A puff of laughter leaves his lips and tickles my cheek as he inches closer to my face. My breath hitches, and I lift my chin, ready to meet his lips.
A cry from behind makes me jump, and I remember to breathe again. Cal removes his hands from my waist and steps behind me towards our son.
He unclips him from the buggy and carries him the few paces back to Jax's grave. “Daddy’s got you, little dude.”
Caleb’s bottom lip twitches as he comes around, rubbing his eyes.
“Look at the pretty balloons, Caleb.” I point to the coloured balloons swaying in the breeze.
His eyes widen as they follow the movements of them dancing in the wind.
“Shall we watch them float up to the clouds?” I collect the strings and untangle them from the weight.
“Leave one on.” Cal says.
I hand him the last one attached to the plastic weight in the shape of a star, and he hands it to Caleb.
“Here you go, mate. This one’s for you, from your brother, Jax.” Cal’s eyes glisten under the sun’s rays, shimmering like a smokey quartz jewel as he gazes at our boy. He glances at me, his smile reaches his eyes, making them sparkle once more.
Warmth spreads through my body, watching the two of them. “Are you ready?” I ask, holding the balloons out in front of me.
Cal’s warm palm slips over my other hand, resting at my side, and our fingers entwine.
I release the biodegradable balloons, and we stay like this. Still. Holding hands while we watch the balloons spread out and fade into the heavenly blue sky.