The afternoon passed pleasantly. Jude helped Susan and Rose inspect the storehouse roof. The damaged section needed several new panels, but the timber he and Sophie had collected would provide enough material for the repairs.
Natalie and Serena worked in the eastern garden, while Emma prepared food for the evening. Grace finished shaping the clay pots, and Stella began carving another wooden bird for Sol.
The boy moved between them, curious about everything.
He watched Susan prepare vegetables and asked why some had to be peeled.
He followed Natalie to the garden and asked how she knew when a fruit was ready.
He sat with Layla while she wrote in her journal and asked whether books could remember things.
Layla smiled at the question.
"Books can preserve what people write in them."
"Then they remember?"
"In a way."
Sol considered this.
"Can they remember people who are gone?"
Layla's pen stopped.
"Yes," she answered softly. "They can."
Sol looked at the journal.
