Andrew's face turns up to Max's, like a flower to the sun, and he smiles.

"I'd like that. Thank you, Max."

--------------------

Gradually, they develop a routine. Andrew makes the bed every morning and washes the dishes on alternate days, happy to be useful. Max gives him a mandatory free period every day, to go do something he likes, and encourages him to meet people. He exercises, and visits the library and the bookshop, and spends more time outdoors than he has in years.

He decides, with a dizzying blend of trepidation and excitement, that sometime soon he's going to ask Max if he could try to help cook.