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“You don’t have to say this. Save your strength,” I said. “Want me to get Win and Wes?”
I started up, but her hand slammed down in my lap, holding me in place.
“No. This is our time right now.”
The tears threatened again as I swallowed the lumps in my throat, and my chest felt so tight it hurt. “Please don’t die.”
A sob racked the air above her. “Oh, baby. If I could stay, I would.”
I lost my battle, and tears rained over my cheeks.
“I need you to do something for me,” she finally said.
I gripped her hand tighter. “Anything.”
Her eyes strayed to a large yellow envelope of papers on the table by the bed. I followed her gaze but then looked back at her. I only had so much time.
“Ted brought these by just a bit ago.”
I frowned. “Your lawyer?”
She nodded.
“Mom…” I began. “I don’t need you to adopt me. I don’t need papers for you to be my mom.”
She started to cry, but her hand couldn’t reach, so I leaned down, pushing my cheek into her palm. “You deserve so much better than you’ve been given.”
I shook my head.
“Those aren’t adoption papers. As much as I would love to adopt you, I can’t. We can’t.”
I nodded, solemn. My biologics would never allow it.
“Even if I could…” Her voice trailed away, eyes straying to the door. When her eyes came back, they were alert and sincere. “You are our son in every way that matters. Nothing will change that.”
I nodded.
“Those papers are power of attorney. They’re also guardianship orders.”
I frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re the only one who’s eighteen, Max. And I just don’t have enough time…” She started to cry again.
“Mom, don’t cry. Please. It’s okay.”
She sniffled, ignoring the wetness on her cheeks. “I need you to watch out for them, okay, son? I need you to keep them together.”
It took me a minute to understand. Then I realized. “You want me to be their guardian?”
She nodded. “I know it’s so much to ask. But there’s no time.”
“Win will be eighteen in a few months.”
“Baby, you know I don’t have that long.”
I knew. We all knew.
“Wes is fifteen, Max. If I die without appointing a caregiver, he will go into the system. They might take him from Win. From you.”
