Recognition.
Barnaby didn’t wait for permission. He moved straight to Leo and rested his head gently against his legs again. This time, Leo’s fingers didn’t hesitate as long. They found the fur faster.
Progress.
Mrs. Gable noticed. I could feel it without looking. But she said nothing.
That silence told me everything.
She had seen it yesterday.
And she was trying to pretend she hadn’t.
—
The principal’s office smelled like burnt coffee and laminated paper.
Mr. Hargrove sat behind his desk, fingers steepled, the expression of a man who wanted to sound reasonable while preparing to say something unreasonable.
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