Chapter 26
Sabastian
I leaned against the door jam, watching Oakley. Or maybe it was more like staring at the boy. He was sitting on the floor, one hand reaching out towards the stuffed animal that sat on the bed.
I was surprised he hadn’t tried to take it yet. As far as I could tell, he hadn’t once taken it off the bed the past few days. Even though I knew Oakley came in here a number of times and mostly did what he was currently doing right now.
His fingers rubbed against one paw of the stuffed animal. His head lay on that arm, hair falling along the side of the bed.
It was moments like that that I wished I could read his thoughts.
“Hey, little one.”
At my voice, Oakley jerked, tearing his hand away from the stuffed animal and shuffling quickly into a folded mess of limbs. His eyes were wide, and the sucking on his thumb intensified.
His thumb was still bruised around the base from his teeth marks, and I had hoped he’d take to a pacifier when I wasn’t around, but no luck.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” I raised both hands before letting them down slowly. I gave him a moment to settle before walking closer.
Oakley barely breathed as I neared him. Did he think he was in trouble?
The whole point of this room was for him if he wanted the things in it. Oakley needed a space he could go to, even if I hadn’t explained any of that yet, which was my fault.
How would he possibly know the things in this room were for him to find comfort in if I hadn’t told him so? The boy hadn’t done much of anything without permission, except for when he asked to refix the bookshelf. Or the times he’s cleaned and did the laundry.
But even then, he didn’t do more than he knew he was allowed to do.
At the bed, I took the bunny before sitting on the side.
“I think this little guy needs a friend,” I mused, turning it to face Oakley in my gasp. “Whadda you think?”
Oakley’s eyes bounced from my face to the toy, to somewhere around the room. Over and over for a few seconds, like he wasn’t sure if it was okay to take, to touch, or to even want the stuffed animal.
“You can take it,” I held it out closer to Oakley, who slowly grabbed it. Once the bunny was in his hold, he quickly held it against his neck, as though he feared I was going to take it from him.
What sort of games did Donny play on this poor boy?
“Everything in this room can be touched, taken, or played with. If you want to look through the drawers, you are free to do so. If you want to curl up on this bed and take a nap, you can. Or you are even welcome to sleep in this room at night if you wish to.”
Oakley’s eyes lifted to mine, and questions that wouldn’t be spoken raced through his head.
“This room is yours now, little one. Your safe place if you want to call it that. Nothing bad is to happen in this room. This room is all yours.”
Although, it probably wasn’t smart to keep some of the stuff in the dresser that was still there. But I highly doubted Oakley would venture through them more than a simple glance.
This boy was more interested in the stack of books in my bedroom. He sure took his time fixing them.
“Did you eat lunch today?”
Oakley slowly shook his head, backing away from me a bit more. Not that he had anywhere to go, he was already pressed against the side of the bed, stuck on the footboard to his back.
“You really need to eat more food,” I sighed, not surprised by his answer.
At least he ate breakfast and dinner, and I knew it would take him a while to get to the small fact that he could eat when he was hungry.
Years of having almost all of his needs controlled like he had, would take time and patience on my end.
“Let us get some dinner then.” I stood, holding my hand out for him to take. All he did was push back against the bed more, and I grimaced in pain for him.
I had thought we’d made a bit of progress the last few days.
I gave him a sad smile, stepping back a bit. Only then did he stand, keeping a tight hold on the stuffed animal and thumb in his mouth.
“If you need to use the bathroom, go ahead. I’ll go start dinner.”
As I left the room, I heard Oakley’s feet quickly walk the other way towards the bathroom. Knowing he’d make his way down to the kitchen, I headed that way myself.
I made a mental note that I needed to go shopping as I pulled out chicken fingers and a bag of fries. Tonight seemed like a night where Oakley could use some comfort foods.
As I expected, it didn’t take long for the boy to shuffle into the kitchen, taking a seat at the island. The stuffed animal was tucked tight against his chest, and his thumb was in his mouth.
I wanted to pull him into a hug and take away whatever was bothering him. Instead, I turned my attention to dinner.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long for everything to cook in the oven, and the table was set. Oakley didn’t move, other than watch me as I moved around. His eyes didn’t leave me, even if he didn’t meet my own.
Setting the plates on the table, a thought struck me. Something that should have been obvious before now.
Was it possible that Oakley was a Little? The trauma did play a factor in that, and it was possible that he didn’t even realize it himself.
But that could explain why he was more skittish tonight.
Had something upset him during the day? He had seemed to be okay earlier when I checked on him through the camera. He didn’t seem to be in a little mindset at that time.
