hokes out, blood bubbling from his nostrils

ping him up, her expression a mixture

rds. My gaze drifts past her, to the

he garden as a cold drizzle begins to fall. I kneel beside Buster, my hands hov

open, glass

t and gently wrap him in it. I carry him to the old oak tr

under my fingernails. The rain plasters my hair to

in the sha

my voice breaking. "I'm so

ern in my chest. Howard is sitting on the sofa, an ice pack on his

. "Feeling better now that yo

walk pa

torture begins. It's a se

up of scalding hot coffee on my

he says, without

nd back. The skin is alr

econd, I see a flicker of concern in her eyes, the old

Howard whimpers, cutting off her reac

. The concern for me vanis

leaving me to run my burned hand under cold water,

rtain. There's nothing left for me here. N

ost in my

tcase. I pack methodically. A few changes of c

ed Arthur who has been with Charlott

you going?" he asks, his

hur," I say. "I'm

oes Ms. M

small, sealed envelope. "Please... just make sur

en back at me, his eyes sad.

ourself, son,"

speak past the

looking back. But I don't

to the count

d impersonal. I walk up

n adult adoption," I

, Charlotte Mayo. She sees the power of attorney document, signed by Charlotte years ago, giving me control ov

, kid?" she asks, a hint

gust. I think of Buster's body on the cold

re sure of anything

ls heavy in my hand. I push th

hem. A hard,

s d

le that erects an unbreakable wall between us, a final, painful gift that will f

t, kindest thing