Page 16 of Dreams Do Come True

“Justin, have you met Monica?” I ask.

He nods. “Yes, earlier today. As you’re here, I take it Monica explained everything.”

“She did, the poor things,” Kean says.

“Let’s go and see Lyric first. Physically, he’s fine, but he can’t understand why he can’t see his parents,” Justin leads us to a lift.

We arrive at the children’s ward, Justin leading us into a room with three other small children, two of whom are asleep, and the other is sat up looking at a picture book with a woman by his side. They both look up before going back to the book.

Justin leads us to Lyric. He looks like a mini Reggie. He has a mop of black hair, sad brown eyes and is lying on his bed, sucking his thumb.

“Lyric, this is Kean and Titus. I told you about them earlier, remember,” Justin introduces softly.

Lyric sits up, his eyes filling with tears.

Kean moves and drops the bed safety bar before he sits on the side of his bed, close but not touching. “This is all scary and confusing, isn’t it?” Kean asks him quietly.

Lyric nods and sniffs.

“We promise to look after you and your brother. We have a large family with other children in it that you can play with.”

As Kean is talking to Lyric, a doctor walks into the room and over to us.

“Dr Glore, this is Titus Compton and his partner Kean Stone, I told you about them earlier,” Justin introduced.

“You did. Hello, Mr Compton. Lyric has no physical injuries; we just want to keep an eye on him. He had some jelly earlier butdidn’t want to eat anything else. Don’t force him to eat; his little body is still in shock.”

“I understand,” I say.

“We can release him tomorrow morning.”

“We need to get some car seats,” I say, thinking of everything else we’ll need.

“My husband has picked two up, both age-appropriate, plus everything you’ll need for a day or so,” Monica tells me. “If you give me your keys, we can sort everything out for you.”

I hand them over. “Thanks, Monica.” I watch her leave, then look back at the doctor. “Do you know how the baby is?”

“I checked on the baby before I came here. The little boy is perfect, no injuries or lasting effects. I can say with ninety-nine percent certainty the baby would have been born yesterday anyway.”

I nod. “I’m pretty sure their accident was on the road that leads to the hospital.”

“Then chances are her contractions had started, and they were on the way here. Such a sad loss of life. I’d like to keep the baby in tonight as well, and all being well, I can release him in the morning.”

I nod and look back at Kean and Lyric, to see the boy sat on Kean’s lap, holding his hand.

“Can we see the baby?” I ask.

“You can. Follow me.”

I look at Kean and Lyric. “Lyric, Kean, would you like to come and see the baby, your new brother, Lyric?”

He nods his head, and Kean stands holding Lyric close as we follow the doctor.

He leads us into a room and over to a baby cot. Lying there asleep is the most perfect baby, wrapped up in a blue blanket, with a little white cap on his head. Even wrapped up, he looks small and delicate.

“Can I pick him up?” I ask the doctor.

“You can. He is five pounds and seven ounces, and as I said, there is nothing physically wrong with him.”