Eric came down the stairs still carrying the hush of the lodge room in his shoulders. He found Wendy, Shoshana, and Veronica in a quiet corner, heads bent together like conspirators.

  “Shoshana,” he said, voice low, “whatever you said upstairs worked. I just watched two men who haven’t agreed on the weather in ten years swear the same oath. Thomas is moving in with your grandfather—this weekend.”

  Wendy’s eyes widened. “Tonight he comes home with us, then?”

  Eric’s grin turned sheepish. “That was my selfish request. Figured the nursery’s empty and our little monster will adopt him as a human body-pillow by dawn. I might actually get four straight hours of sleep.”

  Wendy laughed. “I’m not betting against that.”

  Eric scanned the room. “Where is our guest of honor?”

  Shoshana pointed. “Jonathan cornered him. Junior SBSO recruitment drive. Not everyone gets to say they’ve broken bread with the kid who survived Shelomoh Mendelson.”

  Veronica smirked. “He’s bold until he’s shy. Walks up to any table like he owns it, then somehow keeps everyone exactly one arm-length away. Except with Shoshana. With her he forgets the arm.”

  Shoshana flushed but didn’t argue.

  Eric nodded. “Go rescue him, would you? Your dad’s waiting. Time to tell him what the lodge just decided for the rest of his life.”

  Shoshana crossed the floor, slipped her hand onto Thomas’s forearm. He turned, and the cautious half-smile he’d been wearing all night softened into something real.

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  “Hey,” she said quietly. “Remember when I asked if you’d check on my grandfather sometimes? Turns out my dad wants to talk to you about that. Come with me?”

  Thomas said quick goodbyes to the circle of juniors and let her lead him back.

  David Mendelson stood beside Eric, hands clasped behind his back. When Thomas got close, David offered a small, almost shy smile.

  “Quick question,” David began. “Do you know what NAVY stands for?”

  Thomas blinked. “Uh… Naval service?”

  “Officially, yes. Sailors say it means Never Again Volunteer Yourself.” David’s eyes crinkled. “Tonight I need you to ignore that advice.”

  He took a breath.

  “My father needs someone living in the house. Not a nurse, not a servant—someone steady. Help with meals, light chores, yard work when he lets you near the roses. Mostly just… be there. I’ll pay you six hundred a month. Four hundred goes straight into an account for you. Two hundred pocket money. Fair?”

  Thomas glanced at Shoshana; she gave the tiniest nod.

  “And the Taleskys?” he asked.

  Eric answered. “We’ll handle it. You owe them thanks, nothing more. Tonight you’re with us. My son has already voted you his new favorite mattress.”

  David added, “You showed my father respect when he gave you none. That matters more than you know.”

  Shoshana leaned in, voice soft. “You already promised you’d visit. This just means you’d already be there.” A playful glint. “Plus I’d get to see you after school… and Dad finally got me a phone.”

  Eric muttered under his breath, “Classic emotional blackmail. Effective on this model.”

  Thomas looked at her—really looked—then back to David.

  “I find it easy to talk with your daughter, sir,” he said. “I’ll give it a try.”

  David’s shoulders dropped in visible relief. “Thank you.”

  Wendy appeared at Thomas’s elbow. “So tonight you’re ours. Tomorrow the brethren descend on the house with furniture and computers like a small, determined army. By the time you walk in tomorrow afternoon, you’ll have a real room—with actual windows.”

  Thomas laughed once, surprised. “Natural light? Luxury.”

  Shoshana squeezed his hand. “Welcome home, Thomas.”

  For the first time all night, he didn’t correct her.