David had shown more wisdom than she had because leaving would have been a mistake. And he deserved a moment to be just a child.
She entered the library to pick up another book after having devoured half of Ethan’s shelves. David and Ethan sat at the table, surrounded by the warm lights from the gas lamps as dusk crept over London. A blazing log fire crackled in the hearth, spreading a cosy orange glow in the room.
David frowned as he read, shoulders hunched over the table.
“And th… the…” He exhaled and cast a fleeting glance at Ethan, who waited patiently. “The day…” He paused again, his breathing speeding up and his feet beating a tempo against the floor.
She recognised the signs of an upcoming moment of panic. David would freeze and bite back tears, unable to read another word. His speech problem had transferred to his reading. He tried too hard, and his efforts backfired until he blamed himself for the failure. She started to stride towards him and tell him to take a breather when Ethan caressed the top of his head. His big hand covered half of David’s curls.
“You’re doing an excellent job,” he said in his deep, calm voice. “We can stop here for today and start again tomorrow. You must be tired.”
David shook his head. “I did a poor job. I couldn’t finish a sentence without stammering, pausing, or—” He took in a shaky breath.
“You finished the whole chapter.” Ethan flipped through the pages. “I’d be surprised if you weren’t tired.”
“Did I finish the chapter?” David checked the book.
“Ten pages. And to be honest, I wouldn’t be able to read…” Ethan tilted his head. “Ses… quip… e… da… lian without twisting my tongue.” He whistled. “Goodness. It can’t be a real word.”
David beamed. “It’s very long and weird.”
“And I have no idea what it means,” Ethan said, scratching the back of his neck.
“Long-winded.” Cora walked over to the table, a weight lifting from her chest. “It fits, doesn’t it?”
“Mama.” David showed her the book. “I read an entire chapter.”
“He was astonishingly good.” Ethan nodded, standing up.
A few weeks ago, she wouldn’t have believed David would be happy to finish a whole chapter.
David exhaled. “No, I wasn’t very good.”
Cora squeezed his hand. “I’m very proud of you.” She glanced at Ethan, pouring all her gratitude into that look.
He gave her a quick nod before turning back to David. “Are you tired?”
David brushed his curls from his face. “Yes.”
“Take a moment of rest, have something to eat,” Ethan said. “Cook will be happy.”
David scraped his chair back and took the book. “I’ll practise some more.”
“Don’t get too tired,” Ethan said after him.
“Thank you,” Cora said once she was alone with Ethan. “It means so much to him. It means so much to me, too.”
“David is a lovely boy.” Ethan sagged his shoulders, gathering pencils and papers. “He doesn’t have a good opinion of himself, which is a shame. But with a bit of work, we can make him confident again, and not just about reading.”
“I intervened every time Jacob mistreated him, but the damage is done.”
“You’re a good mother.”
She smiled. “I simply love him very much.”
He blinked and gazed away. She could have sworn that tears glistened in his eyes.
“The love between David and you reminds me of my mother,” he said in a low voice. “I was lucky. My father adored me as well. I can’t imagine growing up with a father who despised me. Thehurt would be unbearable, the damage permanent, the wound unable to heal. David is incredibly strong. Despite the way he’s been treated, he doesn’t give in to anger or resentment. Many boys would become aggressive and hateful in his place. Your love prevented him from turning his sense of neglect into violence. Remarkable.”
