A few more weeks went by before a letter arrived for Lira, and it brought terrible news with it. Day Light's longtime sponsor, old Lewes Clark, had passed away, and his estate was now in the hands of his children, who had decided to cut off all funding to the orphanage. Without that support, Day Light would have to close.
Lira stood at the kitchen table with her hands pressed against her forehead, crying. She had worked so hard for so many years, and now the place she called home — the place where she had raised countless children — was about to be taken away from her. Young Youri watched from across the room, unsure at first how he could possibly help, until he remembered where Lira had put Mr. Knox's card. He went and got it quietly, walked to her side, and held it out to her with both hands.
"Don't cry, Lira," he said softly. "We'll be alright."
Lira wiped her eyes and pulled him into a warm embrace. After a long moment, she called the number. Knox agreed to come to the orphanage the following day.
Morning came, and the same sleek black car rolled up the driveway. Knox came in and took the same seat on the sofa near Youri, while Lira stood across from him. "Thank you for coming today, Mr. Knox."
"Don't mention it," Knox said politely, lifting the cup of tea she had set in front of him.
"Mr. Knox, we've recently had a setback with our funding. A longtime donor passed away, and his family has cut off all support. We've been searching for new donors, and after our last conversation, you came to mind. I wanted to ask whether you might consider becoming part of this place."
Knox smiled. "I'm honored that you thought of me, and I would certainly be happy to help. But I do have one question." Lira's eyes brightened with hope — until he went on. "Lira, who owns this property? The house and the grounds?"
"The Clark family," she said. "Lewes Clark — the original donor — bought the land himself. He wanted the children here to have a place to grow and play. He truly was a great man."
"Indeed he was," Knox said.
Lira looked at him in surprise. "You knew him?"
"Yes. I met him recently, just before his passing, at a fundraiser. He truly was remarkable."
Lira smiled and lifted her cup. "To Lewes, one of the greatest men on Volar."
"To Lewes," Knox echoed, raising his own.
After a moment, he glanced at Youri and laid a gentle hand on the boy's head. "And how have you been, young man? I hope you haven't been causing Miss Lira any trouble."
"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Knox," Lira said quickly. "Youri is one of the best children we've ever had here. He even helps with the chores every day."
"A good boy indeed," Knox said warmly. Then he crossed his legs, turned toward Lira and added, "Now that I intend to become a donor for Day Light, may I ask that one rule be changed?"
Lira frowned. "Which one?"
"The rule about single parents," Knox said. "I've grown quite fond of this young man, and I would like nothing more than to raise him into an even better one."
Lira froze, and her expression darkened instantly. Without answering him, she collected the empty cups and carried them into the kitchen. Only after a deep, calming breath did she come back. "Thank you, Mr. Knox. But I think we will need some time to think about it."
"Of course," Knox said. "Call me whenever you've reached a decision."
She walked him out to his car and watched him drive away. When she came back inside, she knelt in front of Youri, brushed his hair back gently from his forehead, and looked him in the eye. "Don't worry, buddy. I won't sell you off. We'll find another way."
Youri smiled at her. "I know, Lira. I believe in you."
Two days later, Lira went into town to buy ingredients for dinner. It had been a long day. Youri was tired enough to go to bed early, and he fell asleep listening for the sound of her car coming back up the drive.
Morning came, and Lira had not come home.
Youri searched everywhere — the house, the yard, the path down to the main road, every corner of the property. She was nowhere to be found. He went from room to room calling her name, and the empty house called it back to him in its own creaking voice. He set out two cups for tea, the way he did every morning, and then stood looking at the second one for a long time before he put it back in the cupboard. He made himself breakfast because she had taught him to, and he washed the plate afterward because she would have wanted him to. Then he sat on the front steps for a long time, watching the road. As the hours slipped by, he finally went back inside and sat down on the living room sofa with a book open in his lap that he did not read a single word of. By the time the sun began to set, exhaustion and worry were gnawing at his chest.
When the first stars came out, he switched on the porch light so that she would be able to see her way up the steps in the dark, the way she always did for the older children when they came home late from town. Then he heard a car pulling into the driveway, and he rushed outside, hopeful, expecting Lira. But the man standing there was Knox. Only Knox.
He came toward the boy slowly, his polished shoes crunching on the gravel. When he reached him, he crouched down to look him in the eye. His voice was quiet, almost gentle.
"Hey, young man," he said. "I'm afraid I have some sad news. Miss Lira had an accident. She passed away a few hours ago."