Chapter 36
We pull back and laugh as we walk off the stage and are surrounded by our family and friends. We get hugged and patted on the back. I laugh as I look around; all the townsfolk seem to be here. I wonder if all the shops are closed today.
Adhan and his brothers walk off to sort the BBQ out, and we chat with everyone who comes over.
Daniel comes over and pulls me into a hug, being careful of Lyric. “Congratulations, Titus, Kean,” he says, shaking Kean’s hand. “That was lovely, and yes, I did tear up at your vows. But I need to hear the story of tight jeans and pizza.”
Kean and I burst out laughing.
“I’ll tell you later,” I say. “Thank you for coming.”
Daniel scoffs. “As if I would miss your wedding.”
Monica, Chris and Justin walk over and join us and offer us congratulations.
“Thanks for coming,” Kean says to them.
“It was lovely to be invited,” Chris replies.
“Monica, let me grab Temp, and he can introduce you to the other witches,” I say, as I spy Temp and Ben near us. “Temp,” I call.
He and Ben walk over to join us.
“Hello again,” Temp says to them.
“Temp, this is our case worker, Justin. Justin, our brothers, Tempest and Ben,” I introduce. “Temp, can you introduce the family to Monica, Chris, Daniel and Justin? We’ll join you as soon as we can.”
“It’s your wedding day, Temp, and Ben can introduce us. Just enjoy your day” Monica replies kindly.
“Thanks, Monica,” I reply.
“If you come with us, we’ll make the introductions. The family is easy to spot as we’re all dressed the same,” Temp says, leading them away.
Just as they leave, Reval and Macy join us.
“Congratulations,” they both say.
“Thank you for inviting us,” Macy adds.
“You’re more than welcome, but we actually have something to ask you,” Kean says.
“We wondered if you would like to be River’s godparents,” I ask.
“Oh, Titus, Kean, we would be delighted,” Macy gushes.
“Thank you,” a choked Reval says. “You’ve no idea what this means to us.”
Kean touches his arm. “We can guess.”
Suddenly, a loud whistle rents the air and silence descends.
“Alright, people, baby naming time, chop, chop,” Ernest announces.
“Well, it would be if we knew where River was,” I mutter.
“Here he is,” Jodie says, walking up to us.
“Jodie, your dress is amazing,” I say. It’s another colourful dress that suits her to a T.
“Emily, Nora and I went shopping to get our dresses together, and we all blend nicely.”
“You certainly do, Jodie,” Kean tells her, stealing River.
Ernest strides over to us. “Chop, chop, time to get moving.”
I shake my head at him. “You’re so bossy. Plus, don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to me earlier.”
He shrugs a shoulder. “It’s payback for Sunday morning.”
“For what, me waking you up or Lyric’s pee attack?”
“Both,” he replies.
Jodie shakes her head at him and fake sighs. “Such a disappointment.”
“Nice, Ma.”
“Ernest, Jodie, this is Macy and Reval Fford. They were best friends with Doris and Reggie,” Kean introduces.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Jodie says in sympathy.
“Thank you. It’s hard. I keep picking up my phone to chat to Doris before I remember I can’t. The only bright spot is knowing she lived long enough to have River,” Macy says.
“And I keep sending silly memes to Reggie, and then I remember he won’t see them,” Reval adds.
“We’ve asked Macy and Ravel to be River’s godparents; they’re already Lyric’s,” I explain.
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Jodie exclaims.
“I’ll give you a piece of paper with your wording on it,” Ernest tells them. “Come on, you need good seats.” And without giving them a choice, he ushers them away.
“You best be going up front, it looks like everyone is ready,” Jodie says, stroking River’s hand and Lyric’s head. Surprisingly, both boys are still awake.
“You ready, little man?” I ask him gently.
He nods, and the four of us again walk down the aisle and up the steps.
“You’re up, honey.”
I smile and kiss his cheek before looking forward. “Thank you, friends and family, firstly for helping us celebrate our marriage, and now for helping us celebrate our wonderful sons.
We give thanks to the Goddess for the precious gifts we have been entrusted with, and Kean and I both vow to keep the memory of the boys’ birth parents, Doris and Reggie Lee, alive.”
Lyric sniffs and I drop a kiss on his head. “You okay?” I ask softly.
He nods and holds onto my jacket tighter.
“To give a child a name is a powerful thing; names have power, and when a child is named, it resonates through the heavens. Doris and Reggie had already picked out the baby’s name, and we honour them by using it.”
Kean steps forward. “Our son is known as River Lee Compton-Stone. We ask the Gods and Goddesses to bless our son.” He walks to the table and puts River down, who starts to cry.
“It’s okay, Baba, I’ll be quick.” Kean opens his waistcoat and shirt, and picks up some oil that was on the table.
He puts a bit on his finger and draws a pentagram on his head, then pulls his little top down and draws on his chest, before redressing him and picking him up.
As soon as River is picked up, he stops crying.
I join them at the table and touch River’s head. “River Lee Compton-Stone,
May the sun shine bright upon you.
May the moon in the darkness guide you.
May the stars in the sky watch you.
May the fates be kind to you.
May your loved ones aid you in the storms of life.
May joy be yours, and may there be little strife.
May peace and happiness be yours all your days.
May you find friends, love, and good work on your way.
Blessings of the Gods and Goddesses be upon you.”
Kean and I walk back to the centre of the stage and look at Macy and Reval. “Macy, Reval, if you would like to join us.”
They get up, holding hands and walk up the steps to stand just to the side of us. Both holding a sheet of paper.
“Do you two stand here with the purpose of being godparents to River Lee Compton-Stone?” I ask.
They both nod. “We do.”
They both read off the paper and talk at the same time.
“I, Macy Fford/Reval Fford, do swear to stand as Godparents to River Lee Compton-Stone. I promise to do my best to be a good example to him, in deed, thought, word and heart. I will teach what lessons I can, being mindful that he will make his own choices and follow his own path in life. I swear this in the name of the Gods and Goddesses.”
I smile at them both. “Your oaths are accepted by the Gods and Goddesses, by Kean and myself, and witnessed by all our family and friends gathered here today.”
“Thank you,” Kean says to them and waves River’s little hand.
Macy and Reval start to walk away when Macy pops back. “Lyric doesn’t have a middle name,” she tells us, before she and Reval walk back to their seats.
“Lastly, we give thanks to the Gods and Goddesses for our son, Lyric Lee Compton-Stone,” Kean says, placing his hand on Lyric’s back so we’re both touching him. “Lyric, today we officially welcome you into our family.
I look at Lyric. “Lyric, we promise to love and protect you. To guide you as you grow up and help you grow into a wonderful man. We promise to hold you when you’re sad and help you find peace, and to know that your mama and dada loved you very much, and we’ll make sure you never forget them.”
Lyric sniffs and sighs into my neck.
“Everyone, we give you Lyric and River Compton-Stone.”
Everyone breaks out into claps and cheers, and after a few moments, I hold my hand up for silence.
“I want to thank everyone again for coming to our special day. In days gone by, we would share a drink now, but as there are so many of us, we hope you will share one with us as we come around and talk to you all.”
Molly walks up onto the stage with us, Ebby, Justice, Sal and Cassie with her.
“We will now thank the quarters and thank the Lord and Lady, the Gods and Goddesses for being with us on this special day.”
Kean and I move to the side as the circle is closed.
“And that’s a rap,” Ernest says happily, “It’s party time.”