But it was just him and Cody.
And the Lord.
He breathed a prayer for guidance and clasped his hands in front of him. “There’s still a bigger issue at hand than punishment right now, Cody. That’s going to have to wait.”
“Great.” Cody shifted away from Max, his body language loud and clear.
Max took the seat beside him, wanting to appear less imposing, and cleared his throat. “We need to know where Jarvis is.”
“How should I know?” He stared at the bookcase lining the wall beside him, eyes flickering between the titles.
Max took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He couldn’t afford to show anger. He at least knew enough to realize that wouldn’t help. Cody was hurting, and he was lashing out because he didn’t think he had any other options.
“You both disappeared at the same time. Are you telling me you weren’t together?” He stared at Cody, wishing he could break the barrier between them with something tangible. No wonder Emma felt so frustrated for so long. She was a professional, and she couldn’t reach her own son. Rather, she was stuck watching him spiral downward in a cycle she was helpless to stop.
It hurt like nothing else did.
Cody met his eyes, and something shifted slightly. He didn’t want to lie to his face, and that spoke more of the good in the boy’s heart than anything else since his arrival at camp. They’d connected before, and Cody was remembering. He could see it in his gaze. If only he’d remember Max wasn’t the bad guy....
“We left together.” Cody grudgingly admitted the truth. “But that’s all I know.”
“I don’t think it is.”
Cody snorted. “You’re calling me a liar? Sort of ironic.”
He’d have a point, though Cody didn’t know Max hadn’t known about their relationship until hours before he’d discovered it, too. But how could Max tell him that now without throwing Emma under the bus? Oh, it was tempting. He wanted that bond with Cody, wanted to see forgiveness in his eyes more than he’d ever wanted anything else. Wanted to take that first step toward a real relationship of trust.
But he wouldn’t sacrifice Emma to do so.
A knock sounded on his shut office door, and then it swung open before he could respond. Emma stepped inside, her face a fixed mask of determination. “It’s not Max’s fault. And yes, I was listening at the door.”
His mouth opened a little. Gone was the meek, unsure Emma he’d seen around Cody in the past. In its place stood mama-bear Emma, whose claws were out and teeth were sharp—ready to do what was necessary regardless of the cost. “Your dad isn’t the liar, Cody. I am.”
His admiration for Emma grew ten leaps. She was finally stepping up.
“Yeah, right. How can I believe that you’re even telling the truth now?” Cody stood up, his voice rising, but Max gently sat him back down with a firm hand on his shoulder.
“I think you should listen to your mom.” His tone left little room for argument, and even Cody knew it.
He slumped and crossed his arms, redirecting his gaze to the floor. “Whatever.”
Emma came around and stood directly in front of him. “I kept the secret, Cody. It was my fault, not your father’s.”