Chapter 14 - TOBY LEARNS THE TRUTH
Toby knew almost none of it.
That was deliberate.
But children eventually notice adults whispering.
One evening he asked:
“Was Dad a bad guy?”
Clara froze.
Dominic happened to be there.
He immediately stood.
“I can leave.”
“No.”
Clara appreciated that he asked.
She sat beside Toby.
“Your dad did something very brave.”
“What?”
“He helped stop people who were stealing and hurting others.”
“Is that why he died?”
The question landed hard.
“Yes.”
Toby stared at his homework.
“Did he know he might?”
Clara swallowed.
“Probably.”
“That’s stupid.”
Dominic looked down.
Clara almost laughed through the pain.
“Yes.”
Toby frowned.
“Did you do stupid stuff too?”
“Yes.”
“Like throwing knives?”
“Especially that.”
He considered.
“Was Dominic bad?”
Silence.
Dominic answered before Clara could.
“I did bad things.”
Toby looked at him.
“Like what?”
“Things you don’t need details about right now.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
“It is.”
Toby’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you bad now?”
Dominic looked toward Clara.
She did not save him.
Good.
He returned his attention to Toby.
“I try not to be.”
“That’s not yes or no.”
“No.”
Dominic paused.
“It isn’t.”
Toby thought about that for a long time.
Then:
“Mom says people are what they keep choosing.”
Clara stared.
“I said that?”
“You say lots of things.”
Dominic almost smiled.
Toby returned to his worksheet.
“Then keep choosing not-bad stuff.”
Dominic nodded solemnly.
“I’ll try.”
Apparently, judgment had been rendered.
Later, Clara stood on the balcony.
Dominic joined her only after asking.
“He deserves more truth eventually,” he said.
“Yes.”
“About me too.”
“Yes.”
“That may not work in my favor.”
“No.”
“You enjoy this.”
“A little.”
He smiled.
Then became serious.
“What happens when he’s old enough to understand who I was?”
Clara looked toward the apartment.
“He gets to decide what he thinks of you.”
Dominic absorbed that.
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“Do I get to know what you think?”
Clara studied him.
“I think you’re doing the work.”
It was not love.
May you like
Not yet.
But it was the first answer he had received from her that sounded like hope.
