The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

I did, however, notice the tension on Willa’s face. She almost seemed to be forcing her smile. “Hey, Greer, how are you?”

Greer nodded. “Doing amazing! I’m so glad Ben is old enough to join in on the fun now.”

Willa nodded, then turned to me as Ben tried with all his might to throw himself at me. I finally took him from Willa’s arms, and she didn’t even blink an eye. Greer, however, swung her head back and forth between me and Willa as if she were watching a tennis match.

“You two came together?”

“Yes,” Willa said a little too quickly.

“Oh, I see. I didn’t realize you were…together,” Greer said.

I glanced over to see if Willa was going to correct Greer’s misinterpretation, but all she did was smile and ask, “Did we miss the last story time?”

“No! Not at all. There are stations set up all around the bookstore, so please feel free to walk around. Some are for older kids, but most of them Ben will love, even if he doesn’t get them,” Greer stated, pride evident in her voice. She should be proud; the bookstore was amazing. It was set in the building that once housed the first general store in Boggy Creek. It was a three-story building and it looked like the bookstore took up the first two floors.

“What business is on the third floor, Greer?” I asked.

She shook her head as we followed her over to one of the craft tables. “None, I live on the third floor.”

“Nice,” I said.

I put Ben down and held his little hand as I helped him walk to the table filled with squares and circles that had to be put into corresponding boxes. Willa leaned over and picked up a small square.

“Ben, where does this fit?” she asked.

Ben picked up the cube, studied it, then looked at the different-sized holes. When he lifted the cube and put it in the correct hole, I nearly cried out.

“That’s right, smart boy!” Willa said, kissing him on the cheek.

“Should he know that this early?” I asked as Greer and Willa and another mom chuckled.

“He loves shapes like this and building things. If we let him, he would stay here at this table all day,” Willa said.

At that moment, Ben was in the process of stacking the blocks. For some strange reason, my chest felt tight with pride and I had no idea why.

I shook my head and faced Greer. “Did you set all of this up?”

She nodded. “I did. I have a few employees who helped.”

“It’s amazing,” I said.

With a smile and pink cheeks, she said, “Thank you. Listen, you three have fun, I’m going to go get ready for the last story time. Be sure to grab a good seat!”

“We will,” Willa said, the coldness that had been in her voice now clearly gone.

Facing me, Greer placed her hand on my arm. “I’m so glad you’re home, Aiden. Let’s catch up with coffee or lunch soon.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

“Have fun!” she called back over her shoulder as she hurried to the other side of the bookstore.

When I turned back, Willa was looking at me with an odd expression. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

She gave one shake of her head and then bent back down to play with Ben. After five minutes at that table, Willa took Ben’s hand and led him over to another table filled with Duplos. I nearly moaned in delight. I dropped down next to Ben, and we got to work on building a dog together. Ben would pick out the Duplos, and I put it together.

When we were finished, Ben looked at Willa and babbled something.

“Dog,” Willa said.

Ben looked down at the dog and up at me and said the same word.

“Is he trying to say dog?” I asked.

“Well, if he says that before Mama, I’m going to be a bit peeved.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “He hasn’t said it yet?”

“He rambles a lot and throws mamamama, dadadada into his made-up sentences.”

I smiled.

“My goodness. Your son is precious!” a woman from across the table said.

“Thank you!” Willa said with a proud smile.

“It’s so nice to see a father taking his time and being involved with his son,” the woman said as she looked at Ben and me.

“I’m not his father,” I said quickly.

The woman blushed. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I assumed.”

“No worries at all,” Willa replied, a bright and cheery smile on her face.

A sudden rush of sadness came over me.

What in the hell is that about? I’ve been perfectly happy with my life and never once envied the guys who had kids. Not once. Now all of sudden I’m sad because Ben isn’t mine?

Christ Almighty. Maybe I shouldn’t have come to this thing.

I shook the thoughts away. I had stood up, but didn’t even realize it until Ben pulled on my jeans with one hand and lifted his other, opening and closing his fist. “Up,” he said.