“Lauren,” he began, bending down so he was eye-level with me and his hands were braced against the arms of the wheelchair.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head, as I brought my hand up to my mouth. “Don’t say what I think you’re going to say.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, as his eyes glistened back at me. “Bones didn’t make it, baby,” he added, confirming the horrible truth I knew already.
What’s that saying? Some people come into your life for only a short while but they leave footprints on your heart forever? I think that’s it.
Every breath I take is because of him. Every beat of my heart is a gift from him.
Every breath my son takes is because of him. Every beat of his heart is a gift from an Uncle he’ll never meet.
Footprints?
He left more than footprints—he gave me and my son our heartbeats. He gave us life.
Tears fell from my eyes as Riggs kneeled down and reached out to wipe my tears with the back of his hand.
“I’m sorry, Riggs. I’m so sorry. I know how close you were,” I cried, reaching up and wrapping my arm around his wrist.
“Bones will always live here,” he said, as he took his hand and beat it against the center of his chest. “And here,” he added, taking that same hand and lifting it to my face before he leaned into me and pressed his lips gently against mine.
The elevator doors opened and he pulled away from me, glancing over my shoulder at the empty elevator before his eyes found mine again.
“You know how we can honor his life? By giving our son the best life we can. Let’s go hold our boy and make losing him mean something,” he said huskily.
I nodded and he rose to his feet before he wheeled me into the elevator. I’d never get to thank him or say goodbye. Riggs was right though, the best way to honor him was by giving Pea a great life, a life where he grew up to know the uncle he missed out on knowing.
I was still reeling from the blow of losing the unexpected friend I found in Bones as Riggs brought me into the NICU. The nurses smiled at us, and the one specifically appointed to take care of Pea introduced herself to me as she led us to our baby. He was still in the incubator but didn’t need the ventilator anymore.
“Someone is anxious to meet his mommy,” the nurse enthused, as she opened the incubator.
Riggs helped me stand up, moving the wheelchair out of the way as he laced his arm through mine and brought me to the chair next to the incubator.
“Are you good? Comfortable?” Riggs asked, as he eased me into the chair.
“I’m fine,” I assured him, turning my eyes to the little bundle the nurse was holding and felt my breath catch as I positioned myself and waited for her to place him into my arms and reunite me with Pea.
“Oh, my,” I whispered, as I held him for the first time, staring down at his face, memorizing all his features. “Hi, my angel, I’ve been waiting for this moment since I found out about you.” I bent my head and kissed the tip of his tiny nose. “I love you so much,” I whispered to him.
I’ve experienced love. I love my family. I love Riggs. But I never knew the true extent of my love and how much someone could mean to me until that very moment. I glanced at Riggs as he took photo after photo with his phone.
“He’s perfect,” I said.
“Isn’t he?” He smiled and my heart grew even larger. Everything I needed was right there. Riggs and Pea.
This was where I was supposed to be.
This was the plan.
And such a sweet plan it was.
Thank you, God.
Thank you, Bones.
I nuzzled my baby, brought him as close as I could, careful of the incision on my chest, and kissed the top of his head as I looked back at Riggs.
“Thank you for telling me to take the detour, getting here, it was a wild ride but the best one,” I whispered.
He opened his mouth to say something but I shook my head silencing him.
“I know his name,” I said, diverting my eyes back to our baby for a moment, fitting his name to his face…a perfect match. I lifted my eyes back to Riggs.
“What do you think about Eric?”
He stared at me for a moment, realization settling across his features.
“That’s Bones’ real name,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“I know, he told me the day I bumped into him at the hospital,” I said, looking back at my son. “Eric Robert Montgomery, after his uncle and his dad, the two men I hope he grows up to be just like.”
“Eric,” he whispered, kneeling down before me, reaching out to take Eric’s hand. “It’s perfect,” he agreed.
I smiled up at the nurse, tipping my chin toward the name on his incubator “Baby Boy Bianci.”
“Can we change that?”
“Absolutely,” she said.
“Kitten,” Riggs called, forcing me to turn and watch as he went from kneeling on both knees to one.
No.
Please.
Yes.
God, is this a dream.
“Count his toes,” he said, nodding toward the baby.
“What?”
He grinned, winking at me before he unraveled the blue blanket from the baby.