“Yes, ma’am,” she said.

“And she’d like to apologize to you.

And to your daughter.”

I looked down at Leo, at his dark eyes open now and fixed on my face as though I were the most interesting thing in a world full of interesting things.

I thought about Maya, three rows up, sitting so straight, reading her book, holding her dignity around herself like a coat.

She had not needed me to fight her battle.