“Mom,” he whispered.

I pushed the door open and dropped to my knees, throwing my arms around his small shoulders.

He clung to me, his fingers burying into the fabric of my coat.

“I saw him, Mom,” Nolan sobbed into my shoulder. “Daniel was by the fence. He had a box of those glowing star stickers. He said Dad sent him to give them to me.”

“I know, baby, I know,” I said, rubbing his back. “But you did the right thing. You ran to safety.”

Renee Whitaker stepped into the room, looking at the shelves of glass beakers and old brass globes.

“You’re a very smart boy, Nolan,” Renee said gently.

Nolan pulled back slightly, wiping his nose with the sleeve of his blue shirt.

“I remembered what you said, Mom,” Nolan said, his voice shaking. “You said if anyone we didn’t trust came near, I had to go to the stars.”

“And you did,” I said, kissing his forehead. “You did perfectly.”

Mrs. Latham stepped forward, a relieved smile on her face.

“I think we can excuse Nolan for the rest of the afternoon, Mrs. Bellamy,” she said.