By midday, the challenges returned. Paint on the walls. Toys dumped everywhere. Naomi’s shoes hidden in the garden.
Each time, she responded the same way — cleaning, restoring order, never raising her voice.
“You’re boring,” David complained. “The others yelled.”
Naomi smiled faintly.
“They wanted to defeat you. I didn’t come here to win. I came here to care for you.”
The words left them silent.
Ethan noticed the change too.
