She asked what kind of things he enjoyed building.

Mason told her about the rocket bridge and showed her a drawing in his notebook.

She listened.

That was enough for a first meeting.

Driving home afterward, he asked why he’d never met her before.

Lauren and I gave him the simple truth we had agreed on: there had been serious mistakes and misunderstandings between adults, and the adults were now working to make better choices.

We reassured him that none of those mistakes were his responsibility.