Assuming she and Cody ever made it back in one piece.
“We had no idea they’d team up against him like that and let him fall.” Max’s brow tightened, probably remembering the same thing she had. After making sure Tonya was safely on the ground, Emma had run to Cody, only to find Max had beaten her there. He’d single-handedly shoved the teens back, helped Cody catch the breath that had been knocked out of him, and doled out punishment to the boys at fault.
While Emma stood back. Helpless.
Guilty.
Her stomach roiled. “I don’t know why I’m here.”
“You’re here because you’re needed.” Max’s answer came swiftly, as if he’d kept it ready for just such a declaration. “You can’t control everything, Emma.”
No kidding.
She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Tonya’s pregnant.”
“Pregnant.” He said the word as if it tasted bad, as if he wished he could spit it back out. She knew the feeling; she’d felt the same the first time she stared at two pink lines crawling up a tiny display window. He let out a huff of surprise. “Never thought I’d wish for an eating disorder instead.”
“She confided in me after I caught her.” Emma hitched herself up on the fence, tired of standing and carrying her own weight. She perched on the top rail, now face-to-face with Max. “I found the test in the bathroom.”
Surprise flickered. “She didn’t even try to hide it?”
“I think she knew it was a matter of time at that point.” She’d held Tonya’s braids back as the girl dry heaved in the bathroom later that evening after the trust exercises and promised her they’d figure it out. She was in for a long road.
Max sighed as if releasing the burdens of the entire world. “I’ll have to call her parents in the morning. She can’t stay here in that condition.”
“I figured.” She hated to let Tonya go, but this required a different level of care than Camp Hope could handle. Tonya needed counseling and support and a health plan. “I’m going to keep in touch with her.”
“Of course.” Max nodded as if he’d never expected less.
“Why do you believe in me so much?” The words left her lips in a whisper, and she half hoped he didn’t hear.
He took her hand from the fence railing and brought it to his lips for a quick kiss. “Because I know your heart.”
She pulled her hand free. “No, you don’t.” If he did, if he really knew what lay beneath the surface, he’d run. Just like she’d run thirteen years ago. He’d hold against her everything she deserved for him to, and it would hurt. Worse maybe than it did a decade prior.
She wasn’t strong enough to make it through that kind of pain a second time.
“Just because we haven’t kept in contact over the years doesn’t mean you’ve changed so much I don’t know you.” He tucked her hand between both of his, craning his head up slightly to speak into her eyes. “I’ve seen your heart for the girls. I’ve seen your heart for Cody. I’ve seen your heart for his freedom.” His voice caught, and he looked away before taking her gaze hostage once again. “It’s beautiful. You’re making a difference.”