Page 10 of Fake To Forever

My heart clenches. He’s always been a little sheltered and shy, and so new people usually stress him out. Maybe this is too much too soon. I should’ve let him acclimate to the house and town more before I brought him here…

Haven suddenly bends down, putting her hands on her knees, meeting Oliver’s gaze with a soft smile.

“Do you like cars?” she asks in a gentle voice.

Oliver hesitantly nods. “Yes.”

“Do you have toy cars at home?”

“A lot,” he answers, glancing up at me.

I grin at him, hoping to reassure him.

Haven points to some shelves low on the wall to our left.

“There’s a whole bunch of toy cars on that shelf over there,” she tells him. “Why don’t you go pick out some that you like?”

“I can?” he gasps, his eyes going wide with immediate excitement.

She nods. “Pick out a few and bring them back to show me and your dad. Okay?”

“Okay!” he exclaims, and rushes over to the toy shelf.

“That was pretty slick,” I say, watching him practically run toward the shelf with the cars.

She smiles. “He seems like a sweet kid. Just a little shy. A good way to help them get over that is directing them toward something they like.”

“Smart,” I murmur.

She gives me her full attention with a friendly smile. “So, you guys just moved here?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Just a few days ago.”

“What brings you to town?”

I furrow my brow. Wait… does she not know who I am? That’s…unexpected.

“Uh… work,” I answer with a shrug. As if it’s the easiest explanation.

She tilts her head. “Oh, do you work for the oil fields?”

For some reason, I don’t want her to know that I actually own the oil fields. The way she’s talking to me right now… she’s not intimidated, and I don’t feel like she wants anything from me other than my time. It’s not a feeling I’m used to, but if my goal is to make a life for Oliver as steady and normal as possible, maybe it’s for the best that I don’t flaunt who I am just yet.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I work at the oil fields.”

“Most of the men around here do,” she tells me. “My brother is out in the fields right now. Won’t be back until next month.”

Before I can say anything in response, Oliver comes bounding back toward us, holding two cars in his hands.

“Look!” he exclaims, holding them up for us to see. One’s a fire-red Corvette and the other is a blue pickup. “Look, Daddy!”

“Those are really cool, little man,” I say with a grin.

“Oliver, why don’t you go show the other kids?” Haven suggests. “Mrs. Weber is just finishing up story-time. Maybe you can find someone to play cars with you.”

Oliver looks hesitant and gazes up at me uncertainly.

“Go on,” I encourage him gently. “Go make some friends. I won’t leave right away.”

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