I look away and focus on the boys. “Alright. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
We spread out the pieces. The chassis is assembled. The wheels are attached. What’s left are the detailed parts—the engine, the interior, the decals.
“This piece goes here,” I tell Finn, handing him a small component. “See where it clicks in?”
He tries. Gets it wrong. Tries again. On the third attempt it snaps into place and his whole face transforms with satisfaction. “I did it!”
“You did.”
Liam’s working on the seats, his small fingers surprisingly dexterous. He gets frustrated when one won’t fit right and makes an annoyed sound.
“Here.” I lean over and show him the angle. “Try it like this.”
He adjusts, and it slides in perfectly. “Thanks.”
“You’re so patient.”
“Mam says patience is important.”
I glance at Aurelia. She’s watching us, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Our eyes meet.
She looks away first, uncrosses her legs, then recrosses them the other way. The movement draws my attention back to the dress, to the shape of her under it.
“Da, look!” Finn holds up the completed engine assembly. “Does it look right?”
I examine it. “Perfect. Now we attach it to the chassis.”
“Where do you live?” Finn asks suddenly.
“Manhattan. A building downtown.”
“Is it big?”
“Big enough.”
“Do you have toys?”
“No. I don’t usually have kids visiting.”
“But we could visit?”
The question catches me off guard. “Maybe someday.”
“When?”
I glance at Aurelia again. She’s tense now, listening closely.
“When your mam says it’s okay.”
Finn accepts this and goes back to the model.
Liam’s quieter. He’s been working on the interior details, adding tiny stickers to the dashboard, but now he’s just holding a piece and staring at it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
He looks up at me. “Why weren’t you there before?”
