He handed Aiden a printed sheet with the Cole company logo on top.
“I’m renaming one of the workshops,” Nathan explained. “From now on, it’ll be called ‘Aiden & Ranger Garage.’”
Aiden’s eyes grew huge.
“But… sir… I’m just a kid.”
“A kid who did more for me than a lot of adults in thousand-dollar suits,” Nathan said. “This is my way of saying thank you—and giving you a place that’ll always be yours to come back to. My company needs honest people. The world does too.”
Aiden held the paper like it was made of gold. Words failed him. They weren’t needed.
Across the square, Lauren appeared with a headscarf and a bag of warm bread. She lifted her hand in greeting. Nathan stood to meet her halfway. When she arrived, she leaned down and pulled Aiden into a hug.
“I don’t know if the world’s really better now,” she said, looking between them, “but I know this: because of a ten-year-old boy, we got a second chance.”