Page 56 of Dreams Do Come True

“Because I could have used magic earlier to change Lyric’s top.”

Kean takes my hand and we leave the bedroom, grinning at me. “Yes, yes, you are.”

I burst out laughing, and soon Kean is joining in. I pull him to a stop just outside the kitchen, where we hear happy chatter. “Love you, handsome.”

Kean lifts his free hand and touches my cheek. “So you should,” he then drops his hand, letting go of my other hand and grinning, walks into the kitchen as I burst out laughing.

Dinner has been eatenand we’re all sat round the table laughing and chatting when I see Adhan look towards the kitchen door, a look of shock on his face.

I turn to look and see who’s there, and see Lyric standing there grinning.

He toddles over to the table, and I pick him up.

“How did you get down here, little man?” Kean asks in shock.

Lyric smiles. “I climb.”

“You climbed out of your cot?” I ask him. I’m not sure if I should be impressed or not.

Lyric nods.

“How did you do the stairs?” Temp asks from next to me. Then says, “High five, Lyric,” and holds his hand up.

Lyric laughs and slaps his hand. “Five, Unk Emp.”

“We might need to toddler-proof the house,” Adhan says. “Child gates top and bottom of the stairs and probably the bedroom doors as well.”

“That might be a good idea,” Kean says.

“You should be asleep, little man, not having climbing adventures,” I say gently.

“Ver owie,” Lyric says.

Before I can say anything, Kean is up out of his chair and running upstairs.

“And I thought Sal was bad,” Jude says, shaking his head.

“Hey, I wasn’t that bad,” Sal protests.

We all look at him.

“Fine, maybe I was, but only for the first few days.”

“How do you know your brother’s in pain?” I ask Lyric.

“I feel.”

Before I can reply, Kean walks back in holding a grizzling River. “He feels hot,” Kean says.

Justice stands up. “Let me see him. Al, can you grab my bag from the hall for me?” he asks, taking the baby and sitting down.

“Yep,” Alfred says, jumping up and quickly walking out to get it. He’s back a moment later. “Here you go, my Doc.”

“Thanks, love,” Justice replies, un-swaddling River.

As soon as he is un-swaddled, River pulls his little legs up and his fists clench.

Justice takes a baby thermometer out of his bag and puts a plastic end on the tip, before undoing River’s sleep baby grow and putting the thermometer under his arm.