Chapter 32
The following day, Chase opened the door, holding Melody’s hand. Leo rose to his feet as she cried out, “Daddy.” She ran toward him, nearly knocking him over. He held her tightly as she cried.
“It’s all right. I’m home,” he soothed as Kit Kat watched from the bed.
“They said you died,” she told him.
“I’m here,” he said, not wanting to scare her.
“How? They said they couldn’t find you,” she sniffled. “They promised not to give up.”
Leo sat down and placed his daughter in front of him. Kassie and Chase watched from the doorway as Kit Kat held the baby.
“I fought my way back because of this,” he said, pulling out the picture she drew him and left on the fridge.
He showed her Derrick’s pacifier and Gracie’s rattle.
“This represented everything I hold dear to me,” he told her.
Lastly, he pulled out the lock of Kit Kat’s hair and pressed it in her hand. “I fought for all of you.”
Melody wrapped her arms around his neck and climbed in his lap. He didn’t care if she was too big to hold. His little girl needed him. He rubbed her back and said, “I heard you were the greatest helper. Mom says you’re the best.”
“She needed me,” Melody said. “We cuddled and planned to watch videos of you to help Grace, Derrick, and the baby remember you.”
“How would you feel if I hung around the house more often?” he asked.
Her eyes lit up. She asked cautiously, “Do you mean it?”
“Yeah,” he said softly, glancing over at Kit Kat. He saw the doubt in her eyes, too. It appeared his actions needed to speak louder than words.
“I heard Emma asked you to stay over while Mom and I recover. Do you think you might tear yourself away if Uncle Chase and Aunt Kassie bring you over? Doc has to fix my leg and my throat. It’s the perfect time to spend coloring.”
“I have some new coloring books and glitter crayons,” she exclaimed.
“Since we’ll be here for a while, I have a new friend who needs taken care of. Can you help me?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said as Leo pointed to the door. Cole came around the corner, holding a German Sheppard puppy.
Her eyes grew big, and she ran to hold it. “What’s his name?”
“He doesn’t have a name. He’s yours, and I thought you’d like to pick it.”
“Oh, yes,” she exclaimed. “I’m gonna name him Koda. It means friend.”
“I like it. In the evenings we can walk him together,” he said quietly.
She giggled as the puppy squirmed in her arms.
“You’re in charge of feeding him, giving him fresh water, and cleaning up poop,” he said firmly.
Shrugging, Melody replied. “It’s better than having to change Derrick’s doo doo, and now you get to clean up the new baby’s diaper. I’ll only have to clean up after him.”
“Thanks for the reminder. Do you want to go show your friends?” he asked.
Melody rushed from the room as Cole escorted her outside.
Turning to Catherine, he said, “You know, we never got to naming this guy.”
She peered at her son and smiled. “I didn’t have a name picked out yet.”
“I searched through one of the baby books last night while you slept. Then it occurred to me I have two dads in my life. Your dad saved mine growing up. Jake came for me. What if we called him Henry Jake Armstrong? They deserve to have a legacy.”
“It sounds perfect,” she said.
Two weeks later, Kassie and Chase rolled them into a medical van and took them home. The grans already came and went, leaving them with a clean house and something wonderful baking in the oven. The nurses stood by to help with the kids and their medical needs.
Cynthia took Henry to his bassinet.
“I wish I could breastfeed him,” Catherine said. “I feel bad he’s the only one I didn’t do it with.”
“What did Kassie and Dr. Greene tell you? ‘Fed is best.’ It doesn’t matter if it came from formula or you if he’s healthy,” he reminded her. “We’re learning to do what’s best for us.”
“You’re right,” she agreed.
“Call us if you need anything,” Kassie said. “Doc will pick up Leo tomorrow for all his tests.”
“We got it, PITA,” he said, rising from the chair. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”
“There’s no need,” Kassie said. “I’d do anything for you.”
“You’ve proven it time after time,” he said.
“So have you,” she said, hugging him before leaving. Grace ran into the living room and waved her “How to Make a Bomb” book at him. “Daddy read?”
“Sure, Gracie,” he said, sitting down to let her crawl into his lap. He kissed the top of her head and started reading when he noticed she held the rattle he brought home.
Kit Kat swiped the tear away and smiled when he peered at her. These were the moments he recalled before he died. They were the ones to treasure, and he planned on doing it the rest of his life.