Page 215 of Misrule
“Come in, both of you,” Audra said after she shook Roxanne’s hand.
He placed his hand at the small of Roxanne’s back; together, they walked in, following Audra to the living room, where a houseful of friends and relatives were gathered. He knew most of the people there and couldn’t believe the circumstances under which he was seeing them. Seeing their grief seemed to increase his own, penetrating the shock he’d been living in for the past twenty-four hours.
But he couldn’t give in to his feelings. He’d just won Roxanne back. How would she feel if she saw him crying over his ex-wife’s death?
Roxanne squeezed his hand. “Knox,” she whispered. “Why don’t I go back to the hotel?”
“I want you here,” he told her.
“I’m here, sugar. But you don’t need mehere. Grieve in peace, without thinking you’re hurting me.”
She’d wanted to stay at the hotel in the first place. Knox should’ve known Callie’s family would be at this house.
“Dad!” Grant cried, running into the room and barreling to Knox. His son sobbed in his arms. “Mom’s gone. Somebody shot her to death. It wasn’t a robbery or nothing. The police said she let her killer in. They took Mom from me.”
“What?” Knox gasped, feeling as if he’d been sucker-punched. His thoughts ran together, not allowing him to focus on anything.
“You’ve been listening, young man?” Audra said with disapproval.
“I want Mom, Grandma,” Grant sobbed. “I just wanted to know where she was. When she was coming back.”
Audra sighed, her eyes red-rimmed, her face haggard. “Go to your room,” she said kindly. “Some of the….you’re a little boy. It’s best for you not to hear what the adults are discussing.”
“I don’t want to be in my room alone,” Grant said around tears.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” Roxanne inserted, “but I can take Grant some—”
Before she finished, Grant had rushed to her. She didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him and offer words of comfort.
“Can I go with Roxy, Dad?” Grant begged.
Knox started, then met Audra’s gaze. Though she nodded, she sagged in despair. With Callie gone, Grant would come to live with Knox and Roxanne. He’d never cut Audra out of his son’s life—she was his grandmother—but Grant living anywhere else was out of the question. He’d contact his lawyer before the day was out.
“Yes, son. You can go back to the hotel with Roxanne.”
Patting Knox’s back, she took Grant’s hand.” “Let’s call an Uber,” she said.
“Okay,” he said, sounding hoarse and tired.
Overwhelmed by the sheer gravity of the situation, Knox waited for his former in-laws to protest. He always expected the worst so he wouldn’t be surprised. No one said anything. Walking to Grant, he hugged his son, unsure of what to say or do. He stared at Roxanne, wordlessly asking for guidance.
She gave him a tender, reassuring smile.
“I’ll meet you two at the hotel,” he said, holding Grant close to him and then kissing his cheek.
“Take your time, Knox,” Roxanne said. “We aren’t going anywhere.”
Knox nodded. Fifteen minutes later, he ushered them into an Uber, kissing them both goodbye. Once the car drove away, he headed inside, wishing he could be any other place but here. His ex-wife had been murdered, though, and he intended to get the justice she deserved.
“Is Mom in heaven?” Grant asked, tears lurking in his eyes, though he valiantly held them in.
“Of course, sugar.”
He picked up a French fry from his plate, then dropped it into the ketchup. “Will I see her again?”
Roxy pushed her own plate aside. She’d barely touched any of her salad and should’ve followed her original plan of ordering coffee for herself from room service and whatever Grant decided upon. She was familiar with Boston and she was tired from the long flight. The last twenty-four hours had been sheer hell, watching Knox scramble to get to his son, consoling him over Callie’s death, and advising him to leave her behind. He needed her with him, he said. That was all Roxy needed to hear. Despite her reservations, she’d agreed to go.
“I miss her, Roxy. Who hurt her?”
