Chapter 27
Kean parks up outside of the church and turns to look at me. “Ready?”
I nod. “I guess, let’s do this.”
We both get out of the car. I get River, and Kean gets Lyric.
Both Kean and I are in dark suits, River is in dark blue dungarees, and Lyric is wearing a little dark blue three-piece suit looks so cute.
Sly, Temp and Ben walk over and join us. I chuckled to myself when I first saw them this morning. All three are in black suits and totally have that bodyguard look going on.
“We’ll sit at the back of the church and watch your backs,” Temp says.
“Thanks,” Kean replies.
We walk towards the church entrance and see people milling about. The first person I spot is Daniel, who sees me and comes walking over.
“Titus,” he greets, smiling at me.
“Hi, Daniel. Can I introduce you? Kean, this is my wonderful assistant Daniel.”
Kean holds his hand out and shakes Daniel’s. “It’s good to finally meet you.”
“And you,” Daniel says.
“These are our brothers, Temp, Ben and Sly, and this is River,” I say, holding the baby up, “and Lyric.”
“It’s lovely to meet you all and put faces to names. Look at you, Lyric, looking very smart there.”
I hold River out to him. “Here.”
Daniel takes River and smiles. “Welcome to the world, little one. You have two fine daddies, you know that?” he looks at Lyric. “So do you.”
Lyric nods and clutches his bear to his chest.
As we’re chatting, Monica and her husband walk over to us.
“Titus, Kean,” Monica says. “Hello Lyric,” she says, stroking his hand and then stealing River from Daniel.
“Monica, Chris, can I introduce you to Tempest Tanner, Sylvester Anderson-Sherwood and Ben Stone?” I introduce.
“Hello, it’s lovely to meet you all. I just wish it was under better circumstances,” she says.
“We brought some clothes with us as you asked Titus,” Chris says softly. “Making bears is a lovely idea.”
“It was Kean’s idea,” I tell them.
Lyric moves and holds his arms out to me. “Tus,” he says softly.
I take him and hug him close. “You okay, little man?”
He nods and snuggles close.
“So cute,” Daniel says, looking at us.
Chris looks at the time. “We should go in; the funerals are due to start in a few minutes.”
Monica hands River to Kean. “Come on then,” she takes Chris’ hand and we all follow behind. Daniel at our side.
“We’ve got your back, Bro,” Temp says softly just before we walk in.
“Thanks,” I reply.
Kean and I follow Monica and Chris to the front of the church. The church is packed, and looking at those gathered, I know most of the people here.
The church isn’t overly large, but it’s pretty in an understated way. There are pews on both sides with stone columns dotted around the sides and stunning stained glass windows.
In front of the altar are two wicker coffins, with pictures on top, one of Doris and one of Reggie.
I look at Doris’ picture, she was lovely, River seems to take after her in looks, whereas Lyric looks like Reggie.
Lyric points at the pictures. “Mama, dada.”
“Yeah, Lyric, that was your mum and dad,” I say softly.
He looks around. “Mama, dada.”
I sit down next to Monica and Kean.
“They’re in the baskets,” Monica tells him, stroking his hand.
“No come?” he asks, looking at me.
“No Lyric, no come,” I reply softly.
He sniffs and pulls his teddy close, while holding tightly onto my shirt, as if he’s afraid I’ll go as well.
The vicar steps forward and starts the service. Monica and a man called Reval, who was Reggie’s best friend, both stand up and say something, and then the service is over, with both coffins being carried outside to the graveyard at the back of the church.
We all gather around the double grave. I move Lyric so he can see what’s happening.
The vicar says prayers, and the baskets are lowered into the ground.
“No, mama, dada,” Lyric cries out, trying to get down.
“Shh, Lyric,” I say, trying to settle him.
“Scare,” he says, crying, tears falling down his face.
“You’re scared for mama and dada?” I ask gently.
He nods.
“They’re safe, they can’t feel anything,” I tell him softly.
