Chapter 25 - Toby’s Birthday
Toby turned five in a hospital garden filled with blue balloons.
He wore a superhero cape over his gray shirt.
Naomi brought him a toy doctor’s kit.
Elijah brought a bicycle with training wheels.
Toby’s foster-services case officially closed that morning.
Elijah became his permanent legal guardian.
Leonard’s paternity rights were terminated.
Cassandra could request written contact years later only if therapists approved and Toby wanted it.
Toby asked whether Cassandra was still his mother.
Elijah answered carefully.
“She gave birth to you.”
“Does she love me?”
“I think she believes she does.”
“That sounds confusing.”
“It is.”
Toby looked toward Naomi.
“Will she come back?”
“Not for a very long time.”
Toby nodded and returned to his cake.
Children sometimes accepted painful truth better than adults accepted uncertain forgiveness.
After the party, Toby rode his bicycle between Elijah and Naomi.
He nearly fell.
Both reached for him.
He steadied himself alone.
“I did it!”
Naomi smiled.
“Yes, you did.”
Elijah watched her.
He no longer saw the woman he had lost.
He saw the doctor who saved his son and protected truth when he would not.
That difference mattered.
As the sun lowered, Toby asked whether Naomi could come to dinner.
She hesitated.
Then said yes.
It was not reconciliation.
May you like
It was one meal.
Elijah understood enough not to ask for more.
