“Then don’t confuse good intentions with the end of the job,” I said.

“Keep doing the job.”

He nodded.

“I will.”

For the first time, I believed he understood the difference.

PART 18: What Hope Taught Us

That evening, after the last guests had gone and Mason was asleep in my spare room, I helped Hannah collect discarded wrapping paper from the floor.

Lucas was in the kitchen washing dishes.