There was no audience, no camera, no beautifully staged moment waiting to be shared with anyone else.

Lauren had made soup for lunch and given Mason time to finish a puzzle on the rug.

I arrived at the agreed hour, with empty hands.

Dr.

Morris had advised me not to bring gifts that might make the conversation feel like a transaction.

Mason was delighted to see me.

He held up the finished puzzle, a colorful picture of the solar system, and explained that Saturn was his favorite planet because it looked like it had an enormous playground slide around it.

We admired his work, then Lauren asked him to sit with us on the couch.