“This is my favorite superhero. His name is Hulk and he smashes a lot of things!” he explained.
It was crazy how he just accepted the fact that his mother wasn’t physically with us anymore, but he talked to her as if she were.
It warmed my heart, and I caressed his sides while he continued to talk to Leah in the sweetest way ever.
“And we bought flowers because Daddy said you like flowers. They are very beautiful,” he told her, and I smiled at the little boy we created.
Although he wasn’t planned, he was so, so loved and I would’ve made the biggest mistake not to take him in the day her ex brought him to me.
“Wanna put the flowers on there?” I said, pointing next to the other flowers I knew Leah’s parents or friends must’ve brought.
“And Hulk too?” he asked, looking at me and frowning as he saw my face. “Daddy, you don’t have to cry, okay?”
That was so much easier said than done, but for him, I’d do anything.
“Okay, bud. I’ll stop crying,” I said quietly, kissing his cheek. “You can place Hulk next to the flowers, yes.”
I watched him put both things carefully in front of the headstone, and after a little bit of hesitation, he looked at me with question in his eyes. “Can I give her a kiss?”
“Of course you can. Do it like this,” I said, as the headstone could’ve been dirty.
I was sure Leah’s parents made sure it was clean at all times, still I didn’t want Ira to press his lips against the stone itself.
I lifted my hand to my lips to kiss my fingertips and then press them against Leah’s picture.
Ira watched me and then did the same, smiling.
“Hey, you know what else Mommy liked that you like as well?” I asked, pulling him closer to me again.
“No, what?” he asked excitedly.
“Hulk juice! She drank one almost every day to stay strong and healthy, just like you.”
Well, it wasn’t Hulk juice per se, but a smoothie she always told me to drink as well because it helped with our immune system.
“Woah, really? Maybe we can bring her one next time,” he suggested.
“Sounds like a great idea. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
Seeing Ira like this, and knowing he wasn’t sad assured me that taking him here was the right thing to do.
We spent another hour right there with Leah, talking about everything Ira wanted to talk about.
I didn’t push him to leave, and if he’d wanted to, we’d even stay here the whole day.
But to change things up a bit, yet stay close to Leah, I suggested to go on a little walk into town and get something to eat before heading back to her and saying goodbye for today.
He promised Leah that we’d be back soon, and he made me pinky-promise to take him here every day.
Since that would be a bit of a problem as I had to work and it was a one-hour drive, I promised him to take him once a month.
He agreed to that, and after waving at Leah’s headstone one last time, we got into the car to drive back to Riverton.
“That was nice, hm?” I asked, looking back at him through the rearview mirror.
“Yes, it was so much fun with Mommy,” he said, smiling brightly and then turning his attention back to one of the books he had brought with him.
Leah was still with us, and I knew Ira would be thinking about her every day from now on.
Chapter Forty-One
Rooney
“Rooney!” Ira called out my name as he saw me come down the stairs.
Wells had texted me that they were ready to leave to go eat dinner, and I had already been home for almost two hours, dressed and ready for them to come back from visiting Leah.
I smiled at him and picked him up as he reached me, holding his arms out to me and then wrapping them around my neck to hug me.
“Hey, little guy. How was your day?” I asked, kissing his head before looking at him.
“It was so much fun! I talked to Mommy and I gave her flowers and Hulk,” he told me, his eyes happy and wide.
“That’s wonderful. And what did you talk to her about?” I asked.
He obviously loved talking about Leah, and I wouldn’t stop him from doing so if that’s what he needed and wanted.
“About superheroes and Hulk and animals!”
“That sounds amazing. I’m glad you had a great day,” I told him, letting him down again and