Page 172 of Rebellious

It didn’t matter. She remembered. She also recalled the hell Johnnie had put her through for weeks. The accusations. The forced sex. The lies and the drama.

The solace she’d found in Mortician’s arms gave her the strength to endure a little longer. Yet she needed to confide in someone. Roxy hadn’t confronted her and that too stole some of Kendall’s peace. But her predominant emotions were aimed at her husband. Remorse and shame. She couldn’t believe she’d actually slept with another man, even if that man was Mortician.

She’d cried herself to sleep in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by peeling paint and a moldy smell.

This morning, she’d called Ella and asked her to see the kids off to school, only then realizing she hadn’t told Ella she was leaving.

A knock sounded on her door and she glanced up, knowing it was Meggie and debating on answering. She’d given Meggie the address to her motel, the same one where Molly had been found, but Kendall was so frightened of what Meggie would say. Undoubtedly, she knew. That was the only reason she insisted on a visit.

“Kendall?” Meggie called. “Are you awake?”

Biting her lip, Kendall turned and glanced at the door with hope, then wilted again. She couldn’t bear Meggie’s judgment.

“I know what happened, love,” she confirmed quietly. “Christopher told me.”

Of course Outlaw knew. Mortician was his best friend and Outlaw had found her underneath the tree. He’d probably checked the cameras and put it all together himself. He must be so disgusted with her.

“I just want to check on you.”

Not wasting another minute, Kendall hurried from the creaky bed and stumbled to the door. The moment she unlocked and opened it, Meggie held out her arms.

“Oh, Meggie,” she said, bending and embracing her friend. “What have I done?”

Meggie hugged her. Tightly. Warmly. With the kindness and understanding of a sister.

Kendall guided Meggie in, then locked the door. They walked to the bed and sat next to each other. Meggie grabbed Kendall’s hand.

“I’ve never been in your position, sweetheart, so I’m afraid anything I say will sound oversimplified or dismissive. Why don’t you talk and I listen?”

“What can I say? I betrayed my husband.”

“Your husband betrayed you months ago, Kendall. Maybe not with another woman but with deception and manipulation.”

Meggie didn’t know the half of it.

“Bailey devastated Mortician,” she continued.

“He loves her, though. Because of me I made him betray her.”

Hugging her, Meggie pulled Kendall close and urged her head onto her shoulder. “You didn’t make him do anything he didn’t want to do. Get that out of your head. He had free will and he used it as he saw fit.”

Kendall still wasn’t convinced that she wasn’t a dirty cheater. “I’ve been planning to leave. It turned into more than just threats of divorce,” she admitted, revealing her trips to Nampa, the offer she’d made on that house, and her meetings with Anne Phillips. She stood, pacing as she talked, appreciating that Meggie didn’t interrupt her. “But Johnnie warned me if I left, he’d use my depression and suicide attempt against me,” she finished. “Then never let me see the kids. My children are everything to me. I can’t lose them.”

“My only suggestion is talk to Christopher.”

“What can I say to him? I’m humiliated enough.”

“Maybe he’ll convince Johnnie to leave. Somehow.”

“Your jokes aren’t helping, Megan Caldwell,” Kendall said with a nervous laugh, not liking her ominous tone.

Meggie sniffed and folded her arms. “Why should we lose you and keep him? You belong with us. You want us. You need us. You’re ours.”

“Even if I’ve corrupted Mortician?”

“Stop it this instant! Johnnie manifested what happened by constantly opening his big, stupid mouth. You didn’t corrupt Mortician and you gave Johnnie just what he deserved. He has emotionally cheated on you for years.”

With Meggie. Wilting, Kendall plopped next to Meggie again. The room was just a little box, not big enough to contain the magnitude of her problems.