Saving Toby by Suzanne McKenna Link Read Free Book Online

suppose.”
    “You mean Mr. Faye’s death?”
    “Mostly. Despite what everyone seems to think about my
husband, he loved his boys but the relationship between him and my oldest son,
Al Junior, was terribly strained.” Mrs. Faye fingered the remote distractedly.
“Al Junior was such a handful when he was little. Sitting still was a difficult
concept. We never had him tested, but looking back, I’m sure he had one of
those attention disorders. To make matters worse, I was anemic when I was
pregnant with Toby. I didn’t have the energy to deal with a busy toddler. My
husband didn’t tolerate misbehavior. He was tough on our oldest, but it was
because that’s all he knew. His own father was a stiff physical disciplinarian.
Toby was a much easier child, such an easy disposition.”
    She smiled when she spoke of him. “He and his father had a
less complicated relationship. But you can’t treat your children so differently
without them noticing. It makes siblings angry and resentful towards each
other.”
    “Do the boys not get along?” I forgot about cleaning, giving
her my full attention.
    “No, not really.” She shook her head. “When my husband died,”
she stopped and tightened her mouth. “Well, when my husband died, things got
bad. I let so many things slide. The boys fought. A lot.”
    I’d never really thought about what Toby was going through
back when I knew him in school, but now his quiet moodiness made sense.
    “Al Junior has been doing a great deal of reflecting since he
was sent away, and I can see he’s changing. It’s my hope that one day my boys
will get along, but there’s a lot to do to get them there. That’s why I refuse
to let this cancer defeat me. I have work to finish.” For the first time, Mrs.
Faye’s voice was strong, firm. “Toby is a much gentler and more compassionate
soul than his brother, but he holds onto that bitterness like a hungry dog with
a big, meaty bone.”
    The Toby I had been around for the last few weeks appeared
quite comfortable in his skin, smug with confidence. Not in the least like the
bitter person his mother was describing.
    “With all that Toby’s been through, I would’ve understood if
he hadn’t come home, but he did, so that means there is hope.” She sniffled and
blotted her nose with a tissue. “But I know the moment I’m feeling better,
he’ll take off, looking for something to make him happy, something he’ll never
find out there.”
    Whatever it was that Toby was looking for, Mrs. Faye seemed
to believe it was here, right under his nose. She wanted very much to help him
find it. Seeing how much Toby’s being home meant to her, my frustration with her
son began to ebb.
    “Oh, dear, Claudia, honey. I’m sorry. You must think I’m
crazy to rattle on this way!”
    The story had moved me, and I sort of felt like I needed to
do something to help her resolve the dilemma, though I didn’t know exactly
what. I sat on the edge of the seat across from her bed.
    “It’s fine, Mrs. Faye. If there’s anything I can do to help
the situation, just ask.”
    “You’re such a doll,” she patted my hand affectionately.
“And so easy to talk to.”
    I smiled. People often told me that.
    When it was close to ten o’clock, I went down to the
kitchen. I was writing a grocery list at the kitchen table when Toby came in.
    “Hey,” he approached cautiously. “We still okay?”
    He was acting as awkward as I felt. I got up and tacked the
list on the refrigerator, putting my back to him.
    Remaining impassive, I said, “Well, that night certainly
left an impression.”
    I heard him blow out a breath. “Come on. Don’t hold that
against me. Despite a moment or two of bad judgment, I’m not a bad guy.”
    I turned around and eyed him. “Keep your creepy friends away
from me, and I’ll let it go.”
    “I can do that,” he said. Stepping closer, his eyes swept
over me. The closeness alarmed me. I wanted to move away, but I didn’t want to
be