Page 78 of Hold Me Until Morning

His mom’s head popped up, and she swiped frantically at the moisture soaking her face like she could hide that she’d been crying.

But Cody knew.

He could hear her at night.

Could hear her during the day when she thought no one was listening.

Or maybe he just felt it. Sensed it down in that place where he’d tucked that promise that he’d made his father.

He crept up close to his mother. He already knew what she was looking at. The rest of them were spread out on her mattress.

Bills and bills.

Lots of them marked in red.

“I’m fine, Cody. Go on and give me a minute.”

His mom’s face was splotchy and red, the color of her eyes almost as drab as the brown of her hair. It made his stomach sick that she looked…old.

Like the years were going too fast.

“Stay right here, Mom. I’ll be right back.”

“Cody,” she called after him as he hurried out of her room and into his. He dropped to his knees on the ratty carpet and looked under the dresser where he kept the box. He grabbed it and jogged back into her room.

He lifted the lid. “There’s a hundred and fifty dollars in here.”

He’d been mowing lawns for the last year and saving up. It was supposed to be for a new bike, but he already had one, and he knew his mom needed this money way more than he did.

It was selfish to keep it for himself.

Grief curled across his momma’s face, and she cried harder. “Oh, Cody, my sweet, sweet boy. You don’t have to worry. I’m going to figure this out. It’s not your responsibility.”

His father’s voice echoed through his mind.

You’re a good boy. Take care of your momma and your sisters.

“I’m going to take care of you, Mom. Always.”

Sorrow blistered, and she set a shaking hand on his cheek. “Cody. I’m your mom and I’m the one who’s supposed to take care of you. I’m sorry you saw me like this. It’s not a big deal. I’ve got it covered. I just…got a little stressed.”

He glanced down at the sheet she’d been holding.

It was the sheet he’d brought home from football practice with the cost of the uniform. He was supposed to bring the money to tomorrow’s practice.

His stomach sank.

Hit the floor like a big boulder.

Because he knew what he had to do.

SIXTEEN

HAILEY

“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!”

An avalanche of excitement collided with my slumber, a violent jostling of the bed that jarred me from sleep.

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