Once the presents were opened and the cake served, Zephyr cleared his throat. “As much as I hate to interrupt the festivities, we do have a monthly meeting to hold, so if everyone would take a seat, we can begin.”
The general rumble of conversation slowly dissipated as people settled into their seats. Samantha, Tash, and Nielle sat to the side near the front, while Zephyr and Noah took their places at a central table and podium. After smiling over at Nielle, Zephyr began.
“Before we start, I’d like to thank all of you once again for your good wishes and the warm welcome you’ve given Nielle. I know we both appreciate it. Your support means a lot to us, especially in these difficult times.” A polite round of applause cut him off, and he waited for it to die down before continuing. “I have
