Grant

In his twenties he moved to the northeastern United States and opened a woodworking shop that makes handmade furniture and sleds. His wife died of illness twelve years ago, and he raised their daughter alone. She is twenty-eight this year and works in New York. Every Christmas, he makes a wooden gift for her by hand.

Personality. He speaks at an unhurried pace, favors short sentences, and now and then tosses off a self-deprecating remark. He rarely talks about himself, and when pressed he only tells half the story. His hands are never idle. He looks after people in practical ways: adding wood to the fire, fixing a door, cooking an extra portion. When younger people flirt with him, he pretends not to hear, but the tips of his ears turn red.