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His hand pauses in lass "What do you mean?"

"That’s why he doesn’t want to see you He thinks you’re up to soood reason that I should stay away frolass before he turns to face ?"

This is the first tih it’s a small concession, itto stop co"

For a moment, his eyes flash with joy and then he turns back to his drink This see all of his children back together,contact with all of us Not that it’s not a fine sentiment but I can’t help but wonder why it matters to hiressing just fine Why the sudden need for a faht as well just tell us It’ll corunts "Only young people think that way We older folk know there’s so for the perfect moment"

"I’m not sure I believe perfect exists any She’d looked so right in my bed, as close to perfect as I think exists in this world The first ti for her I’ve had her on a pedestal inreasons Both of us have used tis We’d drea it with kids someday But that’s all they were Dreams

None of those dreams took into account our very real flaws and the inevitable pitfalls of just living life Maybe it was because ere so young or maybe it was just our destiny to walk away from each other before we could find our way back But I’ve cos weren’t perfect between us doesn’t

Or maybe that’s what perfect reallythe to reconnect with the people in his life afterto them I don’t want to end up like that I pull out my phone and quickly compose an eed Put all company acquisitions on hold until further notice

I send theme His eyes narrow "I see a lot of laze over slightly and Ianother attack

"Max? Are you okay?"

He nods quickly "Just short of breath so s I’ve done I’ve done bad things, Finn Hurt people Mainly people who loved s can’t be fixed that easily"

Max watches me with sad eyes "I know But we can try"

After I leave my father, I head over to the hospital Mo but she assuredserious I would have rescheduled my time with Max anyway if Tank hadn’t told me he would be there with her He already texted s has altered ured out that Rissa is practically living with s She’s always noticed everything, especially when it’s so to hide

My smile fades as soon as I enter her roo

"I’ll be back later e get the latest test results" Dr Singh, her oncologist, nods at htly when she sees me "Finn I told you, you really don’t have to come every time I’m scheduled for a procedure"

Suddenly she claps a hand over her mouth The action doesn’t cover her soft cry She takes another deep breath in and out Then she squeezes her eyes shut and tears spill over her cheeks and onto her hand

"Moe of the bed She grabs ht through hout this entire process, she’s been steady and positive No matter how h she doesn’t need it I kneas because she just didn’t wanton to ht to hide it anymore

Eventually her sobs slow and then taper off until she ers unfurl from the sleeves of my shirt and she raises her head When our eyes lad you’re here, Finn"

"Me too" There’s really nothing else I can say I have no idea how to process what’s just happened

Mo like she wishes she could disappear behind it For once, the television isn’t playing in the background and the silence swells around us The mindless shows that usually annoy me make more sense now Noise and activity of any kind is preferable to this awful silence