Instead, the community center held a small open house for the programs that had grown from it.

Families received information about emergency contacts, nutrition support, road safety, and local health services.

Children could decorate paper stars and make cards for the people they trusted.

Andrew attended with Ashley and Aunt Helen.

He had been nervous about walking into a room where so many people once believed terrible things about him.

Denise met him at the door.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, then added, “I know I owe you an apology.”

“You already wrote one.”