Page 8 of Knox
She kept her eyes on her daughter. “She should’ve stayed home.”
A knock at the door broke the tension in the room. We all looked up as a uniformed officer stepped in. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m Officer Ramirez and was one of the first on the scene. I was here for another case and wanted to see how Ms. Wade was doing.”
“We’re Mallory’s parents,” Hank advised. “She’s had a few surgeries and is now in a medically induced coma. We’re just waiting now to see what happens. Can you tell us anything more about the accident?”
“The crash happened around three thirty yesterday. It’s still under investigation, but a witness said the other car came around a curve too fast and crossed the centerline. It looks like Mallory didn’t have time to react, and the impact was severe.”
Debra didn’t say anything as tears streamed down her face. I was on the verge of crying too.
“When we find out more, I’ll be in touch,” the officer added before stepping back into the hallway.
Hank nodded and mumbled his thanks.
I stayed where I was, torn between giving them space and not wanting to leave Mallory’s side. My legs were shot from a night in the chair, but the pull to stay with Mallory hadn’t lessened.
Guilt was starting to consume me too because, like Debra said, I had told Mallory to go. I’d said the break would be good for her, that she needed it, that she deserved it.
But Mallory was strong. If anyone could survive this, it was her.
I just hoped she knew how much she was needed and how many people were waiting for her to come home.
By the timeI left the hospital, the sun was up, but it was a cloudy January day. I didn’t remember most of the drive back home, just the elevator ride to my condo and the sound of my keys in the door. When I walked in, the place was quiet.
Knox stepped out of the kitchen with a mug in his hand. “Hey. How is she?”
“She’s stable, but still in the coma.” I dropped my keys on the counter. “Her parents are with her.”
He set the mug down without taking a sip. “Good. How are you?”
I sat heavily on the edge of the couch. “I don’t even know, but Debra blames me, and I kinda do too.”
“What? Why?”
“Because we gifted her the fucking spa weekend and pushed her to go. I thought I was doing something good.”
“You were.”
“Doesn’t matter. She still ended up in a hospital bed hooked to machines and fighting for her life.”
Knox wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I leaned my head on him. “You didn’t cause that accident.”
“No, but I set it in motion. Mallory should’ve been home. Not out on some highway alone. And I have no idea what I’m supposed to tell Grady.”
Knox’s voice softened. “Yeah, but he’s still asleep.”
“Good.” I looked down at the floor. “I’ll go shower.”
“Okay. I’ll start breakfast. Bacon and eggs?”
“Perfect.”
I started for the bedroom but then stopped and turned back. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
“Always.”
Steam filled the bathroom fast,clinging to the mirror as I stepped under the water. I didn’t even bother turning it cooler. I just stood there, hands braced on the tile, trying to breathe as I let the hot water burn my pain away.
I could still see Mallory lying in the hospital bed. The bandage on her head. The way her chest moved only when the ventilator told it to. Debra sitting in the chair I’d spent the night in, looking at me like I’d put her daughter in that bed myself.
