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He thought of Liary look in the kid’s eyes, and he saw himself He saw the broken kid he’d been, and it filled hie that for a moment he couldn’t see clearly

He took a step toward his sister, his face black and angry “How the hell can you do this to your kid? How can you be that goddamn selfish?”

“Mac,” her voice tre breath and wiped at her face “I need to do this but give ure sos out and just need a few days A week or two at the most Just David and I I just need to…”

He’d heard that before too

“You knohat? I don’t give a shit”

And he didn’t He didn’t want to get involved What the hell was the point? He could write the ending to this story in his sleep Mac took a step back and shook his head If his sister wanted to be that pathetic, well, she could go right ahead She was an adult, and it was her life

He glanced out the s that faced the water and spied Liae of the beach

“Why’s the kid here? Why can’t he stay with Mom?”

Becca’s botto Bible School all week and well, Liam’s a bit old for it He…he asked if he could stay with you He had fun the other night, and I think that he thought you would be okay with hi”

So hard and painful, and he glanced out theagain He didn’t have ti project for Jake, and there was Lily…

Liam tossed a rock out over the water, and it skipped a few ti beneath the surface He shoved his hands into his pockets again and hunched his shoulders, head down as he stared at his feet

It was like looking at hi

Mackenzie dragged his eyes back to his sister He was probably going to regret this—what the hell did he know about kids?

“He can stay,” Mac said “I’ to be busy and probably won’t have much time for him but…”

His sister launched herself at hi that was hard and desperate “Thank you, Mac I knew I could count on you”