Alvarez brought handmade party hats.

Naomi’s fellow teachers staffed a table where children could make tiny rockets from paper tubes.

Preston watched from the doorway as the twins raced to the cake.

He had worried about being judged by the other parents, but most were occupied with cleaning frosting off their children’s sleeves.

He found the ordinariness comforting.

When it came time for photographs, Theo tugged Preston by the jacket.

“Stand with us.”