Pieces of Me by Pua Ramona (small books to read txt) 📕

“You’re spoiling her Eli” Sina chides.

I roll my eyes. “Babe, I didn’t forget about you. I grabbed you a breakfast wrap, a couple of your favorite cupcakes and Iced-tea. I sat them in the back seat with Emma, I just wasn’t sure if you were hungry” I say.

“You did?” she asks both surprised and excited.

“Of course I did. I know how you get when you’re hungry, so I didn’t forget about you.” I laugh and her eyes start to fill with tears.

“I love you” she mouths and I wink at her before telling her that I love her. I’ll never get tired of telling her that.

Of course when we pull into the parking lot I know we’re late, because everyone’s car is here except ours. The truck was still in the shop, after my angry ass put through the majority of the windows, so I got a courtesy car until it’s fixed, and I actually love this big SUV. I think about getting us one and filling it with kids and smile to myself. That plan will have to go on hold for a little bit. Shit. Even Mama is here before us. “Good job Babe, the one-time your mother asks us to be on time and you want to get distracted and make us late” I tease her and raise my eyebrows.

“You’re the one who was driving like an old lady” she says.

I hold both of my hands over my chest. “I did not drive like that!.”

Emma giggles. “You kind of did Eli.”

I look over my shoulder at Emma as she unbuckles her belt, “You little traitor.” Then I run around to her door and throw her over my shoulder while she laughs like a crazy person. “Ready love?” I ask Sina.

She takes a deep breath. “Just don’t let my hand go, okay?” she says.

I lean in and kiss her temple, “Never Baby, never.”

“My brain is leaking out of my nose” Emma says. I put her back down and she has snot running down her face.

“Ew gross!” I laugh.

She wiped her nose with her sleeve and said “You did it.”

I lace my fingers through both of my girls fingers and we compose ourselves, getting ready to say goodbye to Micah and Baby Eli as we start walking inside. The parking lot isn’t too packed, but there are a lot of people here for them both. Sina starts squeezing my hand tighter. “Breathe baby” I whisper and she does as I ask.

“Hey baby girl.” Miss Rita says when she sees us.

“Hi Mama” Sina says with a small smile. Miss Rita kisses Emma hello and says to us, “I thought you’d like to know that baby Elijah’s ashes are here, and it’s beautiful.”

“Can we see him?” Sina asks in a quiet voice.

“Of course you can sweet girl, he’s your son” Miss Rita says and we follow her to the other part of the church where our son’s urn is cradled in his Uncle Micah’s arms. I feel more at peace knowing that our son isn’t going to be alone. Sina lets go of my hand by herself and reaches for him.

“Hi sweet boy”, she says. I know her pain runs a little deeper than mine as she had five whole months of loving our boy before I even knew he existed. I’ll never hold it against her, but she’s mourning a bond that only she, as his mother, had with him. She kisses our son and we both look at Emma. My little girl is quietly crying and it kills me. I thought seeing her mother upset hurt me, but seeing Emma struggling with her emotions destroys my heart.

“Mama, can I hold my baby brother for a little bit?” she asks, unsure if she’s allowed to do such a thing.

“Of course you can babygirl, I’m sure he’d love that” Sina tells her with a warm smile. Emma cradles her arms around her baby brother as if she’s really holding him.

“You won’t be alone Baby Eli. Grandpa, Papa Hunter and Uncle Micah will be with you okay? I love you so much baby brother.” Emma says before she kisses the urn and hands it back to her mother.

Sina wipes her eyes and turns to face me. “ Do you want to say goodbye to him before I hand him back to Micah?” She asks me, trying to hold her tears in.

I clear my throat and nod. She hands me our son and the tears start falling all by themselves. “Hey Son. Just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to worry about your Mama and your sister. I’ll make sure to love and protect them. And I’m sorry that we didn’t get to meet, baby boy.” I clear my throat once more and kiss him goodbye. I hand him back to Sina and she kisses him again before she places him in her brother’s arms.

Miss Rita hands me a little box. “They arrived this morning, so I figured I’d give them to you now before the service,” she says. I look at the box and thank God that it made it here on time.

“Thank you Miss Rita.” I say with a kiss to her cheek.

“You know I’d rather you call me Rita, or Mama. Miss Rita makes me feel like an old bat” she smiles indulgently.

“Thank you Mama.” I say and she smiles and rests her hand on my cheek before she goes back to greeting the people who are starting to show up for the service.

“Can I talk to you beautiful ladies before the service starts?” I ask Sina and Emma. They both follow me to the side of the church where it’s a little less busy. “I wanted you both to have a piece of baby Elijah so I got these made for you.” I say as I hand them each box.

“What is it?” Emma asks as she holds the box like it might explode.

I smile and say, “You’re going to have to