Page 91 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

“You never had to worry about that.”

“I know.”

“No, you hoped.”

She lowered her gaze.

“I hoped.”

I drew her against me. Her arms circled my waist, and her cheek rested against my chest. Meeting Malik didn’t frighten me. It didn’t make her life appear burdensome or complicated. It had shown me the shape of the world she protected—the love inside it, the routines, the laughter, and the people who understood one another without needing words. I wanted to be invited back into it. I kissed the top of her head.

“I’ll call you tonight.”

“You have rounds early.”

“I’ll still call.”

She lifted her face. “Even if you’re tired?”

“Yes.”

I kissed her slowly, keeping the embrace appropriate for an open doorway and Amelia’s and Malik’s watchful eyes. When I released her, she smiled.

“Drive safely.”

“I will.” I glanced at Malik. “Bye, Malik, it was good meeting you.”

He smiled from across the room.

Amelia raised one hand. “Goodbye, Elijah.”

I opened the door and stepped onto the porch. My fingers had just closed around the storm-door handle when a voice rang through the house.

“Bye-bye!”

I froze, and my eyes widened as Frankie and Amelia gasped. I turned back towards the door. Malik sat in the center of the living room with Spider-Man held against his shirt. His mouth remained open from the effort, his eyes fixed on me. Frankie stared at him. Amelia’s hand flew to her chest. No one seemed to breathe.

I knew Malik was nonverbal, but I knew what I had heard. The two words were slightly rough, shaped by a voice that had never been used before, but they were clear and unmistakable.

Frankie took one slow step toward him.

“Malik?”

He smiled.

Tears filled her eyes.

“Baby, did you just say bye-bye?”

Malik’s fingers moved over the Spider-Man figure, but he didn’t repeat it. Amelia released a broken sound behind Frankie. “He said it.”

Frankie looked at her mother as if she needed confirmation despite having heard the words herself.

“Mama…”

“He said bye-bye.” Amelia’s eyes filled. “That baby said bye-bye.”

Frankie covered her mouth. The first tear slipped over her fingers. Then another. She crossed the room and lowered herself beside Malik’s chair, carefully wrapping her arms around him.