Chapter 18: Small Steps

The morning sun had barely lifted above the rooftops when Leonard appeared again.

He stood across the street from Hearts & Threads, holding a paper bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. It had become a quiet routine now. For the past week, he came every day. No big speeches. No demands. Just… presence.

Arielle noticed him from the shop window. She tried not to react, but her chest tightened anyway. It was hard to ignore someone who didn't stop showing up.

Minutes later, she opened the front door and found the bag resting gently on the steps. Inside was a small container of soup and a yellow sticky note:

"You forgot to eat yesterday. Hope this helps. —L"

She stared at it for a moment. She didn't smile. She didn't throw it away either.

---

That afternoon, she picked Liam up from preschool. His cheeks were pink from running.

"Mommy," he said brightly, "the man with the brown hair was there again. He waved."

Arielle's steps slowed. "Did you wave back?"

Liam nodded. "He gave me a sticker. A dinosaur one!"

Her fingers curled a little tighter around his hand. She didn't know what to say.

---

The next morning, Leonard returned. This time, he waited by the shop door, holding a small dinosaur plushie. He didn't knock. Didn't call out. Just… waited.

Arielle opened the door, cautious.

"What are you doing?" she asked quietly.

Leonard held out the toy. "It's for Liam. Just a gift."

She hesitated, then took it.

"Thank you," she said. The words were distant but honest.

Leonard gave her a faint smile. "I'll go now."

---

That night, Liam clutched the dinosaur while brushing his teeth. He didn't say much. But he didn't put it down, either.

Arielle watched him from the doorway, her heart caught in a place between fear and something softer.

She was trying to protect him.

But it was already happening—Liam liked Leonard.

And she wasn't sure how to stop that.

---

A few days later, Leonard showed up again—this time with a small bag filled with coloring books, juice boxes, and a pack of Arielle's favorite cookies.

He handed it over without expectation.

"You don't have to take these," he said. "I just wanted to leave something."

Arielle glanced down. The cookies were simple. Familiar.

She hadn't had them in years.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

Leonard shrugged. "Because I missed four years. And I can't fix that. But maybe I can show up now."

She didn't reply.

But she didn't push him away.

---

Later that week, while Arielle helped Liam draw at the park, Leonard appeared again.

He stayed at a distance, sitting on the edge of a bench.

Liam spotted him first.

"Hey! The man's here again!"

Before she could stop him, Liam ran over, waving his crayon drawing in the air.

"Look what I made!"

Leonard knelt down, smiling. "Wow, that's amazing. Is that you and your mom?"

"And you," Liam added proudly.

Arielle froze in place.

Leonard's eyes met hers, surprised. But he didn't say anything.

He just handed Liam a shiny sticker. "You're a great artist."

Liam beamed.

And Arielle had to blink something away from her eyes.

---

That night, when the house had gone still and Liam was asleep with the plush dinosaur tucked under his chin, Arielle sat alone at the kitchen table.

The quiet wrapped around her like a blanket and a burden.

She stared at her phone.

No missed calls. No unread messages. Just the slow ache of old memories.

She remembered Leonard's cold words years ago. The hurt. The humiliation. The loneliness.

But now, he wasn't yelling.

He wasn't asking for forgiveness.

He was just… present.

And somehow, that hurt even more.

---

The next day, as she locked up the shop, she found Leonard waiting by the door—this time with a folded umbrella in hand.

"It might rain," he said softly.

She took it. "You don't have to keep doing this."

"I know," he said. "But I want to."

Arielle looked at him, exhausted but sincere. "This doesn't mean anything yet."

"I know."

"I haven't told Liam who you are."

Leonard nodded. "I'm not rushing. I'm just… trying."

Her eyes searched his for something—guilt, maybe. Regret. Hope.

"He's a good boy," she said. "And he trusts too easily. I won't let anyone hurt him."

"I would never," Leonard replied. "Not again."

Arielle didn't respond.

But this time… she didn't walk away either.

And maybe, for now, that was enough.

---

End of Chapter 18