“I’m here, baby. You were so brave tonight. How are you feeling?”
“My throat hurts.”
“Here, buddy. Have a drink.” I turn to see Lucas pouring him a glass of water.
“Thank you,” he croaks, taking the glass from Lucas. He takes a sip. “Was there a fire in our house, Mommy?”
I look at Lucas, who gives me a small smile. I sit on the bed and pull Roman onto my lap. “Yes, sweetheart. Lucas found you and got you out.”
“Did I miss the fire truck?”
“You were sleeping when I found you. You chose a brilliant hiding place in the closet,” Lucas tells him.
“But I missed the fire truck,” he says again, a frown on his face.
“You can come to the firehouse with me and see the truck whenever you want,” Lucas says, sitting down next to me and ruffling his hair.
“Can I go down the fireman’s pole again?”
“Sure,” Lucas tells him with a smile. “As soon as you’re feeling better, we can go.”
“Okay.”
“How about you try and get some more sleep, Rome?”
“Will you lie with me, Mommy? You too, Lucas.”
I look across to Lucas, who grins. “Come on, then.”
The three of us squash onto the small hospital bed, Roman in the middle of me and Lucas. Within seconds, Roman’s breathing has evened out and he’s asleep. Tonight must really have taken it out of him.
I look across at Lucas, who reaches his hand over and tangles his fingers with mine.
“You should try to get some sleep too, baby.”
“You’ll stay with us?”
“I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
I could never imagine that my decision to move to Armstrong would change everything. I’d hoped to make a better life for Roman, but I never thought I’d get a shot at my happy ever after. I thought I’d had my one and only chance with Dexter, but Lucas showed me that love is possible again. This is the start of a new chapter and I can’t wait to see where life takes me with Roman and Lucas at my side.