I touched the cross hanging over his shirt, just visible as he bent toward the little girl.

The necklace had not performed a miracle.

It had not guided him through thirty-one years by magic.

Ruth and Daniel had done the daily work of raising him; Tobias had done the daily work of becoming himself.

But the cross had kept one small connection intact until we were ready to understand it.

PART 24

I eventually visited Margaret again.

Tobias did not come with me.