Then he opened the small packet Emily had brought.

It contained a set of colorful pencils and a handwritten note.

She had used her own savings to purchase them, and the store had contributed the paper.

“For your reading afternoons,” she said.

“I know you can’t always see the little letters.

The children can make their own illustrations.”

He took her hand.

“I never thanked you properly for being patient with me when I was behaving so badly.”