As luck would have it, ever since their shared good times at<i>Gonzo Time Pizza</i>, Toby and Rosalie had become budding friends.  Although they weren’t in the same grade, they usually sat next to each other during after-school care.  Or at the very least, the same table.  Socializing tended to have that effect on people, and children were no different.  They each knew the name of the other’s parent, after all.  Gwen had been so nice to Rosalie, what with that custom-made notebook she gave her.  And Toby had a genuinely good time at that rambunctious pizza joint.  It was as if they’d known each other for a while, instead of just a few weeks.<br/><br/>So it came as no surprise when Toby willingly and quite eagerly leaked key information to his mother.  Rosalie looked up from her coloring to smile and wave at Gwen, joined by a warm, "Hello."<br/><br/>“So, he’s really not even being your boyfriend now,” Toby pointed out innocently.  Since she knew they were conversing about her father, Rosalie once again glanced up to view the exchange between son and mother.  When it was clear to her that Gwen would not be addressing her son’s statement, she returned to her coloring.<br/><br/>Right about then, Elijah strolled into the active, yet relatively quiet room.  He instantly noticed a kneeling Gwen with their kids, seeing as how her red locks were a visual magnet.  Mary Beth sat at a nearby table with three kids, who all appeared to be doing their homework.  Toby spotted him with a greeting, “Hey, Mr. P!”  He smiled at the resourceful boy, amused at his abbreviation, yet stumped as to why he couldn’t (or wouldn’t) call him by Elijah or Eli.  No matter, as he said, “How you doin’, Toby?”<br/><br/>The little tyke, however, had a question of his own.  “Are you and Miss Sinclair dating?”  The entire room had to have heard his query, yet no one looked their way.  Mary Beth was already looking at him, so she didn’t count.  He met her eyes, and she just shrugged, as if to say, “I have no idea.”  Elijah wondered how he knew, until he recalled the day Mary Beth approached him to ask him out.  His daughter was at the same table that day, though she gave nothing away at overhearing their conversation or trading phone numbers.  Before he could answer his inquisitor, not that he really wanted to, Gwen came to his rescue, urging her son that it was time to go.<br/><br/>Toby mildly protested, wanting her opinion on what he’d been drawing and coloring.  While they interacted, Elijah stood next to Rosalie, tickling her neck while saying, ”Hey there, pumpkin.  Good day today?”  She giggled and answered with a nod and a wide smile, “Real good, Daddy.”<br/><br/>“That’s what I like to hear,” he replied, matching her smile.  “You can tell me all about it on the way home.”  Shortly after assessing Toby’s artwork, Gwen turned to him with a grin and an amusing observation about Whitmore Junior.  Elijah took note, however, that there was an edge in her tone of voice, though he didn’t understand why.  He blew it off, probably imagining it all anyway.<br/><br/>“Doing great, Gwen,” he stated with a smile.  “Hopefully, you are, too.”  Elijah shrugged and laughed.  “Well, you know kids these days,” he said, struggling with a proper response about Whitmore Junior’s dating question.  Taking note of her clothing and appearance, he asked, “Oh, hey, how’s that DIY of yours going?”  Mary Beth, meanwhile, watched and heard their entire interaction.<br/><br/>DIY.  Right.  Change the subject.  Always a classic strategy.