School Picnic

The Maplewood School Picnic was a riot of color and noise, pumpkin stalls, face-painting booths, children shrieking as they dove into piles of crimson leaves. Heather stood at the edge of the field, her chest tight. The breeze carried the tang of caramel apples and woodsmoke, but all she could smell was danger.

VestorCorp.

The banner hung above the picnic tables, bold black letters glaring back at her. Sponsored by VestorCorp - Building Futures.

She hadn't known. If she knew she wouldn't have been here. Hell, she wanted to leave. She wasn't comfortable being in a place where someone would recognize her son. By 'someone' she meant Caius. She wasn't supposed to be in public with Alex, that's why he's at the far end.

Alex tugged her hand, his fingers warm against her palm. "Mommy, look! They have a haunted maze!"

Heather forced a smile. "Go ahead, love. I'll watch from here. And keep your distance."

He didn't look happy but understood the weight of the situation. He darted off, his blonde hair catching the sunlight like a beacon. She tracked him obsessively, her breath hitching every time he vanished behind a cluster of parents.

...

Caius stood near the cider stand, Asher perched on his shoulders. Lauren's son giggled, clutching a fistful of Caius's dark hair. Heather's eyes caught a sight of the scene and her stomach twisted. Of course he's here.

He dropped the boy after the photographer took the picture. Of course he's here playing perfect father to his child. Whatever, she didn't care.

She turned to move away from his sight. To avoid anything that'd make them clash. And if anyone recognizes her, they'd suspect. She adjusted her sun glasses.

A scream grabbed her attention.

Alex lay sprawled on the ground, his knee scraped raw, tears pooling but not falling. Asher stood over him, smiling.

"He pushed me!" Alex shouted, voice trembling with anger.

Caius was already striding over, Asher scrambling to hide behind him. Heather froze, her lungs collapsed.

"Apologize," Caius said coldly to Asher.

"But Dad!"

"Now."

Asher mumbled a half-hearted "sorry," but Heather barely heard. Her legs carried her forward on autopilot. Despite her rule. No one messed with her child.

Caius crouched in front of Alex, his voice softening. "Let me see, mate."

Alex hesitated, then uncurled his fingers from his knee.

Caius blinked and shook his head slightly, then reached into his pocket for a handkerchief. The scent of jasmine and vanilla wafted up as he cleaned Alex's wound. A familiar scent. It was the same scent that used to cling to his shirts years ago, back when Heather still cared enough to fold his laundry. Back when she'd hum under her breath as she worked, the steam from the iron curling her blonde hair at her temples. He'd never admitted how much he loved it.

Now here it was, wrapped around this small, strange boy. He had missed this scent and looked like heaven heard his prayers and brought the scent to him.

Caius inhaled deeply before he could stop himself. "What's that scent?" he murmured, more to himself than to Alex.

The boy's eyes, ice-blue. The only pair of ice blue eyes that he'd ever seen to come close was... Her. No, it couldn't be hers? He looked like her. Ice blue eyes, blonde hair. But his nose…

His nose. The same slight crook at the bridge, the same stubborn angle. Not hers.

Heather's throat closed. No. No, no, no. He was too close to her son.

His hands stilled.

"What's your name?" he asked quietly.

Alex was hesitant..."Alex."

"Your parent's here?"

Alex shaked his head. His mommy wouldn't want to be dragged into this.

"What are you doing with my son?" Heather called out. She didn't know when the word "son" came out.

Caius rose slowly, his gaze flickered over her, her wild blonde curls, the defiant set of her jaw, the way her chest rose and fell with barely contained fury. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. Anger suited her. Everything suited her.

"He was hurt," he said evenly.

"By that child. Your son."

Caius flinched. "Asher isn't..."

"Save it." She snatched Alex's hand, her grip too tight. "Come on, baby."

"Wait." Caius stepped closer, his voice dropping. "The boy's father…?"

"Gone," she snapped. Not a lie.

His eyes narrowed. "Gone, or never existed?"

She recoiled. Alex stared up at them, confused.

Caius softened. "Heather"

"Don't." She backed away, her heel caught on a root.

He steadied her, his hand burned through her coat sleeve. "You're shaking."

"Let go."

He did, but his eyes went back to Alex. "He's… remarkable."

Her blood turned to ice. "Stay away from him."