.
One stood beside Victoria during a housing announcement, then returned to group care two weeks later.
The campaign described them as foundation ambassadors.
The children had been told they were being considered for adoption.
None were.
Their hopes had been scheduled around fundraising calendars.
Maya’s face hardened as she read the placement records.
Several children had packed suitcases that were never unpacked.
One boy was removed after asking why Victoria never attended his school conference.
A teenage girl was labeled defiant after refusing to call Adrian “Dad” during a televised event.
Another child’s long-term foster mother was rejected because she worked as a cafeteria cook and lived in subsidized housing.
The same pattern repeated.
Poor caregivers were judged by square footage.
Wealthy applicants were judged by intention.
Victoria looked at the files.
“I did not personally manage every placement.”
Judge Carter answered:
“You personally stood in every photograph.”
The state froze all campaign-linked placement activity.
A restitution fund was created from the foundation’s donor reserve.
Children whose trust accounts had been charged would receive repayment.
Caregivers denied through manipulated studies would receive new reviews.
Harbor House was transferred into a permanent resident-controlled trust.
No foundation could sell it.
Adrian testified about the campaign contracts.
Victoria’s board removed her as chair.
Lily returned to Rosa’s apartment under supervised transitional placement.
The first thing Rosa did was clear two dresser drawers.
Lily unpacked slowly.
One dress at a time.
May you like
Then Maya received a sealed package from the county child-welfare office.
Inside was another old suitcase.
