NINETEEN

FRAY

I SWALLOWED HARD.

Bollocks!

It was hard not to cry when Sev was holding my hand tightly as if he was afraid I was going to leave. He brought me to the classroom inside the daycare where other kids were playing on the carpeted floor. It was even harder when he introduced me to his teachers and some of his little buddies. Parading me around as if to say, “See, I told you I have a dad.”

My heart was breaking right there in the middle of the room surrounded by children. It ached so badly. But it immediately was healed the second Sev wrapped his arms around my legs and begged me to sit and play puzzles with him.

At noon, Autumn called to check up on Sev. We had a brief video call before her next client came.

The next phone call was the one I had been waiting for for days yet when it finally arrived now, I was a bit down about it. It was from Doctor Albright.

“Mr. Ronan, we have the result.”

“And?” I asked, feeling a bit impatient but at the same time afraid to hear the news.