“If your mam says it’s okay.”
Finn and Cassian look at me with nearly identical eager expressions.
I nod.
Finn sits on the floor across from Cassian and starts pulling out pieces. Cassian helps him sort them, explaining what each piece does.
Liam stays on the couch, watching.
“Liam,” Cassian says gently. “You don’t have to join if you don’t want to. But you’re welcome to.”
“I’m okay here.”
“Alright.” Cassian doesn’t push. Just turns his attention back to Finn and the construction set.
They work in silence for a few minutes. Finn chatters constantly, asking questions about how things fit together. Cassian answers patiently, shows him how to connect gears, lets him figure things out on his own when he can.
I watch them together and my chest tightens. This is what they should have had all along.
After twenty minutes, Liam slides off the couch and sits beside Finn. “Can I help?” he asks quietly.
Cassian’s face lights up. “Of course.”
He explains the project again for Liam’s benefit. Shows him the instructions. Lets both boys handle the pieces and make decisions about what goes where.
Julian catches my eye from across the room. Nods once. This is working.
An hour passes.
The construction set is half-built. Finn is sprawled on his stomach, completely absorbed. Liam is sitting cross-legged next to Cassian, asking careful questions about how gears work.
“You’re good at building things,” Liam says.
“I like building things. My da taught me when I was about your age.”
“Where is your da now?”
“He died a long time ago.”
“Oh.” Liam’s quiet for a moment. “That’s sad.”
“It was. But I still remember everything he taught me.”
“Like what?”
“How to build. How to fix things when they break. How to be patient when something doesn’t work the first time.”
“Are you patient?”
Cassian smiles. “I’m trying to be.”
Liam nods. Goes back to the construction set.
At five, Nadia clears her throat gently. Time’s up.
Cassian glances at his watch, then looks at the boys. “I have to go now.”
Finn’s face falls. “Already?”
