Love Inspired January 2014(297)

                Emma hesitated. “Where’s Max?”

                “Upstairs.” Mama Jeanie shifted the mixing bowl she held in one hand to the other, pausing to swipe her free arm against her apron. “You’re not going on the trail ride?” She gestured out the front window, where Luke, Faith and Tim were monitoring the teens as they buckled saddle girths.

                “Maybe later. Right now I need to find Max.” Not that it was any of Mama Jeanie’s business. The woman had a kind heart, but Emma wasn’t in the mood for instruction from someone who had no idea the level of chaos they were currently in. She headed for the stairs.

                Mama Jeanie’s voice neared panic. “I don’t think right now is a good time.”

                Sudden yelling sounded from above, punctuated by a slamming door and thumping footsteps. Emma’s heart raced as she stared with dread up the staircase. Had Max totally lost it? She looked back at Mama Jeanie, her former irritation long gone as she considered hiding behind the petite woman. Max had never had a temper like that—in fact, that sounded more like how Cody used to—

                Cody pounded down the stairs, almost flying past her, but she reached out with long-honed instincts and caught the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “Not so fast. Where are you going?”

                He spun in a sudden half circle at her interception, and something small and square fluttered from his grip and landed at her feet.

                Emma stared down at her own image, arms curled around Max’s shoulder, a happy grin on her face as he pressed a kiss against her temple, and dread seeped through her chest. She released Cody’s sleeve, staring in horror at the proof she couldn’t deny. No. No. No. Why had Max kept that? So many years ago...the implications bubbled to the surface and layered her dread with regret. He’d waited for her.

                She was going to be sick.

                Max appeared on the bottom steps moments later, out of breath but not heaving nearly as hard as Cody. “Cody, wait.” His “I’m in charge” voice did nothing to defuse the situation. “I know you’re upset, but we’ve got to talk about this.”

                “Talk about what?” The teen bent and snatched the photo from the ground, waving it in their faces. “Dad.”

                Emma sucked in her breath, and Max’s face drained of color. He hadn’t told him. Cody had figured it out? How?

                It was as if he read her mind.

                “Yeah, I might get in trouble a lot, but I’m not stupid.” He pointed at Max. “Everyone kept telling me how much you looked like me. How we talked the same. Same stupid cowlick.” He slapped at his hair.

                “Why were you in my room, Cody?” A slow flush of red filled Max’s throat and jaw.

                “Looking for cash.” He stuck his chin out in contrived bravado, but the slight quiver gave away his emotion. “On a dare.”

                “From who?”

                “What’s it matter? I found this instead. I didn’t steal.” His eyes, glassy with unshed tears, narrowed at Max. “You lied to me. Made me think you were on my side. And, Mom...you...” His voice grew smaller and the betrayal in his eyes shattered Emma’s heart. “You lied the most. The longest.”

                “We need to talk.” Max held out his hand. “Give me the picture, Cody.”

                From the corner of her eye, she observed Mama Jeanie slipping quietly back into the kitchen, giving them space. She wished she could follow her. Emma knew what Max was doing, trying to defuse the situation by establishing control, by prompting Cody to respond to them in obedience in a small matter to build trust toward the bigger issue. Handing over the picture was the first step to them all calming down and restoring the proper order.