Looking at the tag Cassidy had just pulled out, Heston tilted his neck and reached behind to touch it.
Without using much strength, he pinched it lightly between two fingers, and the white plastic loop on the tag snapped cleanly.
He took it off with practiced ease and turned to her, saying seriously, "It's off."
Cassidy stared at the tag in his hand before breaking into a bright smile.
She'd always known. All the other kids at the orphanage had Lenora as their guardian, while hers was Heston.
Some children told her that being adopted meant you wouldn't have to stay at the orphanage anymore, but she never felt it was strange that, though Heston was her guardian, he never took her away to live elsewhere.
To her, Heston was doing important things. He was a hero, and it made sense for heroes to be busy and lack basics.
"The fair's staring, Mr. Heston. I'll take you in." With that, Cassidy grabbed his hand and pulled him in.
In the past two years at the orphanage with Lenora and her friends around, and with Heston dropping by now and then, Cassidy had become far more cheerful.
At least, she acted just like any other kid around people she trusted.
Heston lowered himself slightly and allowed her to lead him, shortening his steps to match hers. When they finally arrived at the fair's entrance and passed a colorfully decorated archway, he suddenly stopped her.
When Cassidy turned around, she saw him take out a selfie stick from his backpack.
"Lexie said we should take a picture for memories," he explained with all seriousness. That was especially important now that they were in a matching parent-child outfit set.
Cassidy's eyes lit up. "I'll do it! Let me!"
Following her instructions, Heston crouched down and stared solemnly into the camera. As he raised his arm like she directed, he formed a curve above his head into half a heart.
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