“Yes, really. He’s been a fantastic baby, but he hasn’t looked this relaxed since he got here.”
My chest swelled with love.
For a moment, all I did was watch him. Move, wiggle, breathe. I ran my hand over his head, my fingers through his hair. My fingers over his cheeks and eyebrows. He was just so perfect.
I marveled at how a person so small could make such a huge impact so quickly. But he had.
“Your momma loved you so much. When you get older, I’m going to tell you all about her. How she loved to dip her fries in ice cream. She loved roller skating and riding bikes.”
With a sniff, I looked up. “Does he have a favorite toy?”
Pam smiled. “He seems to love his stuffed hippo. It has a switch on the back, and it makes a sound like a heartbeat.”
I looked back down at him. “Your momma slept with you on her chest, didn’t she?” I looked back up. “When we were kids, we had this cat. At night, she’d take him to bed with her and plant him right on her chest. He died last year, but he always slept on her chest.”
“That could explain it. It seems to soothe him when he’s being fussy.”
The next hour passed in a blur of soft conversations, gentle cooing, and me learning everything I could about my nephew.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Williams, but it’s been over an hour now,” Ms. Chen said. “I’m afraid the visit has concluded.”
I looked up. “Already?” She may as well have taken an axe to my heart. I didn’t want to give him back. “Could I get a picture with him?”
Ms. Chen smiled. “Sure.”
Before I could even ask, Jason had his phone out. “Ready?”
I adjusted Elias and smiled. “Ready.”
After Jason took several photos, the reality hit me. I had to let him go.
“Here, let me take him,” Pam said gently, reaching out.
I pressed a soft kiss to Elias’s forehead. “I’ll see you soon, sweet boy. I promise.”
Watching Pam take him felt like losing a piece of my heart.
Once the visit was over, I followed Ms. Chen out of the room and into the hallway. “That was a lovely visit, Ms. Williams. It went very well.”
“Do you think the judge will let me have him?”
“You did everything right today, Ms. Williams. I’ll be documenting that Elias responded well to you and that you showed genuine care and understanding of his needs. Ultimately, it’s the judge’s decision, but today certainly worked in your favor.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Jason’s hand came to rest on the small of my back, and we walked to the SUV. He held the door, and I slipped inside.
A moment later, Jason and Thomas got in.
“You okay?” Jason asked.
“I think so, but I feel like I’m leaving my heart in that building.” I turned to him. “I don’t know how to explain it. The moment I saw him, he was mine. How can I love someone so much, so quickly?”
Jason smiled. “I don’t know, but if that CPS worker saw what I saw, there is no way the judge will give him to Colter. Absolutely no way.”
I was torn between wanting to be optimistic and dread pooling in my gut.
Colter wasn’t a good guy, but even Mr. Stanton said it was going to be tougher than he thought, and half the town was too scared to say anything against him. Who was to say he wouldn’t meddle in things and tip the scales in his favor?
