Zip lining would be dicey, to say the least. Probably the sketchiest excursion on the list considering Isabel’s ankle. But true to his word, Cam had just piggybacked her to and from the launch points. For any of the things that required more than a couple of hops, he carried her.

Now, they were waiting for their third zip line. The company who hosted it through the jungle had a total of seven platforms that took you all over the jungle. They were only on number three, and it kept getting better and better.

Cam helped her get strapped in and grinned at her. “You still loving this?”

She put her fist into the air. “Heck yeah!”

He laughed. Then his face went blank. “Go Storm,” he muttered.

She frowned. “What?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“I thought we were past lying,” she said, throwing his words right back in his face.

He shrugged. “Go Storm—it’s something Kat and I used to yell when we were excited.”

Compassion filled her face, and she smiled. “Go Storm!” she yelled.

He grinned. “Always.”

The guy came to help them and she and Cam were moving to the platform. Luckily, they could go together.

The guy in charge said, “You can hold hands on this one if you want.”

“No,” she said quickly, not thinking that would be a good thing. There were already all these thoughts and feelings she was having about this man.

“Yes,” Cam said, keeping her hand. “What? Are you afraid I’ll slow you down?”

She laughed, and her heart fluttered as she looked down the path. “Okay.”

They kept their hands together, and the guy gave them a shove.

Then they were flying. And yelling. And laughing. Isabel turned and saw the elation and crazy on Cam’s face and thought, This is fun! I’m actually having fun! She yelled some more. Midway through, a bird came out of nowhere and almost hit Cam in the face.

He yanked his hand back and hit the bird.

Stunned, no one said anything for a minute. Then they laughed harder. They were slowing and caught and both she and Cam kept laughing and laughing and hollering.

“I cannot believe you punched that bird. I’m telling PETA.”

Cam laughed and roared. “It would have broken my jaw.”

Both of them erupted into more giggles.

That was how it went platform after platform for the next two hours. It felt like she and Cam were just in sync and everything was funny. They would keep talking about him punching the bird. Later, a monkey came out and jumped at him, nearly hitting him, which freaked her out. Cam laughed so hard, complaining his gut hurt.

By the end, she felt stiff from laughing and her cheeks were sore.

She said as much as they sat in a little café next to the zip line and ate paninis and chatted.

“I know,” Cam said, a smile on his face. “I haven’t laughed this much …” He paused, and his face turned sad.

Of course, she knew, but he recovered quickly. “Ah.” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

She relaxed back into her seat and smiled at him. “It’s okay, Cam. It’s not like … I don’t know, we’re not trying to hide how messed up we are, right? We’re just friends.”

He didn’t respond for a moment. Then he nodded. “Right.”

It kinda got weird again, and she didn’t know what to say.

They finished lunch and walked out, her using his shoulder for support.

“I have an idea about how we could help you with your healing.”

The way he said healing made her hesitate. “What do you mean?”

He stepped down one of the café steps and said, “Hop on.”

She was hesitant. “I thought we were just going to take an Uber back to the ship.”

“We have time, and there’s this hill up here I thought we could check out. It looks out over the jungle.”

She still hesitated. She didn’t know what healing tactics he was talking about.

“Come on, trust me.”

She gave up, hopping on his back.

He took off, and as always, she was amazed at the strength of this man. It literally felt like he wasn’t even worn down a bit by carrying her around. She marveled at the muscles she felt every time he moved. The ones she’d been trying to not think too hard about.

There was a trail at the head past the zip line, and it did open up so a person could peer down. There was a bench seat, and he carefully put her down. She sat, and he sat by her.

They stared out.

“So,” he said, turning his ring around his finger.

“You do that when you’re nervous,” she said, trying to deflect from whatever “healing” techniques he had in mind.

He stopped, looking down at his hand. Clearly, he hadn’t noticed. “I do?”

She nodded. “All the time.”

Tugging his hand back, he exhaled. “You touch that necklace when you’re nervous.” He said it like he’d called checkmate.

This surprised her. “I do?”

He nodded. “Anyway, I told you that I’ve been forced into therapy, and one of the things Dr. Houston tried with me was he just told me to talk to Kat.”

Her heart raced. “Okay.”

He nodded. “I didn’t do it. The talking. But, anyway, I was thinking that I’m going to walk a ways down the trail and give you some time, and I thought …”

“What? You didn’t do it?”

