After the ribbon was cut, Nathaniel arrived with the girls.

He stood near the back and waited until the speeches ended.

Hazel rushed to show me her drawing of the new building.

June wanted to know where the snacks were.

Rose found a reading corner and announced it was now her office.

Nathaniel shook Jonah’s hand.

There was no tension, no attempt to own the moment.

“This is beautiful,” he said to me.