Page 41 of Dreams Do Come True

“I’m sorry, Lyric, your mama and dada are up in heaven. We have some pictures of them you can see tomorrow.”

Lyric sniffs and starts to cry. I sit down on the bed and gently rock him. I hear a noise by the door and see Nora stood there.

“Hey Nora,” I say softly.

“Can I come in?” she asks.

“Sure, sweetie,” Kean replies.

Nora comes into our bedroom and kneels down on the floor by my side and looks at Lyric.

He stops crying, hiccups, and looks at her.

“Hey Lyric,” she says softly. “I’m your cousin, Nora.” She strokes his little hand. “I’m sorry about your mama and dada, but I bet they are up in heaven with mine, they could be sat on the same cloud even now watching over us. But you know something, Titus and Kean will love you and your brother with their whole hearts.”

I look at Kean and smile. He kisses the side of my head.

River has finished his feed, and Kean is rubbing his back.

Lyric leans against me, wiping his eyes and his snotty nose on my shirt. I must remember to keep some tissues on me.

“Everyone here already loves you, and we all want you and your brother to be happy.”

River let out a loud burp.

“Well done, Baba,” Kean says, as Nora giggles.

Lyric gives a loud sniff and wipes his nose again, this time on his arm.

“I have to go to bed now, but I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

Lyric nods. “Bye Ora.”

She rubs his hand one last time and stands up, looking at me and Kean. “Was that alright?”

“Yeah, sweetie, that was perfect. Thank you,” Kean tells her.

I look at the door and see Nix and Cam standing there.

“If you need anything, just shout,” Cam offers.

“We will, thanks, Cam, Nix,” I reply. “Night, Nora.”

“Night,” she says, happily leaving and walking off with her brother and Cam.

Kean has River cradled in his arms and touches Lyric’s back. “You okay, little man?”

Lyric nods, then turns, crawls off me and onto Kean’s lap. “Ver sleep.”

“That’s because it’s late. You should be asleep as well.”

I magic up a crib with a mattress and covers for him.

“Knock, knock,” Adhan says, from the doorway, carrying the baby box. “This box is incredible.”

“It was filled with all different kinds of supplies as well. It certainly helped us,” Kean replies.

“I can imagine,” Ernest says.