Page 45 of Misrule
Kendall opened her mouth to answer with a definitiveNO!She couldn’t get the word out, though, recalling Rory’s little face during the times she’d forced him to sit at the table to finish his meals. That practice had ended because of Johnnie. She’d barred Rory from wearing jeans and demanded he call her and Johnnie by their first names. As if she wanted to disassociate herself from being a parent. She didn’t allow any of her children in certain rooms in her house, but it had been her first born, Rory, who had gotten the brunt of her…hermistreatment.
“Yes,” she answered, shame ringing in her voice. “I-I thought I was raising Rory to be…”
“To be?” Dr. Briscow pushed when Kendall couldn’t find the words to continue.
“Not to be,” Kendall corrected. “Not to be a biker. Not to be like his cousin, CJ, or his uncle, Christopher. I wanted my son—all three of my children—to be better. But it came out as resentment and hostility toward Rory.”
“I see.” Dr. Briscow tapped on her keyboard. “Have you ever beat your children?”
“I’ve disciplined Rory when he was bad. I’ve spanked him.”
“And your other children.”
“Matilda is a little girl and JJ is too young.”
“You’ve never abused your children or any minor in your care.”
Kendall thought of CJ, but quickly pushed the incident with him out of her mind. He hadn’t been in her care. Besides, what he needed went beyond disciplining. That boy was out of hand.
“You have to be honest with me about everything,” Dr. Briscow chided, as if she knew Kendall withheld information. “You’re wasting my time and your own if you don’t be completely open with me.” She gave Kendall a knowing look.
Shifting in her seat, Kendall nodded. “I understand, Dr. Briscow.”
The woman waited a moment longer, but Kendall refused to budge. “I promise I will never lie to you, doctor,” she swore. “I want help. I want my life back. My husband. My family.”
“I understand,” Dr. Briscow said. “I will get to the bottom of your problems. As long as I have your cooperation and honesty, you have my promise.”
“Thank you,” Kendall responded, determined to pretend she’d never hated a little boy through no fault of his own at first. It was simply due to who his father happened to be. Now, she couldn’t stand his lack of manners and his determination to emulate everything Outlaw did.
This wasn’t about Outlaw and CJ, though. This was about Johnnie, Rory, Matilda, and JJ, and how meaningless her life felt without them.
“My lady.”
Roxy smiled at Knox’s words as he held open the back door of Bailey’s Escalade. This morning, as she’d cleaned up from breakfast, a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses had arrived. A gift from Knox with a dinner invitation on the enclosed card.
For the entire day, she’d went over in her mind how she’d style her hair; if she wanted dramatic makeup or sexpot; whether she’d wear panties or not. In essence, she’d floated on a cloud. She hadn’t been momma of four with a son who hated her or glam-ma or club mother. She hadn’t been divorcee or cancer survivor oranythingbut Knox’s lady. His fiancée. She’d reveled in that wonderful feeling.
Until thoughts of how Mortician would fuck with her date intruded. A way to beat her son-in-law at his own game inspired her to call Knox.
“Invite Mort and Bailey to join us,” she’d suggested.
As expected, Knox had resisted, capitulating when she explained her reasoning.
“Tonight’s church. If we fuck withhisschedule enough, maybe the motherfucker will stop fucking with our fucking.”
“I’ll handle this, Roxanne. Knowing that man, he’ll decline the invitation then tell us we can’t go either like we’re fucking five-year-olds. I will invite him, but when he declines, I intend to inform him we’re going with or without him.”
Roxy had grinned. “You do that, sugar. Call me back.”
An hour had passed before she heard from Knox again.
“It’s all set,” he’d said, grim. “We’re going on a double date.”
Although she knew there was a story there, Roxy decided not to press Knox for an explanation.
Now, as they started off, with Mortician in the driver’s seat, Bailey next to him up front, and Roxy cozied up to Knox on the second row, she chuckled when he nuzzled her neck.
“Do you want to make out, sweetheart?” he breathed against her ear.
