*flails* This is a lovely piece of work. I don't know how it is I haven't read it before now. I love the way you wrote Eileen.
She gathers her son's hand in hers, tracing the long, slender bones beneath pale, delicate skin, and sits with him in the darkness so that he won't have to be alone again.
Great, beautiful image. My heart ached for them both.
"Leenie!" he cries. "Where the bloody hell did you hide the house?"
LOL! I dunno why the description of their re-meeting tickled my funny bone so, but it did.
"I thought you deserved to hear me say that you were right," Toby continues, his lips quirking into a small smile. "You never did mind hearing that.
*lopsided grin*
Toby smiles in return, his expression gratifyingly appreciative, even worshipful. "Like that," he marvels. "Just like that."