When Eli woke from a nightmare during his first overnight visit, Preston sat nearby until he could sleep again.

He did not call Naomi in panic or pretend he knew the answers.

Later, he thanked Mrs.

Alvarez for speaking plainly to him.

She smiled and asked whether he had remembered the extra socks.

He had.

It was a small victory, and he was proud of it.

PART 20: When the School Called