We arrived shortly before eleven with the children holding hands and a bag containing more snacks than any adult seemed to need.

For forty minutes, the day was ordinary.

Jude inspected a butterfly habitat.

Wren painted a pot.

Oliver asked a volunteer whether a tree could grow candy if somebody watered it enough.

Then I saw Callum coming down the terrace steps.

He wasn’t dressed for the ceremony yet.

He wore a dark suit with the tie loose at his neck.