“I’m going to clean a bit,” she continued. “Is it okay if I play some music?”
Theo gave the tiniest nod.
The morning passed quietly. Theo moved from blocks to puzzles to coloring, always with his elephant close. He never spoke, but he always checked to see if she was nearby.
At lunchtime, Lena made sandwiches and fruit, cutting everything into fun shapes. She arranged the fruit into a smiley face and brought the plate over.
“Would you like to eat here or at the table?” she asked.
Theo pointed to the coffee table.
Halfway through lunch, he fed his elephant a piece of fruit.
“Does your elephant have a name?” Lena asked gently.
After a long pause, he whispered, “Biscuit.”
Lena smiled without making a fuss. “That’s a great name.”
Later, she noticed a shelf of children’s books.
“Would you like me to read one?” she asked. “I do funny voices.”
Theo walked over, picked out a book—about an elephant—and handed it to her.
They read. Then another. Then another.
By the fourth book, Theo leaned against her shoulder.
“Again,” he said clearly.
That’s when Lena heard footsteps.
Julian Hart stood in the doorway, frozen.
“He’s… talking to you,” Julian said, voice breaking. “My son is talking to you.”