Chapter 13
Ipull up in front of the manor. We left later than we originally wanted, but just as we were about to leave, Justin came round to see how things were and to give us the signed adoption papers.
I was surprised we didn’t need to go to court, but apparently, paranormal adoptions are handled differently.
I’m so happy everything went through quickly and seamlessly, and that now I don’t need to worry about something going wrong and the boys being taken away from us.
I take note of the cars parked up. “Looks like everyone is home for dinner.”
“It does. Sly, Ebby and the boys are here as well,” Kean says. He looks at me and grins. “Ready?”
“Yep. You get River, I’ll get Lyric. Don’t forget River’s bag,” I lean in and give him a quick kiss before getting out of the car and opening the back door to get Lyric out. I unbuckle him, and he holds his arms out, smiling at me.
I pick him up and grab his bag. “Ready to meet your new family?”
Lyric nods, sticking his thumb in his mouth and resting his head against my chest, teddy clutched close.
“Come on, honey,” Kean says, walking past me and opening the front door.
I follow, closing it behind me, as Kean bends down and takes a sleeping River out of the car seat, holding our baby against his chest. River looks so small lying against Kean’s chest, his little legs pulled up in the baby scrunch, making him appear even smaller.
We hear happy chatter from the kitchen and walk in.
“Look whose back,” Ben says, spying us first. “What?” he exclaims, obviously seeing the children.
Silence descends as everyone looks at us with varying degrees of shock on their faces.
“Guys, we’d like to introduce you to Lyric and River Compton-Stone. Lyric is sixteen months old, River is five days old,” Kean tells them.
“Congratulations,” they all say.
Thankfully, no one jumps up and surrounds us, but Lyric still hides his face in my shirt.
“We’ve just sat down for dinner, you must be hungry,” Emily says.
“Starving,” I reply, walking to an empty seat and sitting down. Dropping Lyric’s bag over the back of my chair.
“Mum, do you want to hold River?” Kean asks, walking over to her.
“Of course I do,” she says, standing up. “Let me say hello to Lyric first, though.” She walks around the table. I move my chair out a bit. Emily kneels down. “Hello, Lyric. I’m Emily, but you can call me Nana.”
Lyric peeks an eye at her, but doesn’t say anything.
Emily touches his head, then stands up and collects River from Kean, and he comes to sit down next to me.
“Yay, more babies. Grandpops and Grammie will be so excited,” Nora says.
“Yeah, grandpops will laugh as the boys outnumber the girls by a lot now,” Xander says.
Enoch is sitting next to me. He smiles at Lyric. “Hi, I’m Enoch. I love your name. Are you hungry? We have toad in the hole. Did you know there are no actual toads in it, just sausages? Do you want some?”
I watch as Enoch wins over Lyric. He moves his head and looks fully at Enoch. “Nok,” Lyric says.
“Close enough,” Enoch replies. He cuts a small bit of sausage, stabs it with his fork and holds it out to Lyric. “Blow on it first, it’s a bit hot.”
Lyric leans forward and does a loud blow, pretty sure Enoch is now covered in Lyric spit, I know my arm is. Lyric takes a small bite and pulls back. “Hot Nok.”
“Okay, we’ll leave it here where it can cool down, then you can eat it,” he takes the bit of sausage off his fork and puts it on the side of his plate. “How about some peas?”
I touch Enoch’s shoulder. “Thank you, Enoch, but eat your dinner before it gets cold. I can put some food on my plate to cool down enough for Lyric to eat.”
I look up and see everyone watching us.
“We have the best family,” Ernest comments.
“Do we need to go shopping tomorrow?” Adhan asks.
“No. We have all of Lyric’s stuff from his house and everything that was brought for River. We fitted as much as we could in the car; the rest is coming by van tomorrow,” Kean replies.
“You know who their parents were?” Temp asks, surprised.
“I did. Reggie worked for the council. He and his wife were involved in a car accident..,” I go on to explain everything.
“Kitsunes,” Ebby says. “I thought they were Japanese myths.”
“So did I until I met Reggie,” I reply.
All through dinner, Enoch is chatting to Lyric, pulling faces and making him laugh.
Kean cut my dinner up for me, and I occasionally try and feed Lyric.
“No,” he finally says. “Nok.”
I look at Enoch and see he’s finished eating. “I think your cousin wants you to feed him.”
Enoch pulls a face at Lyric before putting some peas on a spoon and feeding them to him. “Finish your dinner, Tie. Me and Lyric have this.”
“Thanks,” I say, leaving them to it and eating one-handed.
I see everyone has already finished. “Sorry.”
“There is nothing to apologise for,” Adhan says. “Once you’ve finished eating, we’ll go and unload the car, take everything upstairs and get it sorted for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, finishing my dinner.
“The furniture is arriving tomorrow, but we have a baby box for River to sleep in,” Kean says. “Toys, some more clothes, nappies, stuff like that.”
I finish my dinner and everyone leaves to help unload the car, except for Emily, who is still holding River, and Enoch, who is still feeding Lyric.
A few moments later, River starts to fuss, and Kean rushes back in, taking the baby out of Emily’s arms. “Hush, Baba, daddy will make up your bottle and change your stinky nappy.”
“You know I could have done that, right? You know, having raised five sons and helping to raise Alfred and looking after Connie,” Emily points out.
“Yeah, but..,” Kean starts to say. “Sorry, Mum, but he’s still so shiny and new.”
“Go change his nappy and I’ll make him a bottle,” Emily says with a laugh.
“Will do. His stuff is in his bag,” Kean says, picking it up and putting it in a chair, pulling out a clean nappy and wipes. Then a bottle and the formula, handing them to Emily, before taking River out of the kitchen.
“Boys,” Emily mutters, shaking her head while making the formula. She brings the now-filled bottle over to the table and hands me a sippy cup. “It’s watered down orange juice.”
“Thanks, Emily,” I say, taking it and holding it out to Lyric.
He leans forward and takes a drink, then leans back and yawns.
“Time for some sleep, little man. Say goodnight to Nana and Enoch.”
He waves to Emily and looks at Enoch, and holds his hand up. “Five Nok.”
Enoch laughs and gently touches his hand. “High five, Lyric. Sleep well, little cousin.”
I stand up and pat his shoulder. “Thanks, Enoch,” I pick up Lyric’s bag and walk up the stairs. The room for the boys is a hive of activity.
With so many people, it doesn’t take long to unpack everything from the car.
“Thanks for this. I’m going to get Lyric ready for bed,” I say, walking into our bedroom.
I see Kean already in there, sat on the bed, feeding River. I’ve no idea how he got the bottle.
I put Lyric’s bag on the bed and take out a clean nappy, a sleep onesie and his little toothbrush and toothpaste.
I drop a kiss on Kean’s head as I take Lyric into the bathroom.
“Okay, Lyric,” I say, sitting him on the vanity.
“Are you going to let me clean your teeth?
I put a bit of paste on his brush. “Open wide.”
Lyric crosses his arms over his chest. “No, Nok.”
“Sorry, Lyric, Enoch isn’t here; it’s just you and me. Look, your toothbrush has a ladybird on it,” I show him the end of the toothbrush.
He gives a big sigh, opens his mouth, and I brush his teeth. “Well done, Lyric.” I praise. I run the brush under the tap and brush his teeth again. “There, all done. Shall we go and change your stinky nappy?”
Lyric nods and holds his arms out. I pick him up and take him back to the bedroom. “Mama, dada?” he asks softly.
“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.”