Chapter 4

If this had been the old me, those words would have left me burning with shame.

But now, all I felt was disappointment.

I smiled lightly. "Julian, you've got it wrong."

I pulled Silas close. "I'm Silas's mom. These are for him."

I bent down and ruffled Silas's hair, then handed him a pastry. "Here, sweetie, try it. Tell me if it's any good."

Julian's face froze for a second after I said that.

He'd probably never imagined that the woman who used to fuss over him would cut him loose and give all that warmth to a kid he thought was beneath him.

Silas took a bite and smiled. "Thanks, Mom. It's really good. I love it."

I grinned. "Good. I'll make more next time."

I turned around with the pastries and looked at Julian and the other two boys standing there, stunned.

"You guys want some too?"

Kids are kids. Six, seven years old, always hungry. They perked up when I offered, already tempted.

The other two were slowly reaching out their hands.

"Don't you dare!"

Julian slapped their hands away. "It's just some sad little pastry. The kitchen scraps at our house are better than this. Only losers who've never had anything decent would want this. I wouldn't be caught dead eating it."

Then he looked at me and raised his chin. "You better remember what you said today. Don't ever come looking for me again."

I watched Julian, furious and trying so hard to act like he didn't care, and almost wanted to laugh.

I nodded. "Don't worry, Julian. My only son is Silas. Anything good I have goes to him."

Julian's face went pale.

He stomped his foot and spun around, shouting at the three boys still standing there dumbfounded. "What are you looking at? Let's go!"

Then he took off without looking back.

The three boys scrambled after him.

That night, Silas came home from school and I put him to bed like always.

Just when I thought he was asleep, he said in a very small voice, "Mom."

He rolled over to face me. "Tomorrow when school's out, could you bring me pastries again?"

My heart went soft.

"Of course." I kept my voice gentle. "I'll make more tomorrow, and I'll come pick you up too."

Silas's mouth curved into a happy little smile and he closed his eyes, perfectly content.