“She might be faking. And if she is, I want her busted.” Max crossed his arms and sighed, the sleeves of his work shirt pulling taut across his biceps. “On the other hand, she says she just got hot shoveling and forgot to eat breakfast. It could be a blood sugar issue.”
“I sat by her at breakfast. She only nibbled on an orange.” Emma hesitated. “Come to think of it, I don’t think she ate much at dinner last night.”
Understanding began to slide across Max’s face. “She’s the only one that’s been on a treadmill since we’ve been here, too. Have you ever seen her leave the table at a meal for the restroom?”
Surely he didn’t think... “Eating disorder?” Emma frowned. “No. Well, maybe. I guess it’s possible. What’s in her file?”
“Nothing about that. But she’s so thin. And I’ve seen it at this camp before.” He rubbed his jaw, the day’s stubble bristling under his fingers. “Let’s keep a close eye on her.”
“So, hospital or no hospital?” The heater in the dorm kicked on, sending a brush of warm air across Emma’s shoulders. Still, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms, fighting a chill that wouldn’t go away. If Tonya had a disorder, Emma should have picked up on it. She should have noticed long before the girl fainted. What good was she even doing here?
“I’m not going to make her go this minute. But I do have to call her parents and see what they advise. Legally, I can’t ignore this whether Tonya thinks she’s fine or not.” Max leaned against the door, his voice nearly a whisper to avoid being overheard from inside. “If they don’t insist, then we’ll see what happens tomorrow. I’ll make her go if she passes out again.”
“Will her parents come get her early? Is that even allowed?”
“It’s a disruption, one we try to avoid at all costs. Anytime a parent has to intervene in the program, it typically halts progress.”
A second, more intense shiver skirted up her spine. “And I’m not intervening?”
His mouth opened, but Emma pushed ahead, panic driving her words past her control. He’d just said it himself—her nightmare, brought verbally to life. Fear clouded her vision. “I’m Cody’s parent first, Max. Before I’m these girls’ counselor or your lifesaver or whatever it was you called me when I agreed to this whole crazy thing.” She jabbed her finger at his chest. “I’m his mother.”
He wrapped his hand around her pointed finger and gently, but firmly, lowered her hand. Her breath caught, his touch sending small sparks up to her elbow and combating the chill leftover from cold truth. “I know who you are, Emma Shaver.”
And there they were. Back in the barn, with a thousand unspoken words hovering between them. But which ones to speak? And would it accomplish anything other than relieving a bit of stress and then leaving her drenched in regret? She was tired of regret. Tired of wondering. Tired of doubting. Would she ever make it through the rest of the month?
Would Cody?
A sob began to work its way up her chest, and she swallowed it back. She couldn’t be that vulnerable in front of Max. It just wasn’t right. Not after everything they’d been through. No, she needed walls. Brick ones. Big, tall, brick ones.
“If I thought you were hindering Cody, I wouldn’t have let you stay.” Max’s confident tone spiked through her fears and left her hoping for...well, hope.
“Are you sure?” Her heart thundered. “Maybe you’re just blinded to the facts because of need.”