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............Part
29.......,
Mike sat on the sofa and looked tenderly at the child in his arms. "Why did you stay away? Why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?" He leveled his gaze on Sharon who sat across from him.
"You made it clear that you weren't interested in continuing our relationship." she said simply.
"No, you said 'Marry now or else' just after that night. I said give me some time to think about it." Mike corrected her. "If you had told me what was going on, I..."
"You what? You would have married me to satisfy your manly pride? No way Mike." Sharon twisted her hands in her lap.
"I might not have married you, but I would and will help provide for our son." Mike's eyes bored into hers. "You know how much family means to me." He picked up his keys and handed them to the baby. Little Mikey looked them over and tried to taste the oversized fire engine keyring.
"It's not just that Mike." Sharon said softly. "I'm not really going to Africa, but I do need help. Mikey is sick. The doctor says that he has a tumor growing in his brain. He needs surgery to take it out before it gets much bigger. I don't have the insurance to cover it." Sharon's eyes were full of tears as she looked at her son.
Mike opened his mouth to say something, then closed it as her words pounded against his head. Tumor! Would his child die before he got to know him?
****
Joyce slapped Hank across the face as she stared at him. "All this time you blamed me for her disability! How could you!? You knew all along that your family had the disease. Why didn't you tell me before this?" She fought to keep her voice down.
Hank raised a hand to his cheek and rubbed away the sting. "I didn't know about this! I didn't even know they were going to do the test. Joyce, Alica has never been this bad before, and your family has a history of mental illness..."
"So that's why you had the vasectomy right after her 10th birthday isn't it. You didn't want any more crazy kids, huh? Well mister big brave fireman! I've got news for you. This whole mess is your fault and I hope to hell you have fun explaining to Johnny that it was your daughter who tried to kill him!" With that, Joyce stormed out of the room.
Hank was stunned. How could he tell Dix about his vasectomy?
