Chapter 24 - ELI GETS TO BE TENEli moved to Connecticut permanently with Aunt Rebecca and her family.
He hated school at first.
Then loved science.
Hated math.
Loved baseball.
Was terrible at it.
Rosalie thought this was hilarious.
He visited once a month.
Sometimes more.
Dante funded the access program but did not quietly buy Eli’s life.
He paid only for things agreed through legal guardianship structures.
School support when appropriate.
Therapy.
Travel to visit Rosalie.
No mansion bedroom labeled Eli.
No adoption fantasy.
No debt of gratitude.
Eli needed family, not ownership.
One summer afternoon he arrived wearing a clean baseball jersey.
Rosalie stared.
“You look normal.”
“That’s rude.”
“You used to look homeless.”
“I was homeless.”
She winced.
“Sorry.”
“It’s true.”
Then he smiled.
“You look taller.”
“I’m sitting.”
“Still.”
They went to the courtyard.
Same fountain.
Same stone.
Same place where he first told Dante he could help her stand.
Rosalie positioned her wheelchair.
Eli looked at her.
“Do the thing.”
“No.”
“Stand.”
“You’re annoying.”
“You missed me.”
“Unfortunately.”
She locked the chair.
Placed her feet.
Stood.
Her legs still trembled.
Less.
But visibly.
Eli smiled.
“You don’t need me to count anymore.”
“No.”
“What do you need me for?”
Rosalie thought.
“To lose at cards.”
“I beat you.”
“You cheat.”
Dante watched from the doorway.
Eli noticed.
“You still stare.”
Dante stepped back automatically.
Both children laughed.
He had been trained.
Good.
That evening Eli asked Dante:
“Do you wish my mom had reached you sooner?”
“Yes.”
“What would you have done?”
Dante thought.
Old answer:
Everything.
New answer:
“I hope I would have listened.”
Eli nodded.
“That’s better.”
“Than?”
“Pretending you know.”
May you like
Dante smiled.
Hannah’s lessons survived annoyingly well.
