Sitting up, I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
I ended up walking him in the carrier that night, too, just for a little while, then removing him as gently as possible and laying him down again.
People stop to coo over Adam as I walk by.
I’m in the Never Alone counseling offices, the walls lined with photos of the victims, taken during the brightest moments in their lives… graduations, weddings, and celebrations, remembering them warmly.
“Hey, Logan.”
I turn to find Jane walking up with William, holding hands. They’re dressed in fashionable clothes, leather, straps, and buckles, looking like painters crossed with heavy metal fans.
They look happy, and that’s normal too. They always do when they’re together.
“Andhey, little godson.”
I nod a hello to William.
“How’s it going, Logan?”
“Not too bad. This one’s finally stopped crying.”
“I’m sure I can help with that,” Jane jokes but keeps her voice low. She smiles down at Adam for a moment. “He really is the cutest little bundle of cuteness I’ve ever seen.”
I laugh, nodding. “I’d have to agree with that. Are you here for rehearsals? You didn’t have to do that.”
“I want to give it my all.”
William has finally agreed to put his name to the charity. He thought it would come across as attention-seeking. He’s going to help us with some promos, and shoot a video to spread awareness. It’s a hard-hitting script. Jane wrote it.
“Maybe certain people will think that,” Lucy said, sitting at the table with her jacket and pencil skirt, looking professional and sexy and so freaking capable as a counseling intern.
Sheinsistedthat she go through the intern process, which included shadowing several different members of the organization. “I don’t want a handout. Just…a helping hand up.”
“What about college?”
“I want to helpnow. The way you helped me.”
“Well, maybe notexactlythe way.”
I return to the present, smiling at how easily thoughts of my wife can distract me.
“I’m sorry,” I say when I realize I’ve missed the last bit of the conversation. “What did you say?”
“Just that I’m excited about the shoot. And it’s fine.” William grins. “New baby. I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it.”
“Maybe you’ll find out,” Jane quips, then covers her mouth. “That was some grade-A word vomit right there.”
William wraps his arm around her. “I don’t know, Jane. Maybe that isn’t completely insane.”
“No?” she asks coyly.
“Maybe just a little.”
Jane laughs, slapping him playfully.