Page 46 of Dreams Do Come True

“Did Justice get called out?” I ask

“Yeah, just before four,” Emily replies. “Both Ernest and Alfred are already at the shop; there is an early meeting and an early book delivery.”

“Expect Jodie and John to call around later for baby snuggles. Plus Ebby, Sly and the boys will be coming round so Enoch can play with Lyric,” Adhan says, using a spoon to give Lyric some scrambled eggs.

Lyric looks up and smiles. “Nox.”

Adhan nods. “Yes, your cousin, Enoch.”

Lyric sighs and leans back against Adhan’s chest, looking happy and content. That is, until Lyric pulls a face and lets one off, loud and by the sound of it messy.

“Oh by the Goddess!” Adhan exclaims, picking Lyric up and turning him so Lyric faces him. “Did you really just do a stinky on my lap?”

Lyric holds his nose and leans forward, and grabs Adhan’s nose. “Stinky.”

We all laugh.

“And this is why I’m happy being an uncle, because I don’t have to change your nappy,” Adhan declares, standing up and carrying Lyric to Kean. “Clean up in nappy one.”

Kean laughs and takes our son, shaking his head. “Mean Uncle Adhan not wanting to change your nappy.”

“Mean Unk Addy,” Lyric agrees, making us all laugh, as Kean stands up and goes to clean Lyric up.

I put my knife and fork down. “While Lyric isn’t here, I need to warn you that he asks for his mama a lot, and doesn’t really understand why neither of his parents are around. It’s completely heart breaking hearing him cry for them. When wetook him to his house the other day, he was so excited and ran around the downstairs calling for them. When they didn’t come, his cry was heart-wrenching. Kean held him through it; he then fell asleep in my arms, but didn’t talk again until yesterday morning.” I tell everyone.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how strange and confusing everything must be for him. You said it’s not even been a week, so of course he’ll want them,” Jude says.

“It’s no reflection on you two, you know that, right, sonny?” Molly asks, looking serious.

I nod. “Yeah, we know. We’re going to keep Reggie and Doris’ memory alive; we have their pictures, which we’ll put up in their rooms, and put together a memory book for each of them. I didn’t know Doris, but Monica did; she is going to write something about her for them.”

“That’s lovely, sonny,” Molly says.

“I love the way Lyric shortens words,” Sion says.

I laugh. “Yeah, grass is now known as ass.”

That caused a round of laughter.

“I have the best video to send you,” I grab my phone and attach the grass video to the family chat. I have just put my phone down when I realise, I'm now one of those parents who sends what we think are cute pictures and videos to others.

Everyone picks up their phones to have a look.

“You need the sound on for the full effect,” I tell him.

Everyone starts laughing. Especially when Kean tells the grass off and Lyric mimics him.

“That’s just perfect,” Cassie says, laughing.

“It really is,” I reply.

CHAPTER 15

We’ve moved the furniture around in the downstairs lounge and turned it into a playroom.

River is lying on his baby play mat. Temp sat next to him, playing with him. Lyric is with Connie and Nora, playing with blocks.

There are three cribs for the children for when they get tired, courtesy of Temp, plus a changing table, stocked underneath with everything needed.