Page 116 of Dreams Do Come True

“You’re up, honey.”

I smile and kiss his cheek before looking forward. “Thank you, friends and family, firstly for helping us celebrate our marriage, and now for helping us celebrate our wonderful sons.

We give thanks to the Goddess for the precious gifts we have been entrusted with, and Kean and I both vow to keep the memory of the boys’ birth parents, Doris and Reggie Lee, alive.”

Lyric sniffs and I drop a kiss on his head. “You okay?” I ask softly.

He nods and holds onto my jacket tighter.

“To give a child a name is a powerful thing; names have power, and when a child is named, it resonates through the heavens. Doris and Reggie had already picked out the baby’s name, and we honour them by using it.”

Kean steps forward. “Our son is known as River Lee Compton-Stone. We ask the Gods and Goddesses to bless our son.” He walks to the table and puts River down, who starts to cry. “It’s okay, Baba, I’ll be quick.” Kean opens his waistcoat and shirt, and picks up some oil that was on the table. He puts a bit on his finger and draws a pentagram on his head, then pulls his little top down and draws on his chest, before redressing him and picking him up. As soon as River is picked up, he stops crying.

I join them at the table and touch River’s head. “River Lee Compton-Stone,

May the sun shine bright upon you.

May the moon in the darkness guide you.

May the stars in the sky watch you.

May the fates be kind to you.

May your loved ones aid you in the storms of life.

May joy be yours, and may there be little strife.

May peace and happiness be yours all your days.

May you find friends, love, and good work on your way.

Blessings of the Gods and Goddesses be upon you.”

Kean and I walk back to the centre of the stage and look at Macy and Reval. “Macy, Reval, if you would like to join us.”

They get up, holding hands and walk up the steps to stand just to the side of us. Both holding a sheet of paper.

“Do you two stand here with the purpose of being godparents to River Lee Compton-Stone?” I ask.

They both nod. “We do.”

They both read off the paper and talk at the same time.

“I, Macy Fford/Reval Fford, do swear to stand as Godparents to River Lee Compton-Stone. I promise to do my best to be a good example to him, in deed, thought, word and heart. I will teach what lessons I can, being mindful that he will make his own choices and follow his own path in life. I swear this in the name of the Gods and Goddesses.”

I smile at them both. “Your oaths are accepted by the Gods and Goddesses, by Kean and myself, and witnessed by all our family and friends gathered here today.”

“Thank you,” Kean says to them and waves River’s little hand.

Macy and Reval start to walk away when Macy pops back. “Lyric doesn’t have a middle name,” she tells us, before she and Reval walk back to their seats.

“Lastly, we give thanks to the Gods and Goddesses for our son, Lyric Lee Compton-Stone,” Kean says, placing his hand on Lyric’s back so we’re both touching him. “Lyric, today we officially welcome you into our family.

I look at Lyric. “Lyric, we promise to love and protect you. To guide you as you grow up and help you grow into a wonderful man. We promise to hold you when you’re sad and help you find peace, and to know that your mama and dada loved you very much, and we’ll make sure you never forget them.”

Lyric sniffs and sighs into my neck.

“Everyone, we give you Lyric and River Compton-Stone.”