Sally then explained that she’d reached out to Mark’s former colleagues because she knew what my son did mattered, not just to Sam, but to her, too.
Reynolds stepped forward.
“We talked about what Leo did for Sam last night, and we agreed on something. We wanted to recognize what you did for our late general’s son.”
Leo looked up, cautious now, but no longer afraid.
She’d reached out to Mark’s former colleagues.
Carlson held out a small box.
“We’ve set up a scholarship fund in your name. It’ll be there for you when you’re ready. Any college you choose.”
For a second, I thought I’d heard him wrong.
“What?” I said, barely above a whisper.
Leo just stared.
“You don’t have to decide anything now,” Reynolds added. “But we want you to know — it’s there because of your bravery.”
Dunn’s mouth hung open in shock.
“It’ll be there for you when you’re ready.”
Leo looked at me, completely stunned.
“Mom…?”
I shook my head slightly, overwhelmed. “I… I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Reynolds said. “Just understand this — what your son did wasn’t small.”
Then he pulled something out of his pocket: a military patch.
He gently placed it on Leo’s shoulder.
“You earned this,” he said. “And I can tell you — Sam’s father would’ve been proud of you.”
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