Nathaniel learned that Hazel hated being rushed, June needed advance warning before plans changed, and Rose would ask questions about jellyfish until the building closed.

Their first aquarium outing together was supposed to last two hours.

I met them at the entrance and stayed nearby at the beginning.

Nathaniel had brought a neatly printed itinerary.

I almost laughed when June immediately announced she wanted to start with penguins, not the shark tunnel.

“We can adjust,” he said, folding the paper.

The simple words made me unexpectedly emotional.

This was a man who once treated a change to dinner reservations as proof that I did not respect his time.