Page 37 of Dreams Do Come True

I put Lyric down on the bed, and he crawls over to Kean and climbs onto his lap.

Kean drops a kiss on his head. “Morning sunbeam,” he says, grinning.

Lyric is babbling away. I’ve no idea what he’s talking about, but he is talking, and that’s all that matters.

While Lyric is talking to Kean, I go and make us coffee and get some juice and a chopped apple for Lyric. I check the time and see River will be waking soon, so I make his bottle up.

I put everything on a tray, plus the bag of giant cookies, and carry them back to the bedroom.

Kean and Lyric are still chatting happily, but I see they have moved, so Kean must have changed Lyric's nappy.

“I bring goodies,” I say as I put the tray on the bedside table. I pass Lyric his juice and sit next to Kean with the cookie bag.

I lean into Kean and kiss him good morning. “You okay?” I ask, pulling back.

“I am now.”

“I brought cookies,” I lean over and snag the container of chopped apple and set it in front of Lyric while I pass Kean a cookie.

Lyric drops his sippy cup and, in a surprise move, quickly shoots forward and manages to latch on to the cookie with his teeth.

“Hey now. That’s mine,” Kean gripes.

Lyric doesn’t make any move to let the cookie go, so Kean breaks some off.

“Okay, little man. Let go and I’ll break this up for you.”

Lyric looks at him suspiciously but finally lets it go.

Kean breaks it up. “Soggy cookie, nice!” He hands some cookies to Lyric, and I’ve just taken a bite of mine when River starts making a noise.

I put my cookie down and go and get River. “Morning River, did you have good dreams?” I un-swaddle him and make quick work of changing his nappy, then I go and sit back next to Kean.

We’re all sat on the bed together, I never thought this would happen, or at least not for years. River makes a move to cry, but before he can let out his ‘you need to feed me cry’, I give him his bottle.

Lyric crawls over and sits by me. “Baby.”

I nod. “Your brother, River.”

“Ver,” he says.

“Close, River,” I correct.

Lyric nods. “Ver.” He gently strokes River’s hand. He leans down and kisses River. “Luv Ver.”

“So do we, little man,” Kean says. “How about once River’s finished his feed, we get up and have breakfast, get washed and dressed and play with your blocks, before we pack up and go home?”

Lyric looks confused.

“This is Titus’s work flat. We live in a big house with our mum, brothers, and children. You’ll love it,” Kean tells him.

Lyric doesn’t look sure; instead, he tries to eat my cookie.

Kean snags it in time and offers Lyric a slice of apple. “You eat this slice of apple, and you can have a piece of Titus’ cookie.”

“Hey now,” I protest to a laughing Kean as Lyric shoves the whole slice into his mouth, then promptly chokes.

Quick as a flash, Kean has the slice of apple out of his mouth. “Small bites and chew it, the cookie will still be there when you’ve eaten properly.”