Free Mail-Order Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 5) by Natalie Kristen

went to her room to change and grab her handbag.
Eddie was standing by the front door in a clean shirt and jeans. His
shirt was neatly tucked in and his hair was gleaming with not one
strand out of place.
    Lauren smiled as she took her
nephew's hand. It was Reid's idea. He'd suggested that they check
out the preschool near their house. It would be good for Eddie to
socialize with kids his own age and make new friends, he said. When
she protested that she didn't have enough money to pay for Eddie's
school fees, Reid had asked sternly, “Am I his uncle or not?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then I can well afford
to send my nephew to school.”
    Eddie had asked once or twice
if he could go to school. He had heard from Mrs Gururani's youngest
son that school was really fun. But when he asked, Lauren told him
that she couldn't afford to send him to preschool. The boy hadn't
asked again. Instead he created a little schoolhouse with their
pillows at the corner of the bedroom. He would shoulder his backpack
and wave to Lauren, shouting, “Bye, Aunt Lauren, I'm going to
school now!” The boy would sit quietly in the little corner
and pretend to play and talk to his imaginary classmates.
    Lauren earned enough to keep
a roof over their heads and put food on the table, but she couldn't
afford to give Eddie more than the bare necessities. She couldn't
afford treats, outings, presents and preschool.
    But now, Eddie could finally
have the same chances that other kids had. He could go to school, he
could have his own little room, and he could have books and toys. He
could have a stable home with no creditors pounding on the door and
breathing down their necks.
    He could stop thinking he had
to protect his Aunt Lauren from the big, bad world and just be a kid.
    Lauren kissed the top of
Eddie's head and smiled. “Let's go, buddy. Let's go see your
school.”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN

    Lauren took the long route to
the schoolhouse. It was still early and she wanted to show Eddie the
lovely new playground behind the park. The park was quiet and
peaceful, and she could hear the joyful chirping of birds and
insects.
    Eddie loved the outdoors and
nature. It was the bear in him, she supposed. The boy released her
hand and scampered ahead, chasing the butterflies and kicking up the
leaves.
    He spied a bird that was just
minding its own business hopping along the footpath looking for
insects and began to sneak up on it. The bird flew off and landed a
few feet away. Eddie squealed and ran after the bird.
    “Eddie, be careful!
Don't run so fast!”
    He didn't seem to hear her.
He spread his arms out like wings and cawed. Bird and boy raced to
the end of the footpath and disappeared behind some trees.
    Lauren quickened her steps to
hurry after her nephew. The boy was active and was clearly very
excited to be out of the house. Shadow Point was a small town but it
wasn't cramped or clustered. There were many parks and open spaces
in Shadow Point. She was sure that Eddie would be happy growing up
here.
    Hopefully she could find a
job and get settled…
    A sudden cry jolted Lauren
out of her reverie.
    Lauren recognized Eddie's
voice and her heart lurched.
    “Eddie!” Had he
fallen and hurt himself?
    She ran at full tilt to the
end of the footpath and darted towards the trees. The playground was
nestled behind the cluster of rustling trees but there was no sign of
Eddie.
    “Eddie!” she
screamed. “Where are you?”
    Panicking, Lauren scanned the
empty swings and slides. She spun round wildly and saw a grassy
slope behind the playground.
    Lauren scrambled up the
slope, swearing, praying and muttering all sorts of threats and
promises. She should never have let him out of her sight. She
should have held him fast and kept him by her side. She shouldn't
have let him run ahead and explore on his own. She would give the
rascal a good scolding and keep him tied to her apron strings from
now on!
    Lauren tripped over something
and looked down. She made a