whispered a little too loudly, but Rooney had already heard my plan anyway.
She laughed softly, caressing Ira’s arm as I winked at her.
I was right about her nestling herself right next to my son and me, even though it didn’t take as long as I thought it would.
I was happy, and Ira was too.
And seeing Rooney content and serene instead of having all those worries swirling around in her head made me feel the same.
Chapter Forty
Rooney
“I’m ready!” Ira called out as he came running out of his bedroom and into the kitchen.
I was helping Wells clean up the table after eating together, and since I had to get to class soon, he was nice enough to get up early to prepare breakfast for us.
“You look amazing, Ira!” I told him, watching him show off the outfit he put together by himself without Wells’s offered help.
“I like the elephants on the sweater,” I said, smiling.
“Mommy likes elephants because she saved them in India!” he told me enthusiastically.
“She’ll love it, buddy,” Wells said, then he looked at me to explain more. “Leah was part of an animal rescue organization. He’s seen pictures of her riding an elephant in India.”
“That’s amazing. She’ll be over the moon to find out you love animals just as much as she does,” I said to Ira.
“Yes, and she will love the flowers we buy for her.”
He was the sweetest, and I was excited for him to finally get to be close to Leah. Wells told me about their talk and how he carefully explained to him that his mother wasn’t with us anymore, and he took it pretty well, although I was sure he’d soon ask more about her and how it actually happened.
He was too young to be told that she died from complications at his birth, but whenever he was ready, Wells would surely tell him all about it.
“Did you clip the pump to your pants?” Wells asked, reaching down to check, but Ira shook his head and pulled his sweater up further.
“I put it around my neck, see?”
“Is that more comfortable for you?” Wells asked.
Ira shrugged.
“Probably, huh? You can always change it back if you want to. Go put on your shoes so we can go visit Mommy,” he said, and Ira was off to get his shoes on.
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you to class?” Wells asked as he turned to look at me.
I shook my head while drying my hands with a towel, then I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled.
“I need to get a few paintings to class and back, but thank you.”
His arms moved around my back to hold me close to his body, and after eyeing me for a while, he leaned in to kiss my lips.
“Be ready by six tonight, all right?”
I nodded, excited to see where he and Ira would take me. “Can’t wait.”
“I’m ready!” Ira called out again, making us smile and let go of each other.
We walked into the hallway to see Ira stand up from the floor, and when I reached him, I squatted down and placed both hands at his sides.
“Have a wonderful day visiting your mommy, and tell her all about your favorite toys and animals.”
Ira studied my face for a while before tilting his head to the side with a questioning look. “Do you think she likes Hulk too?”
“I know she does. Hulk’s the coolest,” I said with a grin, then I pulled him into a hug while he wrapped his arms around my neck.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Okay,” he replied, and once he let go of me, I pressed a kiss to his temple before standing back up and turning to look at Wells.
“Drive safe. Text me if there’s anything you need.”
“I will. Have a good day,” he told me, kissing me and then opening the door for me.
“Bye,” I said, smiling at them and then heading upstairs to get ready for class.
My heart was full, and it wouldn’t stop pounding ever since last night.
There was nothing left for us to discuss or go over. We knew we were meant to be together, and I couldn’t stay away from them any longer.
When I got inside my apartment, I heard Evie talking to someone, but as no one responded while she was quiet, I figured she was on the phone.
I decided to leave her alone and take a quick shower before bothering her with my new-found happiness, but when I heard her say Michail’s name, she caught