He sat through the discussion without announcing his title or proposing a donation.

The counselor suggested ways the twins could answer intrusive questions and identified adults they could go to if teasing continued.

On the way home, Preston admitted how close he had come to making a scene.

‘I wanted someone to pay for hurting them.’

‘It isn’t wrong to feel protective,’ Naomi said.

‘But they need us to stay steady, not start a war every time they hurt.’

A week later Theo told them the boy who had teased him apologized after a classroom conversation about different families.