Chapter 1258 - Sarah's Birthday Party In LA (5)

Sarah returned to the garden with JoAnna and Sophia and paused at the sight of the stage: all the kids were wearing formal suits and gowns and holding their instruments (or sitting in front of them).

Aiden guided Sarah to her seat: front and center. "Our kids prepared something for you."

Sarah observed that they arranged chairs and benches in a semi-circle, like atrium seating so that everyone can face the stage and have a good view.

The kids took turns performing. First were a duet: Nala on the piano accompanied by Haru with his violin, then Allen and Julius (both on pianos), Ron did a saxophone solo and then another piece with Zula who accompanied him while strumming a cello. Masika treated them with a fairy-like music from a harp and then all kids performed two pieces as an orchestra.

Sarah was pleasantly surprised when kids kept their instruments on the side and sang as a choir.

Sarah thought that it's over, but then Ade stepped front and center with his violin. Sarah listened his strong solo performance and concluded that all those extra lessons (when he was punished) paid off. Ade allowed the music to carry him to unknown places and the audience followed… and then the whole orchestra joined, and Sarah was moved to tears. It shows that they practiced a lot. For her.

When they finished, they all lined up and bowed toward Sarah.

Ade held a microphone and spoke for all the kids: "You took us in when we had no place to go and gave us a chance to do something with our lives. Some of us call you Sarah, and some of us call you boss, but all of us see you as a mother because you gave us what we all needed: a family and a place we can call home. We all hope that someday we can repay your kindness and make you proud. Thank you."

Ade lifted the microphone above his head, and all the kids shouted at the same time: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

After few seconds of complete silence, Sarah stood up and walked to the stage. She stopped two steps in front of Ade and looked at him before sweeping with her eyes over all the kids.

Sarah took a deep breath while trying not to choke on the tears which swelled in her. "You might not be my biological kids, but I want you to know that this is and always will be your home, an environment where you will find unconditional support. Home is not a place. Home is not a building. Home is created by people who care for you and accept you for who you are. Look around you and you will see the people who are making this a home. I am proud of you. Thank you."

Imani stepped forward and gave one large box to Sarah with an explanation: "Each of us wrote you a letter. Please read them when you have the time."

Sarah nodded and kept the box on the side before pulling Imani and Ade into a hug. Other kids joined as well, and it ended up as a thirty-person hug with Sarah in the middle.

Aiden observed the scene on the stage with a big smile, and he was happy that Eve is recording all of it with drones. He is confident that this will be a great memory one day, when the kids grow up and have their own families and he and Sarah are old. Aiden likes that idea: growing old with Sarah.

While watching all this, Stella remembered when Sarah brought first seven kids to the Cabin. At that time, she advised Sarah to take care of them because they will be loyal. Stella was thinking of loyalty like soldiers, subordinates, and now she sees that Sarah went above and beyond and she created… a family.

"What's with the face?", Edward asked Stella. She looks like she is about to cry.

"I am proud of our baby girl.", Stella responded.

Edward put his arm around Stella's shoulders and pulled her to lean on him. "Me too… Me too…"

After the performances, the music played from the speakers: Aiden shared Sarah's playlist, and it was time for games.

There was something for everyone so even the pregnant ladies (Penny, JoAnna and Sophia) could participate.

They had many games such as badminton, volleyball, bocce, and there was even an archery range.

Immediately sign-up sheets were offered for people to form teams so that they can participate in badminton and volleyball. Aiden announced that those games will start after an hour, because they are more complex and last longer.

Pregnant ladies enjoyed the ladder toss game. Other than the competitive fun, it is something new for most of them. The rules are that you play with two balls, which are attached to each other with a string, and try to throw them so that they stay attached to a ladder. Ladder has three levels and each level is worth one, two or three points. Winner is the first one who reaches 21 points exactly.

Sarah laughed until crying while playing the booty-shaking game: an empty box is filled with ping pong balls; the box has a hole large enough for a ping-pong ball to pass through, and the box is attached around the waist so that it is in the back (the buttocks area). As the name of the game says, you shake the booty (and the box attached to it) and using hands is not allowed. The participants are basically vigorously shaking their hips up-down-left-right in an attempt to get all the balls out. Sarah was close to winning, but she laughed so hard that her booty refused to shake, and Emma overtook her. They played several rounds, so Bridgette, Anita and Aiden also got their chance to win.

Another fun non-hands-using game was a race for couples. The twist is that each couple is holding a balloon between their chest while running sideways. If they come too close, the balloon will pop. If they move apart, the balloon will fall down. Winning couple is the one who reaches the finish line first, with the non-popped balloon still in between them. Leah and Pam won this one.

Each winner had a mini-trophy to collect, as a souvenir.

Sarah could not believe that Jeff and Charlie started comparing their trophies and bickering which is better: Jeff got his for the ladder toss and Charlie for bocce.

Felix spiced up their bickering when he approached them with his own trophy and a big grin.

"What is that for?", Jeff and Charlie asked Felix in unison while eyeing his trophy.

"Ladder toss.", Felix announced proudly.

Jeff frowned. Is this some setup?

JoAnna joined them with a trophy of her own. "There are plenty of trophies for everyone. Look, I've got mine for bocce."

Felix was not interested in competing with these guys. He went to Sophia to show her the trophy he won. He saw her at the archery range.

Sarah thought that Jeff and Charlie will stop bickering when they realize that as long as people are interested, there can be multiple rounds and in each round the overall winner gets a trophy. But she confirmed that she is wrong when Jeff and Charlie agreed to meet later and compare who has more trophies.

JoAnna approached Sarah and commented while looking at Jeff and Charlie: "They are getting along well."

Sarah agreed. "Yes. I wonder what their reaction will be when they realize that Steve has three trophies."

JoAnna grinned and shouted. "Jeff! Did you check how many trophies Steve has?!"

Jeff's eyebrows shoot up and he made his way toward Steve. Charlie was one step behind Jeff.

JoAnna looked after Jeff and released a sigh full of emotions. "I am glad you have this set up. I don't remember the last time Jeff was this carefree."

Sarah glanced to the side at Aiden who was talking to Mason and Ryder and smiled. "Yeah. Aiden is awesome." Sarah wondered if they are talking about the White foundation business.

Like he can feel Sarah's eyes on him, Aiden shifted his gaze and their eyes met.

Sarah remembered that Aiden can do that: lock his dark eyes onto hers and make the rest of the world disappear.

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