Page 33 of The Young & the Sinner

I opened my mouth, wanting to agree, but the word wouldn’t come out. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the chair. How could you just leave someone you loved, especially your own child?

I was glad she didn’t look at me with sympathy. I wouldn’t be able to handle it then. “Do you think Max is the kind of man who would ever say something he didn’t mean?”

“Of course not.”

“Then tell him you love him. And when he says it back, know that he means it. And no, that won’t stop the feeling that he could leave you behind, but it’s a start.”

* * *

We endedup taking up the whole one-hour time slot. When I walked out of there, Max was still sitting in the waiting area, typing something on his phone. He looked up when he heard me, the smile already on his face.

I walked over to him. “Hey.”

“Hey, kiddo.” His eyes searched my face. I knew my eyes were still red and puffy, but Max didn’t comment on that. Instead, he asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Can we have Chinese food tonight? I have been craving lo mein all day.”

Max chuckled and ruffled my hair. “Of course.”

He made a move to walk, and I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at me. “Yeah?”

“I love you.”

He smiled, and I saw something in his eyes that I had never seen in either one of my parents. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

And I believed him.

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