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Mac sat down on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers through the boy�s light coloured baby-fine hair. �That�s something your daddy has to tell you himself, sweetheart. But I promise you that everything will be okay, and that Uncle Harm and I will always be here for you.�
AJ smiled a bright Roberts smile and hugged �Judgy�.
Bud came up a few minutes later, his eyes red but free of tears. �Do you want us to leave you two alone?� Harm asked, knowing this was probably going to be the hardest thing his friend ever had to do.
�No. We both need you two here,� Bud said honestly. Harm clapped Bud on his shoulder and then took a seat in an old wooden rocking chair. Mac got off the bed and perched herself on the low art table AJ�s grandparents had given him, even though he showed little to no interest in art.
�Daddy, whas wrong?� AJ asked when he saw the sadness in his father�s eyes.
�Come here, buddy,� Bud said, sitting down on the bed and holding his arms out for his son. AJ struggled to get out from under the covers and made his way over to his dad, curling up against the comforting warm body. �AJ, I have something to tell you, and I need you to listen, okay?� Bud said. AJ nodded, knowing that this was a time to be serious. �Your mommy was in an accident tonight�� Bud managed to get out before breaking down. He looked at Mac and Harm desperately and Mac reluctantly stepped up.
�AJ, sweetheart, you know how some people don�t pay attention to the signs on the road that say how fast to go?� Mac asked, sitting down on the bed with Bud and AJ. AJ nodded solemnly. �Well your mommy was crossing the street when one of those people came by. They didn�t see her and she got hit.�
The little boy�s bottom lip started quivering. �Is she okay?� he asked carefully.
Mac fought her own tears as she shook her head. �Your mommy died, AJ. She was taken to the hospital and the doctors did everything they could, but she didn�t make it, sweetheart.� AJ started crying then, burying his face in his father�s chest. Bud held onto the little boy with all his strength.
AJ cried himself to sleep and Mac helped Bud tuck him in again. �I�m just going to stay here with him,� Bud said in a whisper.
Mac nodded. �If you need anything, don�t hesitate to call,� she said tenderly.
�Thank you. Both of you,� Bud said as the Roland and Lydia came into the room. Harm and Mac said quick goodbyes and slipped out of the house, knowing that the family needed to be together.