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No That’s not at all what good parents did

Which probably explained why that was exactly what I did

"Go," entle shove

Stiffly, I shuffled into the room with my heart in my throat, prepared to face the little boy I’d failed so o

"Stop!" Lucas yelled before I’d fully cleared the door

Brady was squatting low, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs Lucas was tight in his arms, his face the picture of horror, as he frantically tried to shimmy his way out of Brady’s embrace

"Mr Boyd," the social worker scolded

We’d been briefed for twentythis time, we’d learned that our son had specifically asked that we not touch hiiven after my shoith Porter back at the house He’d also asked that we called hied us to stay calm and keep our emotions in check And further that, if we found ourselves unable to keep it together, given the emotional altitude of that day, ere simply to excuse ourselves so as not to upset him

And there Brady was, not ten seconds after he’d entered the roo every last rule

"Brady!" I hissed

"I’ to his feet "I…" He trailed off and used the back of his arht I could do it" He looked over his shoulder, his red, tear-filled eyes slicing through me as he said, "It’s Lucas"

"My na until his back was against the wall His lungs wheezed as he added, "Travis Reese And I want my dad"

I slapped a hand over my mouth After the last ten years, I didn’t have much of a heart left, but as left shattered into a million pieces

"I a him off

He wanted his dad

And, suddenly, so did I

Squaring my shoulders, I took a step toward my son "Hey, Travis I’m Charlotte"

His dark-brown eyes, which matched my own, slid to me, and then he sank deeper into the corner

"I won’t touch you I proe conference table I slid a chair out and sat "I’m really sorry about all of this Especially for when I freaked out on you back at your house That won’t happen again You have my word"

He didn’t move or relax, but he continued to wheeze

I had no idea what I was doing in the parenting departled breath was my territory

"I met you once before today At the doctor’s office You stood outside with my best friend, Rita, while your dad and I talked Do you remember that?"

He nodded cautiously, and just that little acknowledgood Then ht?"

He nodded again

"Perfect," I breathed, leaning forward on my elbows "Now, listen I know you’re scared Today has been crazy But I really need you to sit down and try to relax Did you bring your inhaler?"

His eyes cut to the social worker in question

"Oh, right," she said, jureen backpack froht to me "There’s a lot of medicine in there I’ll be honest I have no idea what’s what"

I se"

And thenThere was a lot of medication inside At least thirty prescription bottles, a full nebulizer including extra , packets of individual saline, and three inhalers