BuzzNovelAlessia stepped inside and was surprised to see Ivan already seated beside Eddie. Ivan clutched a sketchbook in
his lap, 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 accept 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 glanced 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.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Ivan nodded. Karen had taken him before. He remembered the rows of books, the tKaren used a card to
borrow a stack of stories to bring home. Ivan loved the library.
“You can think of my place like a library,” Eddie explained 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
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Ivan-polar opposites in every way. Getting through to either could be a challenge, but Eddie, for all his social
reluctance, never seemed to run out of patience for children.
Ivan glanced 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 flashed 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 rgle
as she Reese at WhrCvhe seemed
criple ely absorbed in his own
thoughts. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Do you want to cwith me, or would you rather stay here with Eddie?”
Alessia didn't expect much of a
response; she assumed Ivan Aayid
prefer Erika to her
stirprise, e reached out and grabbed
the hem of her coat. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
She froze, caught off guard. She
wasn't the sentimental type, but for
sreason, the geste filéd het
witha QMlicOwhfmin-a feeling she
couldn't quite name. It was the same
strange happiness she'd felt the first
tYork had called her “sister.” The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
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