The next morning, Martha stayed back with Lex at the campground while Jonathan took Clark fishing. Jonathan had meant to take Lex with him, but one look at Lex's face told them that he wasn't really interested in fishing.

After picking up the garbage from breakfast, Martha and Lex went for a slow walk around the lake. She wanted to bring up Clark's secret again, but she also wanted to give Lex the freedom to talk about whatever was on his mind, so she kept quiet, letting him to be the first to speak. Thankfully, it was early enough in the morning that the trail was empty.

It took almost ten minutes. "Jonathan said you wanted to adopt me," he said.

"We do."

"Why?"

Her voice caught. "Because we want you to be part of our family. We love you, sweetheart."

She expected an influx of questions, but he didn't say anything at all. That was okay with her. If he needed time to process, she was happy to give it.

It was almost another full ten minutes before he replied. "Can you help me with my testimony?"

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"We were planning on it." She frowned, unsure how to ask whether he was still trying to get his father out of prison. "It must be hard. Whatever's happened between you and your dad, I know you still love each other."

Lex shook his head. "I love my dad, but . . . I killed my brother, Martha. It was an accident, but I still did it."

Every part of her wanted to gasp and question him, but she forced herself to remain calm for him. "Does your dad know it was an accident?"

"I told him."

She was almost afraid to ask, but she made herself anyway. "What did he say?"

His voice came out as a whisper: "He hit me in the face."

Hot anger flooded through her limbs. She was sure her face turned bright red, but she did the best she could to remain calm.

Lex's eyes fell closed, and he stopped walking. It was almost surreal to watch his facial expressions—it was like he was being pulled back to that moment.

"Lex?"

No response.

Martha took his shoulders in her hands. "Lex, can you hear me?"

His eyelids fluttered, and tears traced their way down his cheeks, though his eyes remained closed.

"Hey." She shook him slightly. "Hey." She lightly tapped the side of his head with two fingers.

He cried out and flinched away like she had struck him. His eyes opened and darted around, as if he didn't know where he was.

She gently cradled his cheek in her hand, looking him in the eyes. "Sweetheart. Are you okay?"

Lex shook his head. "No." A couple of quiet sobs shook his body, and his head hung.

She reached out took him into her arms. She didn't even try to stop her own tears.