“I was trying not to disappoint you until I knew whether I had to cancel.”

“That still means you made the decision for me.”

He nodded.

“You’re right.”

That mattered.

Not perfection.

Correction.

The ability to hear her without treating every disagreement like a threat to authority.

PART 23 — THE GIFT BOX

Nearly a year after Gwen first arrived at Gideon’s gate, he came to her apartment carrying a small box.