Knox looked at Mortician with meaning. “Bailey is with Roxanne in our room.”
And just like that, Mort was gone because he was a good man, who adored his wife and children. Kendall had never felt so alone. All her support systems—Roxy, Meggie, Mort, and Christopher—were occupied with their priorities. And she wasn’t one of them. The man she wanted, needed, didn’t care. Somehow, she had to stand firm. Stay strong, especially for her daughter.
Except she didn’t know how she could even face Mattie. If Kendall hadn’t been off licking her wounds, she would’ve been there when Mattie needed her most.
She started to sob.
“Kendall,” Knox murmured, hugging her as CJ had done earlier. “Your daughter is waiting for you. Go to her.”
“How can I face my baby?” she whispered, her insides turning upside down. Her world in shambles, so much that she accepted Knox’s comfort and hugged him back. She was alone and afraid and worn out.
“Kendall, listen to me. I know this is hitting you hard, but you’re a strong woman. You know how I know? Because you weather all types of storms and still stand tall. That’s the true show of strength.”
“I don’t feel very strong right now,” she said hoarsely. “I’m so tired. And alone.”
“No, sweetheart. You aren’t alone. You have us. Your family. Roxanne has been waiting for you. Bailey arrived not long ago. If you want to go upstairs to talk to them before you see Mattie, do that. Zoann’s in the kitchen, cleaning the brunch dishes. We’d just finished eating when Harley called Roxanne.”
Kendall nodded, most of the words going over her head.
“So who do you want to see first?”
“I-I want to see my baby,” Kendall said tearfully.
“She’s in the guest room.”
Kendall started to walk away, then halted at the staircase and met Knox’s gaze. “Thank you, Knox. Your kindness right now means more than you’ll ever know.” Not waiting for him to respond, she hurried upstairs, just as Roxy walked into the hallway and closed the door to her bedroom.
Taking one look at Kendall, she held open her arms.
Kendall hurried to her and sobbed in misery, while Roxy hugged her and whispered comforting words to her. Maternal words that soothed Kendall.
“Come on, baby,” Roxanne said a few minutes later, taking her hand and guiding her to the guestroom.
When Kendall saw Mattie curled up on the bed, she thought she was asleep, but then she lifted her head. Kendall barely had time to take in her bruised face and neck.
“Mama,” she cried, bolting up and flying to Kendall. “You’re here,” she said tearfully, holding onto Kendall as if she’d never let her go.
Kendall held her just as tightly and closed her eyes, sobbing right along with her daughter, grateful that she was still alive and in one piece.
“Is Daddy with you?”
Mattie’s hoarseness reminded Kendall that someone told her she’d been strangled.
“No.” Kendall couldn’t manage anything else about that motherfucker. “I’m not sure where he’s at.”
“He hugged me, Mama,” Mattie said, wiping her cheeks. “And apologized to me. He didn’t blame me or anything.”
If that fuckheadhadblamed Mattie, Kendall would’ve killed him.
“He was just like he once was.”
Kendall couldn’t burst Mattie’s bubble right now. Not after all she’d been through, so she merely nodded.
It wasn’t until a knock came on the door that Kendall realized Roxy had left them alone.
“Come in,” Kendall called.
Grant opened the door. “I was just coming to check on Mattie.”
