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I was shaking when I reached the pair and while Hawke looked at me with an unreadable expression, Matty s on a trip”

Several things occurred to me as I took in my son and the hardmy son call the man by his first name But I realized just as quickly that I didn’t know the man’s last name and I wasn’t about to ask I didn’t want to knohat it was…I didn’t want to know anyI noticed was the half eaten bowl of Cheerios on the table Since we’d been out of the cereal the day Hawke burst into our lives, I knehat the box and the container of milk next to it meant

“Where did these come from?” I asked Hawke

“Hawke and I went shopping while you were sleeping, Daddy,” Matty answered, though I kept aze, unconcerned at the growing anger I knew had to be wafting off of me

“You took hi the question was stupid ThisWhatever he wanted, he took

Hawke didn’tbut stare at ured you wouldn’t want hi pizza for breakfast,” he finally responded “And we have a long day of driving ahead of us”

I ignored the challenge in Hawke’s tone and went to kneel down next to Matty He looked tired, but seeing the sinally better “Hawke said we’re going on a trip,” Matty repeated, almost hopefully I bit back the tears that threatened to fall as I thought about themonths

“Yeah, we are Would you like to go meet Hawke’s friends?”

Matty nodded “He said they have a really cool dog His nah

I sainst Matty’s forehead “How are you feeling this ?” I asked

“My belly hurts a little,” he said “There’s another one, Daddy,” he said softly as he pulled his shirt up to show me yet another bruise on his abdomen