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When he speaks next, it’s just a soft rasp “Nobody was there at Alton Or at Sheppard Pratt” He hunches his shoulders and covers his eyes “I don’t understand why”

He’s breathing heavy like he’s crying behind his hand Then he’s holding ontohis back as he tre time

When he pulls away, he looks eer over my neck “Sorry for the…moisture there”

I reach out and stroke a hand through his hair “Don’t be sorry for that Be upset, dude You went through some horrible shit You should be upset” I put ”

He wipes his eyes “Thank you”

“Thank you, Ez For talking tome share the bed”

He s cute with sleepy, puffy eyes I cup his cheek with eous, and aood, and Luke and Vance said they could fly us home if ant”

Ezra is still sainst the raised bed He pulls ainst his shoulder

“Josh?” he whispers I kiss his throat “Yeah, Ez?”

“When can we go ho heavy onsorry for him

Luke and Vance coh the door a second later Ezra sees the baby, and I’m surprised to see that he meant what he told me: He likes babies…or maybe this one in particular We recline the bed a little, and he holds her in the crook of his aroofy s at him—and at me

“Uncle Ezra,” Luke says

“What about Uncle Josh?” Ez smiles at me

“I’m not so experienced with the babies”

It’s agreed that I should hold her, so I take her out of Ezra’s arood to hold a little squishy baby, but she fusses with me—so much so that V has to take her “Not sure that she liked that” I laugh, feeling embarrassed

“She was fine till she pooped,” Luke says

“What? She pooped on me?!”

Everybody gets a laugh out of that Even Ez is grinning as a nurse comes in to check his vitals She offers him tablet pain pills, but he doesn’t want them “I feel okay”