Alessia stepped inside and was surprised to see Ivan already seated beside Eddie. Ivan clutched a sketchbook in hisp, his gaze glued to the drawing Eddie was working on.


    “Do you want to stay a bit longer?” Alessia asked softly, taking in the scene. She knew then that this visit hadn’t been in vain.


    Ivan shook his head, holding the sketchbook a little tighter, disappointment flickering across his face at having to leave before finishing.


    Eddie set down his pencil and ruffled Ivan’s hair. Instead of brushing him off, Ivan silently handed the sketchbook back.


    “If you like it, you can take it home,” Eddie offered.


    Ivan shook his head again.


    Karen had taught him not to take things just because he liked them. What he wanted might be special to someone else too, so even if someone offered, it didn’t always mean they truly wanted to give it away.


    Ivan didn’t quite understand the reasoning, but he’d promised Karen not to ept things from others just because he liked them.


    Eddie was a little surprised. Most kids would have snatched up the offer with delight, but even though Ivan was clearly interested, he still refused. Eddie nced at Alessia, who paused for a moment, realizing what sort of principles the Mortons had been instilling in Ivan.


    Alessia’s eyes moved ever so slightly. She mouthed something to Eddie, who immediately understood and turned his attention back to Ivan.


    “Have you ever been to a library?” Eddie asked, catching Ivan’s gaze.


    Ivan nodded. Karen had taken him before. He remembered the rows of books, the time Karen used a card to borrow a stack of stories to bring home. Ivan loved the library.


    “You can think of my ce like a library,” Eddie exined gently. “You can borrow the sketchbook and bring it back next week. Then, you can take a new one home. How does that sound?”


    Eddie’s voice was soft and patient, as always. Alessia still found it remarkable,, even after knowing him for so long. She’d only dealt with two kids—York and


    <b>14:48 </b>


    Ivan–pr opposites in every way. Getting through to either could be a <b>challenge</b>, but Eddie, for all his social reluctance, never seemed to run out of patience for children.


    Ivan nced at Alessia, searching her face for approval.


    “Just make sure you take good care of it,” she said, smiling. “If you damage it, you won’t be able to borrow new ones next time.”


    Ivan nodded, his cheeks tinged pink, eyes shining as he hugged the sketchbook close. It was clear how happy he was.


    Eddie ruffled his hair again, grinning. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you both home.”


    In the car, Ivan sat in the back seat, cradling the bag with the sketchbook as if it were a treasure. Alessia reached over, gently tousling his hair, then turned to look out the window. A familiar figure shed by on the sidewalk, and her brow furrowed.


    “Stop the car.”


    Eddie reacted instantly, pulling over smoothly to the curb.


    “What’s wrong?”


    “I think I just saw York,” Alessia said, rolling down her window to peer back.


    “York? The younger Tate boy?”


    She nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt. Her hand paused on the door handle as she nced at Ivan, who seemedpletely absorbed in his own thoughts.


    “Do you want toe with me, or would you rather stay here with Eddie?”


    Alessia didn’t expect much of a response; she assumed Ivan would prefer to wait in the car. But to her surprise, he reached out and grabbed the hem of her coat.


    She froze, caught off guard. She wasn’t the sentimental type, but for some reason, the gesture filled her with a quiet warmth–a feeling she couldn’t quite name. It was the same strange happiness she’d felt the first time York had called her “sister.”