Outside, I found Eleanor waiting with a paper bag of homemade muffins.

When Kenneth told her what the inspectors had found, she covered her face and cried.

She apologized again, but this time Kenneth didn’t rush to say everything was forgiven.

“You should have told me,” he said quietly.

“And I should have made it possible for you to tell me without being threatened.”

Eleanor nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

He took a muffin for the boys and thanked her for bringing her notes.