Chapter 16 - THE AMBULANCE
Clara was out of the building before Dominic finished reading her face.
He did not ask permission to follow.
He also did not take control.
He drove because Clara’s hands were shaking too badly.
At the hospital, they learned Toby had not suffered cardiac failure.
Dehydration.
A brief rhythm disturbance.
Terrifying.
Treatable.
His repaired valve remained stable.
Clara sat beside his bed after the doctor left.
“You scared me.”
Toby looked guilty.
“Sorry.”
“No.”
She touched his hair.
“You don’t apologize for your body needing help.”
Dominic stood near the doorway.
Toby looked past Clara.
“You came.”
“Yes.”
“Mom made you?”
“No.”
Clara turned.
Dominic continued.
“She didn’t have time.”
Toby smiled.
“Good.”
Then:
“You can come closer.”
Dominic did.
Toby held out his hand.
Dominic looked almost confused.
Then took it.
Clara saw the exact moment that frightened him.
Not Toby.
Caring.
The possibility of losing someone.
Later, after Toby slept, Dominic stood in the hallway.
“I understand why people build cages now.”
Clara looked at him.
“What?”
“If you keep everyone inside, maybe nothing reaches them.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t work.”
“No.”
“I know that.”
“You know it intellectually.”
He looked through the window at Toby.
“Yes.”
“That’s not the same.”
Dominic nodded.
Then:
“If he were mine, I would want guards around him forever.”
Clara’s expression sharpened.
Dominic raised a hand.
“I said want.”
“Good.”
“Not do.”
“Better.”
He almost smiled.
Then his face changed.
“I love him.”
Clara stopped breathing.
Dominic looked almost irritated with himself.
“I didn’t plan to.”
“Nobody does.”
“And you.”
Silence.
He had not phrased it as a demand.
Or even a declaration requiring response.
Simply truth.
Clara looked at him.
“I’m not ready to say it back.”
“I know.”
“Does that hurt?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to punish me for it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Dominic looked toward Toby again.
“I spent most of my life making sure nobody could refuse me.”
His voice lowered.
“I had no idea how empty yes becomes when no is unsafe.”
Clara felt something inside her soften.
Not because he loved her.
Because he finally understood what love required.
Freedom.
Then Toby woke and shouted:
“Mom!”
Clara ran inside.
Dominic followed more slowly.
May you like
Only after Toby called:
“Dominic too!”