What am I supposed to tell him? How do I help him make sense of this and feel better?
Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to bring him today.
I pull a tissue out of my pocket and wipe his face.
Unconsciously, I lean into Kean, who slips his arm around me.
River is awake and watching from his arm.
Kean kisses the side of my head and then Lyric’s.
“If anyone would like to throw dirt or a flower on the coffins, now is the time,” the vicar announces.
Daniel hands me a flower from a bunch I hadn’t noticed he had picked up from somewhere.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the yellow carnation. I walk closer to the grave and pass it to Lyric. “Do you want to drop this in the ground?”
He takes the flower and throws it in.
“Well done,” I say, moving back.
Kean steps forward and throws a flower in for River. We move out of the way so others can drop flowers or dirt in.
After that, the funeral and burial are over, people come over to chat to me and Kean and to see the boys. All the time, I’m aware of Temp, Sly and Ben standing close by, watching over us.
Reval and his wife, Macy, come over to introduce themselves and to see the boys and meet us.
“I’m so glad Doris lived long enough to give birth and that you used the name they picked out,” Macy says, holding River.
I tried to hand Lyric to Reval, but he wouldn’t let up his death grip on my shirt.
“It was the least we could do. We’re putting pictures of Reggie and Doris up in their rooms and creating memory books about their parents,” I say.
“Would you like to write things about Reggie and Doris that we can add to the book?” Kean asks.
Macy sniffs and nods.
“We can both do that. That is such a lovely idea, thank you,” Reval replies.
“If we give you our numbers, anytime you want to see the boys, you’re more than welcome,” I tell them.
“Thank you, Titus. Our one fear was losing contact with Lyric and never meeting River. You might not know, but Reval and I are Lyric’s godparents.”
“Then we will make sure you never lose contact with them,” Kean assures them.
“Thank you,” Macy says, handing River back to Kean. “We should get to the wake.”
Reval pulls his phone out. “Give me your numbers and then I can text you with ours.”
We both rattle off our numbers and wave as they leave. Finally, everyone has left except Monica, Chris and Daniel.
“There are drinks and nibbles at the Drunken Duck if you want to join us,” Chris says.
“I’m not sure how much more Lyric can cope with,” I say, as Lyric sniffs.
“We understand,” Monica replies.
Kean puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out two wedding invites. “This probably isn’t the right time, but these are invites to our wedding. We’re getting married Easter Monday. Sorry for the short notice.”
“Nothing wrong with handing them out today. It gives us something to look forward to,” Monica says, taking them and then handing Daniel his invite.
“I’ll be there, like I’d miss your wedding,” Daniel says, smiling.
“Just as we’ll be there,” Chris tells us. “I’ll pop to the car and get the bag of clothes for you.”
“Thanks, Chris,” Kean says.
“We’ll follow, then you three can go off to the wake,” I reply.
It doesn’t take long to get the bag, say goodbye and watch them leave.
“So that was heart breaking,” Temp comments.
Ben takes his hand.
“It was,” Kean replies.
“How about we go and find some lunch somewhere?” I look at Lyric. “What do you say, little man, fancy something to eat?”
“Nack,” he says, lifting his head up and looking at me.
Temp smiles and pokes Lyric in the tummy. “Lots of snacks.”
Lyric giggles.
I smile at my brother glad he made Lyric laugh.
“We passed a pub on the way here. It had swings in the garden, and it looked child-friendly. I think it was called The Slaughtered Lamb,” Ben tells us.
“Please tell me you didn’t see it down a country lane,” Sly asks.
“You’re safe,” Ben replies. “It was on the side of the road, plus it’s not nighttime, raining or foggy.”
“A film reference I actually understand,” I reply happily.
“But have you seen a Company of Wolves?” Sly asks.
I shake my head. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Sly dramatically gasps and clutches his chest in fake shock. “Second best werewolf film after An American Werewolf in London. Film night at our place after the wedding.”
“Sounds like a plan. But for now, food,” Kean says.
