“Oh, right. Okay, let me get you settled in one of the conference rooms, and I’ll check on who has the paperwork for you.”
“Can you also let Jon know we’re here? If he’s free, we’re gonna have lunch together when I’m done.”
“Absolutely.” She led them into a small conference room down the hall from the reception area. “Someone will be right in.”
Kyle lifted Wyatt from the stroller and sat him on his knee. Wyatt happily chewed on the trunk of the stuffed elephant he carried. It was by far his favorite toy.
A few moments later, Jon entered the room. “Hey, guys.” He kissed Kyle and picked up Wyatt. “How ya doin’, bud?”
“El-fant,” Wyatt said, holding the elephant by one leg and shaking it.
“El-e-phant,” Jon annunciated.
“El-fant,” Wyatt repeated, and Jon chuckled.
Just then, Daniel Somers, one of the firm’s law associates, walked in carrying a file folder. He was accompanied by one of the firm’s paralegals.
“Hi, Kyle. I’m very sorry about your cousin Mike. I can’t imagine what you’re all going through.”
“Thanks, Dan."
Jon turned to Kyle. “Come by my desk when you’re done, and we can head out to lunch, okay?”
“Will do.”
After Jon left, Daniel said, “I got these papers from your uncle Mike last night. It’s just a few things for you to sign, and we’ll get the petition filed. There’ll be a hearing, but Mike doesn’t expect there to be any issues. It should all happen rather quickly.”
“Yeah, that’s what he told me too.”
Once everything was signed and notarized, they left the conference room, and Kyle ambled down to the space where Jon worked. He saw a few folks, who all offered their condolences. That was one of the hardest things about losing someone youcared for. The constant reminder of what had happened weighed on Kyle, but he tried hard to maintain a positive outlook. He couldn’t break down. He needed to be strong for Wyatt.
“C’mon buddy.Say good night to Uncle Jon, and let’s get ready for bed.”
Wyatt waddled over to Jon for hugs and kisses, then raised his arms so Kyle could pick him up.
Upstairs, Kyle got Wyatt undressed and bathed him before putting on a clean diaper and pajamas. Wyatt had been pretty quiet throughout the process, just babbling now and then, but Kyle couldn’t make out what he might be trying to say. But when Kyle put Wyatt in his crib, Wyatt started fussing.
“Da,” he called out. Kyle felt like his chest had been pierced by a knife. He had known this moment would come, but he still wasn’t ready for it. “Da,” Wyatt cried again, looking around the room as if searching for his father.
“Sorry, buddy, he’s not here.” Kyle was near tears.Why did this have to happen?
“Da!” Wyatt tried again. Then, “Ma!” Kyle struggled to come up with some distraction. It was so frustrating. Then all of a sudden, something came to him. When they had been on the cruise together, his cousin Mike had mentioned that whenever he put Wyatt to bed, he always sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to him because Wyatt was his little star.
Kyle lifted Wyatt from the crib and sat in the rocking chair that Neil’s sister had provided with the rest of the baby furniture. He slowly rocked the child, softly singing, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, …” trying hard not to break down and sob while doing so. Almost immediately, Wyatt settled down and closed his eyes.Kyle continued to rock and sing, silently praying that it would somehow comfort the boy in his arms.
He soon heard Wyatt’s breathing change, and after waiting another minute or two, he carried Wyatt to the crib, kissed his forehead, and set him down to sleep.
He trod down the stairs, his heart heavy.
“Is everything okay?” Jon asked.
Kyle explained what had occurred upstairs. “I felt so unprepared. I mean, I knew that Wyatt would eventually ask for Mike or Becky, but it really caught me off guard.” Kyle’s voice shook with emotion.
“I think you handled it perfectly, sweetheart,” Jon told him. “Singing a familiar song was a great idea, and from what you said, it calmed him down.”
“Thanks,” Kyle said softly. “But what happens next time? And the time after that? How can I explain to him that his mom and dad are gone?”
“I don’t have all the answers, but we’ll do the best that we can. And get help to deal with it all if we need it.”
