But instead of running into my arms as I expected, he paused at the doorway watching me.
"It's okay, buddy." Remy crouched down to his eye level. "You scared?"
Melo nodded, wiping his eyes.
My heart broke. "Melo—baby, I'm okay. You can come say hi," I encouraged him gently.
"Just be gentle." Remy took his hand.
"Okay." Melo whispered; his fist curled to his chest.
Remy slowly led him in.
As soon as he got to the bedside, he burst into tears. "GG!" he cried reaching for me carefully.
"My baby." Tears flooded my eyes. "Come here, handsome."
Remy lifted him up and he climbed onto the side of the bed cautiously like he was scared he might hurt me. The secondhis little arms wrapped around my neck; emotion wrecked me completely.
"I thought you died," he sobbed into my shoulder.
"No, baby." I cried softly holding him tighter ignoring the pain in my stomach. "I'm still here. GG's okay."
He pulled back sniffling hard, his little face was soaked with tears as he stared at me sadly.
"You got a hole in your tummy?"
"A little one," I admitted softly.
Melo looked devastated. "Did it hurt?"
"A little." I nodded with a sniffle. I let out a slow breath trying to keep my emotions in check for him. "But I'm doing so much better."
His lip trembled. "I don't want nobody hurting you again." Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.
"Oh, honey…" I ran my fingers through his curls gently. "You're so sweet. Nobody will hurt me again."
He looked down at my hand and gasped softly seeing the rainbow marble. "You kept it!"
"Of course I did." I smiled through my tears opening my hand. "My favorite boy gave it to me."
His whole face lit up. "I told Daddy it would make you feel better."
"It did." My voice cracked. "It helped me come back to y'all."
Melo curled carefully against my side resting his head against my chest. "I missed you," he whispered sadly.
"I missed you too, baby. So much."
Remy moved closer sitting on the edge of the bed near us. His hand rubbed slowly over Melo's back while his eyes stayed locked on me. They were full of so much love, it overwhelmed me.
"I have to tell you something, Melo." He lifted his head to look up at me. "When I was sleep. I saw your mommy."
Remy drew a sharp breath because I hadn't told him yet.
"What did she say?" Melo stared up at me eyes wide with wonder.
"She told me what you said that day in the closet. That she sent me to love you and your daddy big. And for us to be together as a family."
