“The grown-ups are making sure there’s a plan.”

The child nodded, but Helen could tell the reassurance would need to be repeated many times.

Trust came back slowly, through fulfilled small promises rather than one beautiful sentence.

That Saturday they visited Andrew.

He could walk a short distance with a cane.

He had written out the names of people he could call for help, including Aunt Helen, Denise, and the school office.

He showed Ashley the list without burdening her with responsibility for using it.