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From the determined look on Heather’s face, it seemed she was not going to simply walk away. Which meant there was every chance Heather suddenly came by again or met them in the street. No, she was going to be open and honest with Charlie so that he was forewarned.

She set down her glass and folded her hands. “There’s something we need to talk about.”

His eyes sharpened, wary now. He knew how to read moods better than most adults. It was the cost of learning to read the room as a form of survival when he was under Razor’s roof.

“Your mom is in town,” Marion began.

His face lit up, which broke her heart. Even after everything, Charlie still loved his mom.

“She’s here in Bear Creek?” he asked, leaning forward, his grilled cheese sandwich forgotten.

“Yes, she knocked on the door early this morning,” Marion explained.

“On our door?” he asked, his expression confused. “This morning?”

“Yes, you were still asleep,” Marion explained gently.

“You should have woken me up,” Charlie said, his face petulant as he kicked his foot against the chair leg.

Marion’s heart sank as unease swept over her. Everything they had built, all the progress they had made, was about to be torn apart. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. She felt so powerless.

She’d failed him. Despite everything, she had made things worse.

“I...” She didn’t have an answer. How could she explain she was trying to protect him from his own mother? That she was scared she might lose him. That if he went back to Heather, she might not see him again. Or worse, that something terrible might happen to him.

“Why?” Charlie demanded.

Marion took a deep breath. “I didn’t wake you because I wanted to talk to her first. I needed to understand why she was here.”

The truth was, Marion had never wanted to be the person who kept Charlie from his mother. Despite everything that had happened, she’d always hoped that someday Heather might change. That once she was free of Razor’s influence and got the help she needed, Charlie could have the relationship with his mom that he deserved. A healthy one. A safe one.

“Does shewantto see me?” Charlie asked, his voice small but hopeful.

“Yes, she does,” Marion admitted. “But there are some things we need to figure out first. The court said…”

“I don’t care what the court said!” Charlie’s voice rose suddenly. “She’s my mom!”

“I know that, sweetheart. And I’m not trying to…”

But Charlie wasn’t listening. Instead, he pushed away from the table and slid off his chair.

“Charlie,” Marion reached for him, but he shrugged her off.

“I’m going to look at the bugs!” He grabbed the insect book and magnifying glass Alfie had given him and stomped off outside, letting the screen door slam behind him.

Marion sighed, watching him go. She’d seen him like this enough times to know he needed time to cool off. The fact that hewas going to check on his bugs rather than hiding under his bed was actually progress, even if it didn’t feel like it right now.

With her appetite now gone, Marion started clearing their plates, stacking them carefully in the sink, trying to keep her hands busy while her thoughts raced. What was the right thing to do? How could she protect Charlie without making him resent her? And what would happen if the courts decided to send him back to Heather?

Was it possible that Heather had changed? Marion dared not hope. And dared not risk Charlie going back to his mom unless she could prove she had changed.

Her phone buzzed on the windowsill.Heather.

Marion’s stomach flipped. She debated ignoring it, but something told her it was better to hear whatever Heather had to say now, rather than risk her showing up on the doorstep again.

She answered with a sharp, “Hello?”

“Don’t hang up, Marion,” Heather said, not even giving her a chance to breathe. “You know you can’t ignore me. He’s my son.”