Page 95 of Dreams Do Come True

Kean stands up, and it’s then I realise Lyric is sitting on Cassie’s lap.

“I knew I would be a terrible parent,” I confess. “Who was I kidding, thinking I could be a good father?” I feel my eyes fill with tears.

“Hey, hey, honey, stop that,” Kean says, pulling me into his arms, being careful of the baby. “You’re a wonderful father. Sometimes babies just cry. Let me hold him.”

I pass River over, fully expecting him to stop crying as soon as he’s in Kean’s arms, but he doesn’t.

“Kean is right, Titus,” Emily says, walking into the kitchen. “Sometimes babies just cry for no reason,” she pulls me into a hug. “You are a wonderful father, just as I knew you would be. Never doubt that.”

I hug her and then pull back. “Thanks, Emily. I thought he was crying because of something I’d done. I was sure when Kean took him, he’d stop crying.”

“As you can hear, you were wrong,” Emily says, patting my arm.

“How about a walk around the garden, Baba. I’m sure everyone wants some peace and quiet for a few minutes,” Kean says, walking out of the kitchen.

I slump down onto a chair, lean my elbows on the table, and drop my head into my hands for a moment, taking a breath. I feel a hand on my lap and look down and see Lyric standing next to me, looking concerned. He holds his arms up. “Tus,” he says softly.

I smile as I pick him up. “Hey, little man,” I say, standing him on my lap.

“Tus sad,” he says, patting my cheek.

“I’m alright now, little man, I was just having a moment,” I tell him gently.

Lyric smiles. “Luv Tus,” he says, falling onto my chest and hugging me. I feel tears come to my eyes for another reason now, happiness.

“I love you too, Lyric,” I look up and see my brothers, Ben, Sion and Emily smiling broadly.

CHAPTER 29

It’s nearly dinner time, and Kean is still walking around the garden with a crying River. How can a baby cry for so long? It’s literally been hours.

Lyric hasn’t moved from my lap, after telling me he loved me and giving me a big hug. He sat on my lap and refused to move.

Finally, I pull my phone out of my pocket and research how to stop a baby crying.

“Hey, little man, can you stay here while I go outside and help Kean?”

“Ver stop cry?” he asks, looking up at me.

I nod. “I’m going to try.”

He nods. “Down Tus.”

I put him down and watch him walk over to Ben. “Up Unk En.”

Ben laughs and picks him up as I walk outside.

Kean sees me and walks over. “Should we take him to see Justice?”

“Not yet. I’ve been googling to see what can be done. Can I try something?”

“Sure,” he says, handing River over.

I gently cradle him and then use my finger to gently stroke his forehead and down his nose. It takes a few minutes, but River’s crying starts to lessen, until finally he stops and falls asleep.

We both give a sigh of relief.

Kean puts his arm around me and kisses the side of my head. “Well done, honey.”