The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

“Brighton!” my mother shouted, breaking me from the spell.

Aiden hadn’t missed a beat though. He was still flying Ben around, oblivious to anyone else as he focused all of his attention on my son. I forced my feet to move and walked down the back steps. My father greeted me first.

“Willa, sweetheart. How does it feel to be free of him finally?” Daddy asked, causing me to tear my eyes from Aiden and Ben.

“Free?” I asked, shaking my head to push away the sudden confusion that was gathering there.

“From Dickhead.”

I laughed and reached up onto my toes to kiss my father on the cheek. “It feels amazing. I’m glad it’s over. Well, for the most part. He’ll always be in my life because of Ben.”

Turning, I focused back on Aiden and Ben.

“It’s so nice to see Aiden,” Daddy said. “Your mother broke down in tears and hugged him for a good five minutes before she let him go.”

I smiled. “Hunter didn’t tell you guys he was back?”

My father shook his head. “No, he hadn’t told us yet. I’m glad he’s home. I’m sure Rose and Carl are beside themselves with happiness. Are they still in Boston, or are they heading home?”

“Um, I think they’ll be home tomorrow morning.”

Daddy nodded. “He always was such a thoughtful young man. Look at how good he is with Ben. A natural, if I do say so.”

I tilted my head and looked at my father. If I didn’t know better, I would swear he was making a case for Aiden. “Yes,” I agreed, glancing back at the two of them, now on the ground laughing together. “He does seem to be good with kids.”

“Good with kids?” Lacy spoke from behind me. “Ben took to him the moment he saw him. It was weird. Almost like they had some strange connection.”

I stared at my older sister as she rubbed her pregnant stomach. Then I laughed, but it sounded colder than I had intended. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

She shrugged, looked at me, and winked. “He’s still hot as hell. And I’m not going to lie, the whole playing with the little boy only adds to it.”

“Hot as hell?” my father asked.

“Nothing, Daddy,” I said, shooting Lacy a dirty look before focusing back on my father. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

I heard Ben squeal out in delight when he saw me. Aiden stood and held on to Ben’s hand as he toddled his way over to me. He still hadn’t mastered walking by himself yet. I bent down and scooped him up, giving him a hug before I covered him with kisses, which made him laugh.

“Oh, I missed you, sweet boy. Were you a good boy for Aunt Lacy and Uncle Connor?”

Ben nodded and looked at Lacy. A smile grew on his face, and we both laughed.

“Lilly thinks he’s a giant baby doll and played dress-up with him after Mom dropped him off at the house yesterday afternoon.”

“And he let her?” I asked.

She nodded. “I have pictures of him in bonnets, a pink dress that used to belong to Lilly, and bloomers. I’m telling you, if this kid gives you crap when he gets older, you’ve got lots of ammunition. It helps he can’t really talk yet, though he does know how to say no.”

I laughed and looked around. “Where are Lilly and Connor?”

Lacy nearly swooned. “He wanted to have a daddy-daughter day with her. He took her fishing, then they’re going to Turning Pages. Greer is doing a special book event for kids today.”

“That sounds like fun,” I said.

“What sounds like fun?”

I tried to ignore the way my heart skipped a beat when Aiden finally spoke.

“I was telling Willa that Connor took Lilly, our three-year-old daughter, to Turning Pages.”

Aiden’s brows drew in slightly.

“It’s Greer’s bookstore,” I reminded him.

Lacy went on, “Greer is doing a special event for kids who are one to five.”

Aiden turned to me. “Did you want to take Ben?”

“Wh-what?” I asked as I stared up at him.

“Do you think Ben would like it?” he asked once more, glancing from me to Lacy.

Before I had a chance to even say anything, or let the fact that he remembered my son’s birthday set in, Lacy replied. “I think Ben would love it! You should go with them, Aiden. Ben certainly took to you.”

Aiden smiled. “I’d love to go,” he said as his gaze met mine. “If you’re all right with that.”

I almost instantly said yes but seemed to lose all ability to speak.

What in the heck is happening?

“Um…”

Lacy laughed. “Of course she is. It’s going on for another hour and a half; it’s a come-and-go event. Greer is doing a reading each hour, and I know Ben would love it.”

I turned and widened my eyes at my sister’s obvious ploy to get me and Aiden to spend time together.