Page 65 of Jeremy
Italk softly to him. “You have quite a family waiting for you out there. Andthey all love you very much and can’t wait for you to come home, Calvin. OrC.J.” His gaze stays locked on me. I know they say he can’t really see me atthis stage of development, but it sure feels like he does. “Jeremy likes C.J.but I’m not sure. Maybe when you’re older, but for now, you’re my baby Cal.”
Irock the chair slowly. “You have an aunt too. I hope you get to meet her afterthis mess is all untangled. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’sthat you never know what might happen. Things change in a blink, and suddenlyeverything is different.”
Hiseyes fall shut and he stops sucking. Jostling him does no good. He’s snoozingaway. I take a few moments to just watch him, watch the miracle of his chestrising and falling, before the nurse returns to put him back in his crib.
Itwon’t be long before he’ll be home, and I can hold him for as long as I want.
WhenI go back to the waiting room, Jeremy and Dare are the only ones still there. Idon’t know if they’ve worked out all their issues, but they aren’t glaring ateach other anymore. “He’s sleeping,” I tell Jeremy with a yawn. “But he looksso much better.”
“I’lljust peek in on him for a second. Then let’s get you home,” Jeremy says.“You’re asleep on your feet.”
“They’lllet you stay a while if you want to sit with him.”
“Idon’t want to wake him. I’ll come back this evening and spend time with him.”
Ilook up at him, resting my chin on his chest, my arms circling his waist.“Thank you for being here.”
“Iwouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
AfterJeremy spends a quick minute with Calvin, the three of us walk out together,and Dare drives my car home, since he rode with the others. All the drama Iknow is playing out at True Life, and on every local TV channel, isn’t enoughto keep me from crawling into bed and falling into a deep sleep.
Thereare still obstacles ahead of us, I’m sure, but for today, my baby is okay, andI’m truly free.
WhenI wake, the house is dark. I’m surprised to find it’s after seven in theevening. I’ve slept all day. “Jeremy?” I call, walking through the house.
Anote waits on the refrigerator.
Didn’twant to wake you. Went to hospital to see C.J. Get some rest. I’ll be backsoon.
Hejotted down the time at the bottom, so I know I just missed him.
Ifeel refreshed and wide awake. There’s no way I’m sitting here waiting for him,so I take a quick shower, throw on some clothes, and head back to the hospital.The ICU nurse waves at me to go on back to my son when I pause at the desk.
Iround the corner to the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. Jeremy sits in therocking chair, shirtless, and Calvin lies against his chest, wearing only histiny diaper. They were discussing the benefits of skin to skin contact beforehis setback, and it slipped my mind.
Quietly,I take out my phone and take a few pictures before he can see me. Seeing the manI love with the tiniest love of my life like this fills my heart to bursting.
“Hey,”I murmur, walking in.
Calvinturns his head toward my voice, and Jeremy chuckles. “Little momma’s boy.”
Ipull over a chair to sit beside them. “How is he doing?”
“Good,the nurse said this helps even out his heart rate.”
Wesit there with him until he succumbs to sleep. It’s one of those moments that Iknow is permanently imprinted on my brain.
I’llnever forget it.
ChapterEighteen
Jeremy
“I’mso excited, I might pee my pants,” Melissa squeals as I steer the car onto thehighway.
“Let’sleave that to C.J. okay? Only one family member gets to piss themselves at atime.”
It’sbeen a little over a month since everything went down. The remaining True Lifeleaders are being held awaiting trial, but there is no chance they’ll get off.Considering they were charged as terrorists, they’re lucky they’re getting atrial at all.
