“Mommy.” Dylan calls her name, and she runs over, her eyes looking at him and then at me. She looks a little shocked I’m still here.

“I’m so sorry,” she says, taking Dylan into her arms. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he says softly. She kisses his head and then leans back and takes his face in her hands. “Did you have fun?” She tries to hide the tears in her eyes.

“I was on the ice a lot,” he says, and then she looks over at me.

“I’m so sorry. My car died, and I had to get an Uber, and there was traffic,” she says and then gets up. “Thank you so much for sitting with him.”

“Not a problem, Caroline,” I say, and my heart starts to beat a bit faster. I want to pull her in for a hug, but instead, I put my hand in my pocket.

“Let’s go, buddy,” she says. Bending down and grabbing his camp bag, she puts it over one shoulder and then picks up the bag with the equipment.

“Do you want me to carry that?” I ask, and when she smiles at me, I see that the smile never reaches her eyes.

“No, thank you. You’ve done enough for the day,” she says politely. “Let’s go.” She holds out her hand, and Dylan grasps it and then looks at me.

“Bye, Justin,” he says, walking out with his mother. When I grab my stuff and walk out, I see that they are walking down the street. I get into my SUV and watch them walk to the corner and stand at the bus stop, and my stomach burns. I pull out and then stop the vehicle at the corner where they wait.

“What are you doing?” I ask, getting out of the car and walking to them.

“We have to take the bus because Mom’s car didn’t work,” Dylan says, and I look at Caroline, who looks like she wants the ground to open up and swallow her.

“Why don’t I give you guys a lift?” I offer, and she just shakes her head.

“No,” she says, standing tall. “It’s more than okay. It’s not that much of a ride.”

“Right,” I say, “but my mother would kick me in my a—” I stop myself from saying the word and then look down at Dylan. “Butt if she knew I didn’t drive you home. Not to mention, what my father would do to me.” I smile at her. “So technically, you would be saving me.”

“Do you still get time-outs?” Dylan asks, and we both laugh at him.

“Actually, you would be surprised,” I say, then I look at her. “Let me drive you home, please.”

“I don’t want you to go out of your way,” she says. “The bus should be here any minute.”