Page 53 of Pretty Baby

Caleb ran his hand over his nightgown.

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t without talking to you first,” Grant said.

“Oh okay.”

“But Caleb?”

Caleb looked up at him.

“Jace knows that I like to dress my boys up,” Grant said. “So he might suspect.”

“That’s… that’s okay then.”

“Do you want to play before I start breakfast?”

Caleb smiled. “I can cook!”

Since Caleb had already said he couldn’t Grant just nodded. He could help his boy out.

“Go sit down Daddy,” Caleb pointed to the couch. Then he dropped to his knees in front of the fridge.

It was great that Caleb’s carpet was so thick. He didn’t want his boy’s knees hurting. But at least now he knew what Caleb meant by cooking breakfast. A pretend breakfast.

Grant sat on the couch and turned the TV on to the local news. He leaned back listening to the anchors as he watched Caleb. His boy’s smile couldn’t be any bigger. He hummed and laughed as he got lost in his little world.

Being able to provide Caleb with acceptance and a safe place was what made Grant happy. As the local news reported on a body found down by the river Grant sat forward. Shit, that was their suspect.

He reached over and turned up the volume. Grant listened to the newscaster. The details were spotty but Grant could read between the lines. He knew what was not being said.

His entire team had been trying to track down their suspect. They’d applied for search warrants to try to flush him out.

Now the best lead to who might be distributing the dangerous drug had disappeared. Fuck, hours of police work down the drain.

Grant flipped to a different channel before his gaze caught on Caleb.

With just one look the tension eased. Monday morning he would get back to work and they would find who was manufacturing the drug. But for the rest of the weekend, his biggest worry was to take care of him boy.

Caleb

Caleb knee walked to the couch holding a plate with a plastic egg and little plastic toast. He was still in shock that Grant had bought him a kitchen set. A small part of him wanted to cry but a bigger part was so happy that he wanted to stay lost in his play. He’d never thought of having a playset like this.

There was so much that Caleb hadn’t thought about.

Grant was right. He’d spent his entire life hiding. He’d never gotten to be a little boy who’d gotten to play and just have fun.

Even as a toddler Caleb had been up before the sun to be at some audition or on a set for work. During the downtime, he had tutors. If he wasn’t working then Caleb was studying. Caleb had tried to remember a time when he’d been a regular little boy but couldn’t.

He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told Grant that no one had ever bought him presents. His birthday was just another working day for him. Christmas meant nothing. His mom wouldn’t spend money on him when she could spend it on herself. They didn’t even have a Christmas dinner or anything special. The holidays were nothing to Caleb.

“Thank you, boy.” Grant accepted the plate before he pretended to eat.

Caleb giggled watching him.

“So yummy,” Grant said as he smacked his lips.

“Daddy!” Caleb laughed. “Silly.”

“You’re silly,” Grant said.

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