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Sienna looked back at him from beside the rug.

“Dad, you can sit over there. I have to help Ms. Shelly now.”

He glanced toward the chairs lining the wall.

“Apparently we’ve been assigned seats.”

I smiled and followed him.

Story hour began with seven children ranging from toddlers to early elementary-school age. Some sat quietly, while others wriggled on their cushions or interrupted with opinions about the pictures.

Sienna handled them beautifully.

She helped one little boy find a crayon after he dropped the entire basket, showed a girl how to fold her paper into a card, and sat beside a shy child who was reluctant to join the group.

When Esther invited her to read the final pages of a story about woodland animals preparing for winter, Sienna took the book and positioned it so everyone could see the pictures.

Her voice was a little nervous at first, but she grew more confident as the children began responding.

Duncan sat with his hands resting on his knees, listening.

When Sienna finished, he was smiling.

I leaned toward him. “She’s wonderful with them.”

“She is.” He watched as Sienna helped Esther collect the books. “I remember bringing her here when she’d barely sit through five pages before wanting to look at something else.”

He spoke quietly, with his attention still on his daughter.

“Now she’s reading to them.”

I rested my hand against his forearm.

“She looked pretty proud of herself.”

“She should be.”

Sienna came toward us carrying the empty bookmark basket.

“Did you hear me? I only messed up one word, but Ms. Shelly said nobody noticed.”

“I heard every word,” Duncan told her. “You did a terrific job. You took your time, showed the pictures, and made sure the little kids could follow along.”

Her smile spread slowly across her face.

“Could I help again next month?”

“If Ms. Shelly wants you back, I don’t see why not.”

Esther approached while Sienna was still beaming.

“I’d be delighted to have her. Actually, Duncan, there’s something else I wanted to ask you about.”

She explained that she had several fall projects ready for the younger readers, including a display of handmade bookmarks and painted wooden ornaments. Sienna had offered to help her organize the materials, but they hadn’t had time to finish the display.

“I’d be happy to have her stay for dinner and the evening,” Esther said. “And she can spend the night, if that’s all right with you. I know you’re both working late at the Factory.”

Sienna turned immediately toward her father.