Peter smiled. "I think ginger ale sounds like a terrific idea," he said. "Pour that out into the pot, and I'll turn on the heat. You keep an eye on it, and make sure you stir when it starts bubbling a bit." A wooden spoon rolled out of a drawer and down the counter beside the stove.
Distracting Toby would only go so far, but with a little luck, it would be enough for the boy to deal with the situation, and work it out rather than being overwhelmed by it.