“I don’t want them to think their childhood began only when you arrived,” she explained.

“I don’t either.”

Preston looked through the photographs and saw something he had missed in that first bakery encounter.

The boys had never lacked love.

They had lacked his presence, and the distinction mattered.

On their next visit, Eli brought his notebook to Preston’s office and asked to see the skyline from the tall windows.

Theo inspected a model building on the conference table.

Preston turned off his computer and gave them his attention.