“Yeah. I think she was so relieved to be free of her past, she didn’t care what the camp was like.” Emma shook her head. “She was just grateful to be away from that gang. But didn’t stop to think about what would happen when she had to go home.”
“They can’t stay here forever. Guess there’s several important calls to make tomorrow.” Max pushed them slightly higher on the swing, and a smoky breeze wafted through Emma’s hair. “Funny how secrets always seem a good idea at the time....” His voice trailed off, and she didn’t know if he were being sincere or taking a well-justified jab at her.
“I think it’s best if I take Cody back to Texas.” Her statement planted Max’s feet on the ground, and the swing came to an abrupt stop. “I can plead with the judge for a different facility, explain the conflict of interest or whatever. Maybe they’ll have pity. This is just too much.” Her voice broke. “Too much on all of us.”
Especially on her, if she were being selfish and painfully honest. How could she keep working at the camp, or even keep Cody there at all, when their family dynamics were so tangled no one could sort them out? Her heart broke over and over just being in Max’s presence, knowing he’d never be able to forgive to the point that she desired. To the point of their being a family.
“That’s crazy.” Max finally spoke, breaking the silence of the night. “He needs his family.”
“But you’re here. And I’m there.”
“That could change.” Max lifted his eyebrow at Emma, and her hopes hitched before she remembered Caley’s comment alluding to obligation. No. That wasn’t best for anyone, especially not Cody. They’d made it this far on their own. She and Max could work out some kind of custody arrangement, but when it came to being a family...they couldn’t force that. Not even for Cody’s sake.
“How could you even say that?” She twisted on the swing to face Max. “I know you’re going to forgive me, eventually, but that doesn’t mean you have to take us on.”
“I already have forgiven you.” He took her hand and ran his finger over the creases of her knuckles. “I forgave you this afternoon, when we were searching for Cody. I probably forgave you even sooner than that.” He shook his head. “But I need you to forgive me.”
She blinked in disbelief. “For what? I’m the one who lied to you, and our son, for years.”
“I judged you.”
She waited for his explanation, slowly pushing the swing into motion once more.
“I didn’t hear you out and made my own assumptions. When you finally got to tell me what really happened, it made sense, Emma. Made me wonder if maybe I’d have done the same. You were thinking of Cody.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug, identical to Cody’s. “I was still making bad choices, just in taking the deal even if I didn’t use the drugs that time.” He sighed. “We’re all paying for the past here, and I think it’s time we stop. Move forward in God’s forgiveness.”
It sounded too good to be true. Emma squeezed his hand, wondering if this would be the last time she’d get to hold it. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I do.” Cody’s voice sounded from the open front door, and Emma jerked, rocking the swing to a stop. She’d almost forgotten he’d been assigned to clean up the inside of the house for Mama Jeanie and do the dishes left over from the search crew. “Tell him we want to stay, Mom.”
He came on the porch and stood before the swing. Emma scooted over, and he plopped down in the middle. “I don’t want to go back to Texas. It’s—it’s no good for me.” He rubbed his palms over his jeans. “I feel different here. I don’t want to get sucked back in.”