Chloe turned from the telescope and looked up at me, and her face was clear of the worry that used to sit on it.

“That night, when I was scared,” she said, “I really thought you were too far away to help me.”

I knelt down so we were level.

“I won’t always be in the same room as you,” I told her, a hand on her shoulder. “But you will never have to face something like that by yourself again.

Look at who came tonight. Mrs. McDaniel. Jackson. Detective Davies. Beverly. Your teachers. Me. You have a whole circle of people who will answer when you call.”

She nodded slowly, taking it in. Then she put her arms around my neck.