“He used to bring home stories about ships from countries we’d never heard of.”

Vincent stayed a few paces away.

He had learned that not every moment required his presence at the center.

When Sophie turned, he stepped closer.

She handed him a small paper boat, folded from blue construction paper.

On its side she had written THOMAS in careful letters.

“Can we put it in the water?” she asked.

June explained that leaving paper in the harbor could harm animals and that they could honor Thomas without putting anything into the water.