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Preston worked behind the manager's cottage with Liam at his side. Liam's curiosity continued to astound him. Occasionally, the boy's questions stumped him. Preston then faked looking in his toolbox while really looking up the answers.

"Okay, bud, we need to make your mom's cabinet. We have the plans and design ready. Our first step is to go get the wood we want to use." Preston looked down and frowned. Caroline might be mad if he took Liam in his car. He should message her. After she asked him out, he went and bought the same car seat she had in her car for Liam. He wanted to be prepared for any group outings. With a huff, he texted Caroline and waited. Five minutes later, he received her answer.

Do you have a car seat?

Yep! Preston sent her a picture of the car seat.

Then go ahead. I should be home in a little over an hour.

Take your time. Liam and I are going to head to the hardware store. Preston pocketed his phone and looked to see Liam staring at him expectantly.

"Are you ready to go to the hardware store? Your mom said it was fine." He didn't want Liam to worry that Caroline didn't know where he was.

"Yep." Liam gave him a bright smile. Preston took his hand and walked him to the truck. Putting him in the car was harder than he expected. How the heck did these latches and hooks work? He stared at the pieces.

"The top two hook together across my chest," Liam explained, taking two of the pieces and putting them together.

"Okay, what about these two metal latches?" Preston asked, pulling out the two silver latch pieces.

"They go together with the middle thing," Liam answered as he pulled the middle hook between his legs. Preston pushed them into the holes, hearing a click.

"Now pull it tight." He did as instructed and pulled until the seatbelt held Liam snuggly.

"Thanks, buddy. I didn't think it would this complicated." Preston wouldn't tell anyone, but he'd had the fire department install the seat in his truck to make sure he installed properly it.

"Momma grumbles about it too. Sometimes she pinches her fingers when she hooks me in." Preston laughed, patting Liam on the leg. He could see Caroline swearing in her head about the car seat. It stumped him.

"Let's go, bud." Preston drove them into town to his favorite hardware store. Getting Liam out of the car was easier now that he knew how they went together. He took Liam's hand and walked him into the store.

"Hey, Preston!" Bob, the owner of the store, waved. Preston waved back. Bob was a larger-than-life gorilla shifter. He had salt and pepper hair with a bushy mustache to match. His dark eyes saw everything. Preston saw many people get caught trying to steal things when Bob's back was turned. The man saw everything.

"Hey, Bob! I am looking for maple wood. Do you have any?"

"I've got some in the back. I salvaged it from a building set for demolition." Bob pointed to the back of the store. Preston looked down to see Liam staring at Bob with wide eyes.

"He is a nice guy," Preston assured Liam and led him through the store out to the back. "Touch nothing, okay? I don't want you to get any splinters," he warned Liam. He couldn't face Caroline if Liam got hurt.

"Okay, Preston." Liam hugged himself and stood stock-still. Preston chuckled.

"You can walk around with me." Preston offered a hand and Liam took it. They walked around together until Preston spotted the perfect pieces of wood he needed for Caroline's cabinet. "Here we go. This is where you have to be very careful. I'm going to pick up the wood and you can walk ahead of me back to the store." Preston pulled out his gloves, put them on, and picked up the pieces of wood he wanted for the cabinet.

"Is it heavy?" Liam gave him a confused look and Preston shook his head.

"I'm a tiger shifter. We can carry a lot more than a normal human."

"Will I be that strong?"

"Yes, as long as you eat healthily and take care of yourself. Plenty of shifters don't take care of their bodies, expecting their animal to do that for them. Your animal is your partner. Work together to be the best person you can be," Preston explained, watching Liam digest his words.

"Got it." Liam nodded and turned around to walk back into the store. Preston followed, happy to see him opening up.

"Bob, I've found the wood I need. How much do you want for it?" Preston called, walking into the store.

"Eh, one fifty," Bob replied, looking over the pile of wood Preston held.

"One hundred," Preston haggled. It was his favorite part of shopping at the store. Bob respected a person more if they haggled over the price.

"Are you trying to rob me? One hundred twenty-five." Bob narrowed his eyes at Preston, who arched an eyebrow in return.

"One hundred twenty, my last offer."

"Done." Bob shook his hand, laughing. "Who is this with you?" Bob asked, turning his attention to Liam.

"Liam Jefferson. He is Caroline's son."

"Caroline, who is running the Clover Leaf Inn?" Bob asked, looking over Liam with a knowing eye.

"Yes, I've been helping her fix up the place. We're working on the manager's cottage."

"We are moving closer to Aunt Georgia, Uncle Jordan, and Daisy," Liam announced, surprising Preston that he spoke aloud to Bob.

"Are you now? Jordan is a good man. His firm helped me with this place," Bob shared, winking at Liam.

"Here you go." Preston handed Bob his card to pay for the wood. It was getting heavy.

"Thanks, Preston. Have a good afternoon." Bob rang him up and handed him back his card. Preston nodded his thanks and took the wood out to the truck. Liam climbed in and began clicking his seat belts together.

"Thanks," he told him and pulled the seatbelt tight to keep him safe on their way back to the inn.

The afternoon went by with them measuring, cutting, and beginning putting together the cabinet. Preston would take the pieces back to his workshop to put the tiger design on the sides. Preston loved spending time with Liam and hoped these afternoons with Liam will be more in the future.

Let me know what you think! Updates won't be as frequent because of the holidays. 

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