Emma looked at Max over the top of Cody’s head, and he nodded slowly, catching her urgent point. “Cody.” He waited until Cody met his eyes. “It’s good to get away from reality sometimes and learn new things. Sort of figure out who we are.”
Cody nodded eagerly.
“But at some point, you have to live in the real world again. Put what you learned and believed into action.”
His shoulders slumped. “So does that mean we have to go back to Dallas?”
“I think you should finish the session here, at least. There’s not even two weeks left, and we have that big Thanksgiving meal coming up Thursday.” Max jostled him in the ribs. “I bet there’s room in there for some of Mama Jeanie’s famous Cajun turkey.”
“Mom?” Cody’s pleading expression tugged at her heart.
She nodded slowly. “I think Max is right. Let’s finish the camp and go from there.”
“From there?” He frowned. “But—”
Max raised his eyebrows at Cody, and he stopped midsentence and sighed. “Yes, ma’am.”
Talk about unexpected blessings. Emma couldn’t ignore the warmth seeping through her heart at the way Max took over in such a natural way. He was going to be a great dad.
But dad didn’t always equal husband.
There was the hollow ache again.
“Why don’t you take this trash inside, and then I’ll take you to the dorm. It’s way past bedtime.” Max waited until Cody had gathered the remaining debris and taken it inside the house before pulling Emma to stand beside him. “I let you walk away once before, Emma Shaver, and I’m not making that mistake again.”
Her heart stammered in her chest, and the ache began to narrow into something almost manageable. Was this even possible?
“I should have followed you when you left the first time.”
She was afraid to hope. He regretted not following her the first time? But why? She had to know. “Because it was the right thing to do?”
“No.” He snorted. “Did anything I did back then seem like it was based on the right thing to do?”
So much she could say there. She just shook her head.
“I wanted you back. I loved you, Emma. But my immature pride and stubbornness wouldn’t let me. I thought if you rejected me, then I shouldn’t have to chase you.” He leaned forward and pressed his cheek against hers. “Don’t make me chase you, Emma. I’m really pretty busy around here.”
She hiccupped back a laugh of surprise. “Is that so?” The tease broke the weight around her heart and set it free. No obligation. Just her. Just him. Cody.
And love.
“We’re not kids anymore. Let’s give this a real try, whatever it takes. I love you, Emma.” His lips were a breath apart from hers, and she found herself stretching on her toes to brush them with her own.
“I love you, too. Always have.” She hugged him back, heart soaring, and knew he had to feel it thumping against the pocket of his shirt. She closed her eyes, nestling against the familiarity of his embrace. God had brought them full circle—despite their failures, their sin, their mistakes—He’d worked all things for good. Just like He promised.