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“You said they got it early,” Hawke said, his voice soothing How could one entle the next?

“I…I saw the bruises a feeeks ago I thought he got theh,” I whispered I looked at Haas standing much closer to me than I’d realized “I should have taken him to the doctor that day…what if those three weeks-”

“He’s going to be okay, Tate,” Hawke said fir hand settle on my back between my shoulder blades His pal up to settle over ently

Theinside of me and I let out a hoarse sob “I can’t lose him!”

I didn’t resist as Hawke pulled ainst ot what I’d needed for so long I wrapped my arms around him and held on for dear life as I let out all the fear and uncertainty that had hounded me in the two years that I’d taken Matty and escaped the life that had been drowning me

“Daddy?”

I pulled back fro eyes pooling with tears Before I could even react, Haas picking hi, okay?”

Matty nodded as Hawke handed him over to o of another round of sobs when he whispered, “It’s okay, Daddy I’ll take care of you,” into my ear

I wasn’t sure how long I held hi in one of the kitchen chairs Matty sat back so he could study my face “Love you lots,” he whispered and I let out a choked laugh

“Forever and ever,” I responded It was a saying we’d cootten it froers, the next ere family It had just happened

“I’ically appeared on the table in front ofyour cartoon?”

Matty nodded He looked over his shoulder at Haho had returned to the chair across frolance and was surprised to see what I was sure I hadn’t last night…compassion

“I think Daddy needs Spidey,” Matty said in all seriousness to Hawke “He’s sad”

Hawke nodded and pushed the doll across the table so Matty could reach it He grabbed it and handed it to ave hi His hold on ain how I’d been lucky enough to have this kid in my life

“Go on,” I finally said Matty hopped off my lap and left the kitchen I felt completely drained as I put the doll on the table and tried to wipe away the last remnants of my breakdown from my face I forced myself to look up at Hawke “You said your friend is a doctor?”

Hawke nodded “He’s already in the process of finding the best oncologists at Seattle Children’s Hospital Matty will get the best care possible They’ll want to see the results of the tests Matty had done yesterday”

I ed a nod “I’ll call the forced into this situation, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that Matty would be getting what he needed despite ler had explained that Matty would have to be in the hospital for weeks at a tiet about a week or so between each phase of chemo where he could leave the hospital, but it would be at least six months before the first round of treat and since I had no docu Matty’s identity, I wouldn’t have been able to rely on any governrams for assistance And after the prior day’s fiasco with the wo I pay for part of the services up front, I couldn’t even be sure Matty would get any kind of care since I couldn’t afford to pay for it

“I’ll find a way to pay you back,” I ed to say as I leaned back in the chair