“Or you could stay and talk to me,” Septamus says, springing up from behind a parked car. “Well, would you look at that? You have children, won’t they be fun to play with?”
“That’s something you’ll never do,” Temp says, stepping in front of us, Sly and Ben at his side.
“Oh, how sweet, you have these things to protect you,” he sneers, waving a hand at them.
“I honestly don’t need anyone to protect me, especially from you,” I tell him. “They are here to protect the boys.”
“Here, honey, let me take little man,” Kean says.
I pass Lyric over to him and step around the others. Ben goes to stand by his brother.
“What are their names?” Septamus asks, not taking his eyes off them.
I laugh. “There is no way I’ll tell you their names. There is no way you’re getting any closer to them than you are now. You’re lucky you’re still breathing, to be honest.”
“Give me back my magic,” he demands.
“Gods, you’re such a twat,” Temp shoots out. “You gave your magic away to Tarek remember, the dark witch you are so madly in love with, that you happily gave him your magic.”
“But not all of it. He bound the rest of my magic,” he shouts, pointing at me, “and he’s hiding Tarek away somewhere. I want my magic and Tarek back.”
“Oh shut up, you nutty windbag,” Sly says, stepping forward.
“Your Tarek is deader than dead, never to be resurrected, your magic is gone forever. Even if Titus unbound what is left of your magic, you would have less than a fly, so you’d be able to do nothing with it.
So just sod off and leave Titus, Cassie and the boys alone. ”
“Or what?” Septamus spits out, his eyes angry. “I have this,” he says, pulling out a vial of something from his pocket.
“What’s that?” Temp asks him, eyeing said vial.
It looks like a fancy perfume bottle, with some kind of dark liquid inside.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he sneers.
“We would actually,” Sly says, holding his hand out. “Come.”
The vial flies out of my brother’s hand and into Sly’s.
“Give that back, that’s mine,” Septamus demands, but makes no move to step forward and get it.
“What does it do, Septamus?” I ask him calmly.
“Nothing, now give it back,” he shouts and stamps his foot.
Sly shrugs. “Okay,” and with that, he throws it at Septamus.
The vial hits him in the chest and breaks on impact, the contents covering the front of my brother from head to toe, which surprises me as that vial wasn’t that big.
“NO!” Septamus screams.
I wave my hand to cut off his screaming and throw a bubble around Septamus, not stopping what was happening to him, but stopping whatever was in that vial from coming near us. Temp and Sly have the same idea, and their magic joins mine, wrapping around him.
Something, well, a lot of somethings, starts appearing on his face.
“Are they massive boils?” Temp asks in horror.
“Looks like it,” I say.
But these boils are angry and exploding all over him.
“Thank you for saving me from that,” I say, looking at Sly.
“You’re welcome. Let’s send him home, shall we?”
“Yuck,” Temp says, as a large boil on Septamus’ forehead erupts, sending blood and pus everywhere inside the bubble. “Quick, before I have nightmares or throw up.”
I take Temp’s hand and hold the other out to Sly. He grins and takes it. We send our, for the moment, grey magic out, and Septamus vanishes.
“Pretty sure that will be the last you see of him,” Sly says, dropping my hand. “I’m also pretty sure those boil holes will never heal.”
“Will there be any karma backlash for you?” I ask him, concerned, letting Temp’s hand go.
Sly shakes his head. “Nope. I just turned his potion on him. No backlash whatsoever.”
“Good,” I reply. I turn to look at Kean and the boys, but they aren’t behind us. I see them off by the church, looking around some old graves, Ben bending down and holding Lyric’s hand, pointing to something and Kean carrying River.
“He looks so cute holding Lyric’s hand,” Temp says, gazing at his lover.
“Changing your mind about having one?” I ask, grinning.
“No. We might look at fostering older children somewhere down the line, but not for some time yet,” he replies.
Hey handsome it’s safe to come back.
Kean looks over and smiles. We’ll be right with you, and then we can get some lunch.
Good, I’m starving.