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“I’ll take you to him” He cleared his throat, drew in a deep breath, and spoke “He’s going to surgery His jaw is broken, so talking isn’t comfortable He’s in bad shape, a lot of pain, but he held on to see you Keep it positive—good thoughts, that sort of thing, okay?”

Honor was nodding, tears strea a kiss to her cheek

Nick Poor Nick She hugged hi in her arrown every tiame, concert, birthday, or holiday While she understood, she worried Nick’s fury would consume whatever affection he still felt for his father

Graha theency room He stopped beside the last door off the hall

“What’s best for hiether?” Honor asked

“Together” The as all Nick could e

Graham squeezed Nick’s shoulder and went inside “They’re here, Matt”

Felicity went first, doing her best not to react to her ex-husband’s appearance But it was hard His face ollen and auze ice pack taped to his jaw He was covered with several blankets, one looked like an inflated packing sheet, and each breath he took was labored and watery He looked wrecked, in every sense of the word

Honor i back

“No crying,” Matt said, the words slurred He pressed a kiss to her forehead “So beautiful S-sorry…irl”

“Don’t talk, Dad” Honor kissed his cheek “Mom recorded it all You can be bored with it later—when you’re better”

Matt nodded, the ; she could hear it, see it “Nick?” The word a plea

Nick crossed the roo “I’m here, Dad”

Matt reached up, his hand shaking so bad that Nick had no choice but to cradle it in both of his

Felicity saw her boy’s chin quiver, saw him wrinkle up his nose,

the way his breathing hitched He’d held on to his resent, he wasn’t about to lose control now But seeing hile hurt—so much