The kind children give when they don’t understand adult cruelty.
“It’s okay,” she whispered.
The words nearly broke me.
Then something unexpected happened.
Governor Hayes knelt beside her again.
“You know,” he said softly, “your great-grandpa talked about you before you were even born.”
Emma’s eyes widened.
“He did?”
“He said you’d be brave.”
She grinned proudly.
“I am brave.”
“Yes,” he said. “You are.”
The governor stood.
Then he addressed the entire room.
“I attended tonight because Samuel Brooks was one of the finest men I ever knew.”
His gaze moved to my father.
