Eddie smiled softly, giving York’s hair a gentle ruffle.
“Admitting your mistakes takes more courage than most adults have, you know.”
With the matter settled, Alessia finally moved things along. “It’s gettingte. Let’s get going.”
Eddie nodded, and soon the three of them–plus Rex, their loyal dog–were tucked into the back seat again. This time, everyone was calm and quiet, making for a smooth ride all the way to the art studio.
For York, it was his first visit, and everything seemed new and fascinating.
Having learned fromst time, Ivan no longer clung to Alessia’s side. He was content to settle in and lose himself in his painting.
Eddie sat beside him, working on his own projects and chatting with Ivan every now and then. He didn’t pepper the boy with questions or crowd him, giving Ivan the room he needed to breathe.
Alessia took a seat in the lounge area, picking up the novel she hadn’t finishedst time. York, however, looked longingly at the studio, clearly wanting to join the others, but Alessia held him back. So, boy and dog sat side by side next to her, both wearing the same bored, slightly sulky expression.
“Told you you’d be bored,” Alessia said, her tone making it clear: You insisted oning, remember.
York sprawled across the table, one cheek squished adorably against the wood.
“How long do we have to stay here?”
“All day. If you’re bored, I can call Dawson toe pick <i>you </i>up.”
“No way! That woman’s been losing her mind ever since she got back. She’s always yelling–drives me crazy. I don’t want to go home.”
“Does she ever give you real trouble?”
York puffed out his chest. “She wouldn’t dare. She just takes it out on Dawson and the others–always finding fault with something. But!” His eyes lit up suddenly, a mischievous glint appearing.
“Before I left, I kicked her bedroom door and warned her: if she goes nuts again<b>, </b><b>I’ll </b>bring a few snakes back to scare her!”
<b>14:42 </b>D
<b>Chapter </b><b>163 </b>
<b>Alessia </b>ruffled his hair again. If it were Max, she really might have <b>believed </b><b>him </b>capable of that.
“There are some balls over there–why don’t you take Rex and y outside in the yard for a bit?”
As long as he wasn’t being sent home, York was happy with anything. He hopped off his chair, grabbed a ball, and called for Rex to follow him out into the garden.
Alessia nced up to make sure the boy and the dog were still within sight, then returned to her book, settling infortably.
Inside the studio, the tall windows framed the whole garden like a living painting. Ivan only had to turn his head to spot York and Rex pressed up against the ss, peering inside.
Eddie, for his part, had never met the second Tate boy before. With Max as a reference point, he’d expected this one to be a handful as well. But now, seeing York’s round faceically squished against the window, he couldn’t help but smile.
He closed his book and nudged Ivan.
Ivan nced over. Eddie tipped his chin toward the window, signaling for Ivan to look outside.
York, catching Ivan’s attention, grew even more animated–pulling faces, mouthing exaggerated words, clearly trying to coax Ivan outside to y. But with the ss muffling everything, Ivan couldn’t hear a thing.
After a moment, Ivan looked away and returned to his painting.
York pouted but didn’t push it. Instead, he began ying in the garden with Rex, making the best of it.
Eddie’s gaze shifted back to Ivan’s work, his smile growing even warmer.
“Ivan,” he said gently, “have you ever wanted to make more friends? You know, have days like your brother and sister–carrying your backpack to school,ughing with ssmates, buying snacks together on the way home, and meeting up to hang out on weekends. Just like you’re ying with York now.”
Ivan blinked, his eyes drifting back to the window where York was running wild in the garden, ball in hand, Rex bounding at his heels. There wasughter on York’s face–a freedom and joy Ivan had never truly known.