Page 59 of Dreams Do Come True

I carry him out of the bedroom and into his room, and set out to change his nappy. Then walk into Kean and mine’s kitchen. All the brothers, including Emily and Alfred, have their own kitchens; we just tend not to use them. I’m thankful we do have one, though, as it saves me going down to the family kitchen to make the bottle up.

I manage to give River his bottle before he can wake anyone, and walk back into his bedroom. Off to one side is a lovely-looking rocking chair, and what I call a snuggle chair. Slightly bigger than a normal chair, but perfect for snuggling close. I settle down on the rocker and feed River as I gently rock backand forth. I rest my head back against the chair for a moment. I might still be blissed out, but I’m tired.

I look down at our son, feeling an overabundance of love. I know River will grow up calling us Daddy and Papa. I just wonder if Lyric will ever call us that. “We’ll just have to work on your brother, won’t we, Baba? How clever was Lyric to let us know you had a sore tummy last night? All I can say is thank goodness for magic, as you made a mess of Uncle Justice’s lap.”

“Yes, thanks for clearing that up,” Justice says from the doorway, looking tired and dressed.

“I didn’t fancy cleaning that nappy. Are you off out?”

Justice shakes his head and leans against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest. “No, just coming back in. Earl Hamilton isn’t doing too well, but is refusing to go to the hospital.”

“Come in and sit, you look tired, or should you go back to bed?”

Justice comes over and flops down in the chair, sighing. “I love these chairs. I’m on call today, so I won’t go back to bed, but I’ll go and see Alfred in a bit.”

Justice clicks his fingers, and a cup of coffee appears in his hands. “Want one?”

“Thanks, but I’ll wait and have one with Kean.”

I see River has finished his bottle and lift him up and burp him.

Justice hands me a cloth that was folded on the chest of draws.

I laugh and take it. “Thanks, last time I didn’t use one, he brought his milk back up all over my shoulder.” I carry on rubbing River’s back and hear laughter from the bedroom.

“Sounds like Lyric and Kean are awake. I’ll go, and you can join them,” Justice says.

“Stay, they can have bonding time. Talk to Molly about Earl. If he’d be better off in a hospital, she can make him go,”

River lets out a loud burp.

“Good boy.”

Justice looks at River. “He’ll say that now, but when you do it when you’re older, you’ll have to apologise.”

I laugh at that. “That’s true.”

“You need to come into the surgery and register the boys, especially River, so we can keep an eye on his weight, give him the relevant jabs and things like that.”

“We can do that, can’t we, Baba?” I ask him.

“Right, I really am off now. I miss Alfred, and if needed, I’ll ask for Molly’s help,” Justice says, standing. “See you at breakfast,” he salutes me with his mug.

“You will,” I say and watch him leave. I hear playful growling from the bedroom and look at River. “Shall we go and see your daddy and brother?” I stand up and walk into the bedroom.

I see Lyric crawling over the bed, with Kean pretending to chase him. I sit on the side of our bed.

“I’m going to eat you up,” Kean says, trying to catch him.

Lyric sees me. “Tus,” he says, grinning, crawling quickly over to me.

“Quick, sit on my lap and you’ll be safe,” I say playfully.

Lyric climbs on and laughs.

I wrap my arm around him. “All safe and protected.”

Kean sits back and huffs. “Well, that’s not very nice.”