Page 155 of Hold Me Until Morning

“Cody.” She whispered it, slowly shaking her head. “You’re always trying to take care of your mom.”

She said it gentle, her eyes lighting in that affected way she’d always watched him with.

He squeezed her tighter. “That’s right. That’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Saddened surrender filled her voice. “No, sweetheart, you’re not, and I’ve been far too much of a burden for you. I hate that for even a minute of your life you thought you had to sacrifice. That you lost a day of your childhood.”

His head shook in ferocity, his arms bands around her thin body. “Nothing is lost if it’s given to you and my sisters.”

A sob tore out of her at his words, his mother succumbing to something that Cody couldn’t see. Something different than had been there before.

He pulled back so he could study her tear-stained face. “What’s going on?”

Her mouth tweaked down on the side. “I tried so hard, Cody. Tried so hard to make everything work. To balance it. I’m so sorry.”

Fear bottled in his chest, and the question ground off his tongue. “What does that mean?”

Hesitation brimmed around her before her shoulder drifted up to her cheek. “I have to let go of the house. I know this is the last place we had with your father, but?—”

Anger surged, not really at her, but at himself that he hadn’t recognized it or realized how much trouble she was in.

“You told me you were set.”

“I was…for a while. But with Dakota in college and now Kayla going in the fall…” She paused then said, “Something’s got to give.”

Cody gave a harsh shake of his head.

She’d been hiding it, trying to play it that she was fine without his help.

Little did she know he’d been saving.

“I can help, Ma. I have an extra five thousand dollars that I’ve stocked away.”

Her bleary gaze traced over his face. “I can’t accept any more money from you, Cody.”

“Please.”

She set her hand on his cheek. “Honey, you are amazing and wonderful and I’m so grateful, but that isn’t going to be nearly enough. I need to let it go.”

“How much do you need?” he demanded it.

“Way too?—”

“How much?” It boomed through her room. When she cringed, he softened his voice. “How much, Ma? I’m not a little kid you need to protect any longer. I need to know.”

Her attention dropped to her lap. “I took out a big loan on the house a couple years ago. It fell behind and the house has gone into foreclosure. The only way I can recoup anything is to sell it.”

“How much to get it back in standing?”

Her gaze dipped. “Sixty thousand.”

“I’ll get it.”

“No—”

“I’ll get it. I don’t know how, but I’ll get it.” He pushed to standing and tipped up his mother’s face.

Horrified embarrassment lingered there, like she was to blame when she’d given everything for them. “I’ll get it. I promise.”

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