Chapter 12 - Building New Foundations
The penthouse felt different when they returned. What had once felt like an austere, minimalist art gallery now began to show the messy signs of life.
The living room was transformed into a temporary recovery camp. Marcus moved the heavy glass coffee table into storage, replacing it with soft foam floor mats, oversized pillows, and storage bins full of plastic bricks.
True to his word, Marcus did not disappear into his home office. He sat on the floor, his long legs folded under him, sorting through red and blue blocks with Toby for hours at a time.
"Dad, this tower has to be tall enough to reach the clouds," Toby instructed, handing Marcus a foundation piece.
"Then we need to make the base wider," Marcus replied, clicking the pieces together. "If the foundation is weak, the whole thing falls when the wind blows."
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Elena watched from the kitchen counter, cutting fresh fruit, her heart overflowing with quiet peace. The silence in their home was no longer heavy and tense; it was filled with the clatter of toys, laughter, and the soft strumming of acoustic music from the stereo.
Marcus was learning to be patient. When Toby grew frustrated by his physical limitations, Marcus did not lecture him; he simply sat beside him, held his hand, and let the boy vent his feelings until calm returned.
