His face holds so much sadness in this moment, I don’t know how my heart doesn’t physically break.

“Aaron,” I say, walking slowly toward him. “I could negotiate this deal for years. I could bring this to court. I could get you more.” When I’m close enough, I take his hand in mine. I don’t think about my feelings outside of this. He needs the comfort. “But all the money or the court wins in the world won’t bring your dad back to the way he was.” I shake my head. “It won’t. Nothing will.”

Aaron’s Adam’s apple bobs, and as he stays still, his eyes fill with water.

“But it’s all we have left,” he says, voice cracking over the last word.

Without thinking, I break the space between us and wrap him in my arms. His chest is shaking against me, and I soon realize he’s started crying. It’s the kind of sobbing that doesn’t let out a single sound, the anguish too heavy for words or cries. Grinding my teeth together, I squeeze him tighter, no space left between our bodies. His smell of fresh pine and cinnamon fills my nose as I rub a hand up and down his back. His fingers clutch at the back of my shirt, like he’s scared I’ll let go. I won’t.

He’s fought this for so long. For months on end, he convinced himself that winning a court case would make this okay somehow. I think he just realized that the only way for their lives to ever be okay again is for them to start accepting what happened.

“Let me negotiate this deal,” I finally say softly as I continue holding him. “Let me get you the most money I can from this man, and once the settlement is accepted, the medical board of Vermont will automatically start an investigation. It might not be what you expected, but you’ll get justice, Aaron. I swear you will.”

He sniffles in the crook of my neck, then pulls back. Unashamed of his wet cheeks, he says, “Are you telling me this as our lawyer or as my friend?”

The answer comes out automatically, surprising me.

“Both.” It’s too late to pretend I don’t care about him when I so clearly do. And for the time we have left in each other’s company, I can admit it out loud.

Dark hair tousled, brown eyes glinting, he gives me all of his trust with a single nod.

It’s one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever been given.

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Aaron

“Last signature.”

Wren points to a line for my mother, who signs her name as my father’s Power of Attorney given that he cannot write, and there. It’s done. I watch them with tense shoulders.