Going with instincts, since they hadn’t failed me yet when it came to Oakley, I finished getting dinner ready. I kept Oakley in sight, never fully turning my back on him. Not that he moved more than to breathe as he sat there, sucking away on his thumb.
When the chicken strips were done, crispy on the outside, and the fries were finished, I took them both to the table. Oakley slowly shuffled that way, too.
“This,” I touched the top of the animal’s head, causing Oakley to jerk away, “needs to sit at the counter while we eat. That way, he won’t get dirty.”
Oakley sniffed, forcing a whine to stay down. But he handed it to me, eyes watery as he did so.
“He’ll sit right here.” I sat it gently on the island top, right where Oakley could see it. “I promise, little one, you’ll get it back after dinner.”
Dejected, Oakley sat, keeping a chair between the two of us. It hurt a bit that he chose a different seat than he’d been taking the last few days, but if he was wanting space, then I’d give it to him.
“Thumb, sweetheart,” I said, eyes flickering to said digit as I dished up his food. I even put some ketchup in a corner, making sure nothing touched.
“’ Orry,” he muttered, dropping his eyes to the plate.
“Nothing to apologize for.” I made sure to keep my tone calm and even. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
His eyes flickered to mine before they dropped once more.
“Go ahead and eat,” I said, knowing he wouldn’t eat until I told him he could. When he did start to eat, I kept talking. I hoped it’d ease whatever was going on. “I hoped you had a good day.”
That reminded me that I hadn’t taken a shower, or changed clothes yet. Was that throwing off the boy? I didn’t think so, but it was hard to tell.
“My parents are throwing a get-together in a few weeks,” I went on. “They love family parties, even though it’s just family. My two brothers, one has a wife, and then Mom and Dad.”
That seemed to get his attention. At least he kept eating, so I kept talking between bites.
“One older brother, one younger. Blaise is the younger one, even though he sometimes seems like he’s older. He’s the wise one, though. Smart enough to not get into trouble like I had when I was that age. Now, Nathan, he’s the wild card. His wife had her hands full, but they adored each other.
“It wasn’t always like that though. Molly hated his guts at first, which is given by how they become together.
Which isn’t my story to tell. She would do just about anything to make Nathan upset.
” I shook my head, glad that Oakley wasn’t like that.
I wouldn’t have kept him if so. He’d have gotten a new identity and moved across the country.
“I’m assuming you don’t have any siblings?”
Oakley shook his head slowly. I didn’t think so, but it was good to know anyway. If he did, I’d track them down somehow.
“Mine like to drive me nuts,” I smiled towards the boy. “But family means a lot to me, just like what my parents wanted to instill in each of us. The family also isn’t just blood. It’s about bonds and trust. And protecting each other.”
I could see thoughts swirling around in Oakley’s head at that. He didn’t know what family was since the only people he knew didn’t want anything good from him.
“You may like Nathan’s wife, though. She’s…
similar to you.” Not the little part, but the past of each of them were similar in ways.
“She’ll adore you, that’s for sure.” Molly had met a few of my partners in the past, ones that I took on dates to certain events, and she always enjoyed them, even when they weren’t in their little mindsets.
She just knew and treated them like an aunt would.
At my comment, Oakley’s cheeks darkened, but he tried to brush it off by pushing the last bite into his mouth.
I couldn’t stop my smile from widening. There were so many things I could say, so many words that would likely make that blush appear redder, and possibly never disappear. But I refrained from saying anything.
A few minutes later, Oakley shifted, his eyes bouncing from my almost empty plate to where I had sat the bunny.
Would he ask? Or even get up and get it himself?
Quickly finishing my meal, I waited him out. It wasn’t often Oakley gave any sign of something he wanted. I’d give him whatever he wanted, which was a good thing that he didn’t know that just yet.
When I stood, Oakley’s eyes went straight to the stuffed animal. I could hear his heart beating in his chest as I took both of our plates to the sink.
He didn’t move. He didn’t do anything other than blink at the toy.
Was he willing to come to him by force alone?
Leaving the dishes in the sink, I grabbed the bunny before going back towards Oakley. Kneeling before him, I could see the tears clogging his vision.
What the heck happened today?
“Let me see your hands, little one,” I whispered. He quickly put them out. “Good. Clean hands are important after meals.”
He gave the tiniest nod like he knew that.
Setting the bunny on top of his hands, his eyes widened as the softness touched the palms.
“Good boy.”
Oakley pulled the stuffed animal to his chest, a single tear falling down his cheek.
“I always follow through with promises.” I’d try to show him just that every day. I never backed out on my word.