“No, but I think it would be good for you.” He grinned. “Look, I think it might help to talk to Sam. Tell him you miss him and possibly talk to Rick.” He shrugged. “You can hate on Rick if you need to.”

Anger surged through her. “What? Here?” This was crazy.

He put up a hand. “Listen. I … sometimes, when things are just trapped in your head and you feel like you’re going in circles, it helps to talk it out. At least, that’s what they tell me.”

She knew what he was saying was true, but she was still pissed. “You’re giving me advice on something you haven’t even been able to do?”

He held up his hands and stood. “Those who cannot do teach.”

That made no sense.

He pointed at her. “Some of the best coaches in the NFL are the ones who sucked at playing.” He flashed a grin. “That’s why I knew I was never meant to coach. So I bought the team.”

“You’re being an idiot! And now, you’re just bragging because you’re a billionaire bragger!”

He laughed.

She liked his laugh. Liked him. It was annoying because she didn’t want to like him.

“Just”—he began backing up—“try it. I’ll be back in fifteen.”

“Wait!” she called, wishing she could run after him. He didn’t stop. “I hate you!” she called out.

“Sorry!” he said from a distance.

She sat, staring out at the jungle of Honduras and started thinking about what Cam had said about Sam. Of course she’d talked to her son. But not Rick.

Her heart raced, and she knew she was supposed to talk to him.

“Rick,” she whispered.

Nothing.

This was stupid, and she wished she could just run down the trail, but she couldn’t. The jerk Cam had stranded her here on purpose.

She sighed and thought she might as well try again. “As you know, I’m pissed as hell at you.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m pissed at myself too. And I miss Sam.” Tears were there and fell down her cheeks. “So much. I even miss you sometimes, and it ticks me off. I mean, I miss the non-jerk parts of you.” She snorted and wiped at her tears, thinking Cam would think that was funny.

She sighed and thought about how Rick might feel. It was the first time she’d thought about his perspective. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry about that day. I wanted to just have a space where I could tell you without Sam right there. But,” she said and tears trailed her cheeks. “We lost him.”

For a moment she was quiet.

“I want you to know I’m not sorry I wanted to divorce you. I’m not. You deserved it. But you didn’t deserve to lose your son. To lose … your life.” More tears fell and guilt filled her. “I’m so sorry.” She bowed her head.

She was quiet for a long time, then she leaned back her head and yelled. “Ahh!” It was loud, and she thought Cam might be able to hear her, but she knew he’d probably be happy his stupid plan was working. More emotion bubbled through her, and she thought of how she’d bent over Sam and tried to do mouth to mouth when the paramedic had said, “He’s gone.”

She’d refused to give up.

Finally, they’d pulled her off of Sam. “I tried to save him, Rick. I did.” More tears. “And I know you did too.” She reached for the locket that Rick had given her for their one-year anniversary. It had a picture of Sam in it. She opened it and stared at Sam’s face. “You gave your life for Sam, and …” It was amazing because warmth filled her. “I think …” She thought of what Cam had told her Alicia wanted him to do.

She knew it was time for her to do it.

“I think I’m ready to forgive you. And to forgive me.” Chills washed over her, and more tears fell.

“Rick, Sam,” she whispered their names. More warmth filled her, and she knew they were there.

She knew it like she’d always known God was real when they’d talked about it in Sunday School and she’d said her prayers by her bed at night. She hadn’t said those prayers for a long time. She bowed her head and cried harder. “Thank you, Lord. And I’m sorry. I’ve been mad at you. Please take care of them. And please help me to forgive Rick and forgive myself.” She didn’t know how long she had her arms wrapped around her middle and she was praying in her mind.

“Isabel.”

Her eyes flashed open, and Cam was there next to her.

She was startled. “What time is it?”

“You’ve been here an hour. We have to get back to the ship.” He reached his hand out to her.

She hesitated to grab his hand, still a bit mad at him.

“We can’t do it alone, Izz.”

She frowned. “Is this another thing you’re telling me and not doing yourself?”

He hesitated, and she wondered if her words upset him. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

She still didn’t respond.

“Midnight.”

“What?” She quickly asked, confused.

“I find myself walking the streets most nights at midnight and it’s hard because … it still doesn’t help me.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

He put his hand out again. “I’m here, Izz. I’m here and I’m ready to walk with you at the darkest hours.”

Warmth filled her. She took his hand, and he pulled her up.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

He nodded.

She threw her arms around him, hugging him. “And … thank you,” she whispered.

Saying nothing, he just held her.