“Yes, he did.”
For a moment, they were quiet.
Then Sarah looked toward the little metal can still sitting beside the door.
It no longer held the program's operating money.
Those funds were properly accounted for through the new arrangement.
But Marcus had kept the can.
Inside lay one quarter.
The original quarter Ethan dropped.
Marcus hadn't spent it.
He'd placed it in a small clear sleeve so it wouldn't be confused with current donations.
Sarah smiled.
“You still have that?”
Marcus nodded.
“Yeah.”
She looked toward the coin.
For a moment, her eyes filled.
Then whispered.
“You know he thinks about that day all the time.”
Marcus looked toward her.
“So do I.”
Ethan turned eleven in December.
His birthday arrived on a snowy Saturday, and Sarah managed to arrange a small party at home with several classmates, Mrs. Alvarez, and a few family friends.
She decorated the kitchen with blue streamers.
Baked a chocolate cake after finishing her shift at Sunrise.
And carefully wrapped the present she'd purchased using money earned from her additional bookkeeping work.
Ethan opened it after lunch.
Inside was a small remote-controlled truck.
He stared.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he looked toward Sarah.
“Mom.”
She smiled.
“Happy birthday.”
His eyes widened.
“The one from the store?”
She nodded.
He looked toward the box again.
Then threw his arms around her.
Sarah laughed.
“Careful, sweetheart.”
He hugged her tighter.
“Thank you.”
She kissed his hair.
“You're welcome.”
Later that afternoon, Marcus arrived carrying a small package.
Dean had insisted he wear a clean shirt.
Luis came with him, holding a paper bag from the bakery.
Lucas and his family were visiting Briarfield for the weekend, so Marcus had invited them along after asking Sarah whether she minded.
She welcomed them.
Sophie was delighted to meet Ethan.
Within fifteen minutes, the two children were sitting on the living-room floor examining the remote-controlled truck and arguing cheerfully about whether it could climb over a stack of books.
Marcus watched them.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Lucas noticed.
He stood beside his father.
“She's having fun.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yeah.”
For several seconds, they looked toward the children.
Then Lucas smiled.
“You've got a good friend there.”
Marcus glanced toward Sarah.
She was laughing with Natalie near the kitchen.
He nodded.
“I do.”
His son looked at him.
For a moment, he seemed thoughtful.
Then asked.
“Did you ever think you'd end up doing this?”
Marcus frowned.
“What?”
Lucas gestured toward the room.
“Birthday parties with a family you met because a kid needed his mom's car fixed.”
Marcus smiled.
“No.”
Lucas nodded.