Page 66 of Weight of Guilt

But she knew that wasn’t true.

Nora checked him in.

“I want to go back alone,” Christian announced.

“Christian—” Marlowe started, reaching for him.

“I mean it.” His voice hardened. “I don’t want any of you to go back with me.”

The words hit each of them like a slap—which had probably been intended.

But they didn’t argue.

The nurse said something to him that was too quiet to hear. Then she led him back.

Wren, Nora, and Marlowe all found chairs in the corner of the waiting room, away from a television no one was watching with twenty-four-hour news droning on the screen.

“I can wait in the lot,” Nash said, still on his feet. “Y’all don’t need a stranger sitting in on this.”

“No, please sit down, Nash.” Nora didn’t look up. “You got Christian here in record time. You’re not a stranger anymore.”

He didn’t argue.

Before they could talk any more, Wren’s phone buzzed.

Cody.

She stepped into the hallway before she answered. “Hey.”

“Wren, where are you? I’m at the house. Everybody’s gone, and there’s broken glass all over the back porch.”

Wren pressed her fingers against her eyebrow as an ache began to pulse there. “I forgot to call you. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not what I asked.” His voice sounded serious in a way she’d rarely heard before.

She hesitated before telling him, “I’m in Sevierville. At the hospital.”

“Wren.” His voice caught. “Mason’s right here with me, so I know it’s not him. What happened?”

“I can’t . . . I can’t really say. But the important thing is that everybody is alive and will be okay.”

Cody didn’t say anything a moment. Then, “I don’t like the sound of this, especially if it affects my child.”

Something about his words caused her spine to tighten. “You know I’d never put Mason in danger.”

Where did Cody even have the right to say that? She was the one who’d taken care of Mason all those years when Cody wanted nothing to do with him.

A surge of anger rushed through her.

But she knew anger would only escalate the situation and make it worse. She forced herself to take a few deep breaths before responding.

“Something’s happened with my family,” Wren said, her voice surprisingly calm. “I can’t get into it on the phone, and I need you not to ask me yet.”

“Okay,” he finally said. Then he paused. “You want me to keep Mason tonight?”

She closed her eyes as she considered the possibility. She really wanted Mason with her. But she knew that might not be the wisest option, all things considered.

“Yes, please.” It pained her to say the words. “If you can take him to school in the morning, I’ll pick him up.”