Evaline:
I wanted to keep Lioren with me tonight.
To feel his warmth, his heartbeat, his tiny breaths against my skin.
But when I glanced at my mates, saw the faint lines around their eyes, the fatigue in their faces, I changed my mind. They had been carrying too much, for too long... me, our son, our home, our grief. They deserved at least one night where they didn't have to pretend they were fine just to keep me from breaking again.
So when it was time to put Lioren to bed, I took him to the nursery with Vanessa following us.
Lioren gurgled, kicking his little legs as I laid him on the changing table. The smell of lavender oil filled the air as I warmed some between my palms and began massaging his tiny arms and legs, humming softly. His eyelids fluttered halfway, heavy with sleep, but he was fighting it.
"You are such a sweetheart," I murmured with a quiet laugh.
