A few days later, Victor invited Angela to meet him in the library during her paid work hours, making clear through Eleanor that she was under no obligation to accept a new role. Angela entered cautiously, carrying herself with the composure of a woman who had learned not to display fear at work. The library smelled of old paper, polished wood, and the flowers a gardener replaced twice a week. Victor stood rather than remaining behind his desk. He offered her a chair and waited until she sat before speaking.
"I found my father's recommendation for Marcus," he said, placing a copy on the table. Angela looked at the page without touching it. "I remember that letter," she replied. "Marcus was proud of it. He thought it might help him get a permanent restoration job after the sale."
Victor hesitated. "Did it?" Angela shook her head. "Some people called. One place offered work, but it was too far from home, and then he started getting sick. After a while, there were no more calls."
"I'm sorry," Victor said. He did not attach an explanation or add that he had been busy. Angela looked up, surprised by the absence of an excuse. "You didn't cause his illness," she answered.
"No," Victor agreed. "But I knew your husband, however briefly, and I didn't know enough about what happened after he left the shop. Then you worked here for seven years, and I didn't even ask. I can't claim I respected his ability if I never bothered to learn what became of him."
Angela allowed the silence to stand. She had spent years imagining conversations with people who might have helped when Marcus was alive, imagining arguments in which she finally explained the cost of being overlooked. Now that someone was admitting the omission, she discovered she did not want to turn it into a performance of forgiveness. "He didn't want anybody to feel sorry for him," she said eventually.
"He wanted steady work, fair pay, and a chance to use what he knew. After he got sick, he wanted us to be safe. Mostly he wanted Noah to have choices."
Victor nodded. "Then I would like to help create those choices, but I want to talk with you about how. I don't want to make promises in front of Noah that put you in a difficult position." Angela studied him for a long moment.
"That's the first thing you've said that makes me believe you're serious," she replied. Victor accepted the words without offense. He had earned her caution as surely as he had earned the mechanic's resentment by rushing them. He waited for her to continue.
She told him about the school Noah attended, the library books he brought home, the advanced science lessons she could not afford, and the way he became embarrassed whenever somebody offered charity loudly enough for other people to hear. She explained that they sometimes struggled with car repairs and medical