“We were happy,” she said.

“And we can be happy again, in new ways.”

At the edge of the gathering, Margaret stood quietly beside a flowerbed.

She did not approach.

Clara noticed her and inclined her head, a small acknowledgment without surrendering the distance she still needed.

Margaret returned the gesture and remained where she was.

Adam came over with a chair for Mr.

Patel and asked Clara how the library program was going.