KAYLA HUDDLED WITH THE CHILDREN on the sofa inside the dark family room. Hugging CJ to her left and Isabelle to her right, guilt made her sick to her stomach. Oh God, had she caused Russell to have a heart attack? Had thinking about her grandfather’s death pushed him over the edge? Made him go into cardiac arrest?
Sniffling, Kayla’s nose burned as she fought back her tears. If Russell died, it’d be all her fault. She should’ve never went over to his home to question him about the night her grandfather had died and their friendship. Now, not only had she put his life in jeopardy, she’d put her relationship with Richmond at stake as well.
If Richmond found out that she’d lied to him about her whereabouts and had been with his father tonight, right before he had the heat attack, he’d think she was a big liar and probably end their relationship. Even worse, if he found out her grandfather had killed Salina while on one of his doctor house visits, he’d hate her for all eternity. Her life was quickly spinning out of control, and it wasn’t a darn thing she could do about it.
Terrified of Russell’s outcome, Kayla closed her eyes and prayed harder than she’d ever prayed before. She prayed Russell pulled through. Prayed for God to save him.
Reopening her eyes, Kayla stared at the wick on the candle burning inside the jar on the table. Wishing the lights would hurry up and come back on, her cell buzzed on the table next to the candle. She leapt up and answered it. Swiping the screen, she barely had the phone to her ear before saying, “How’s he doing?”
“I’m doing great now that I’ve heard your voice. Your voice is like sweet music to my ears,” Carson said in a chipper tone.
Disappointed, Kayla sucked her teeth. Call her ungrateful, but a part of her wished he’d never moved to Hilton Head. Although she wanted what was best for CJ, Carson was really getting on her nerves with his constant attempts to pursue her.
“Hi, Carson.” There wasn’t any enthusiasm to her voice.
“Have you given any more thought to us getting remarried so we can raise our son together? Before you answer, think about what’s best for CJ. Kids benefits from being raised by both of their parents in the same home.”
“Carson, I’ve had a rough night. So if you’re not calling about CJ, I’m going to hang up.” Pain throbbed at her temples.
“You sound terrible. Did you and Richmond get into an argument?”
“No. It’s nothing like that,” she choked out. “His father had a heart attack.” And it’s all my fault.
“Who, Russell?” Carson’s voice pitched.
“Yes.” Wait a minute. How did Carson know Russell’s name? Knowing him, he probably looked it up on the Internet. All in her business like this made her uncomfortable. Oh, well maybe he met him at Isabelle’s birthday party.
“How is he doing?”
“I don’t know.” Her cell buzzed. She spied the Caller ID. Richmond’s name and picture glowed on her screen. “Hey, this is Richmond. I gotta go.”
“Call me—”
Before Carson could finish his sentence, she’d clicked over. “How’s Russell?”
“Not good. It’s bad, Kay. Real bad. The doctor’s said if he makes it, it’ll be a miracle. Chelsey said he had a visitor right before he collapsed. I wished I knew who it was, because something tells me his visitor is responsible for him lying up in this damn hospital bed. Fighting for his life.”
Chelsey was there; she saw me. “We have to believe that your family will be fine. Let’s pray.” Kayla tried to keep her fragile control and not think the worst. Not cry. Or get discouraged.
“Other than a few words, I’m not good at praying, Kay,” Richmond muttered.
“Just listen to me, and I’ll guide you.” Kayla got down on her knees in front of the sofa. Clutching the phone between her shoulder and ear, she put her hand in a prayer symbol and told the children who were on their knees beside her to do the same. Bowing their heads, she led Richmond, CJ, and Isabelle into a heart-tendering prayer for Russell.
Two hours later, Kayla lay in the bed downstairs, sandwiched between the children. Finally, they’d fallen asleep. Listening to the unrelenting rain continuously clank on the ceiling, her eyes drifted closed. Draping her arms around CJ and Isabelle, she released a long yawn.
Their young bodies felt warm snuggled into her as they lay beneath the thick comforter. As little as they were, they gave her mild comfort. Refusing to keep a secret from Richmond any longer, she made up her mind that as soon as he returned from the hospital, she was going to tell him everything. Tell him that she was the last person to see Russell before he had his heart attack. Tell him that her grandfather may have killed Salina. And tell him she’d buried the murder weapon at the river down the street from her house after Jason caught her holding it in her hand. Hopefully, Chelsey wouldn’t beat her to the punch and tell him about her visit with Russell first.
Thunder roamed lightly over the estate. Kayla’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked straight across the room towards the door. Lightning flashed inside the room, and she could’ve sworn she saw Chelsey standing in the doorway of her room with her hair soaking wet, holding a sharp knife. Terrified, she leapt up in bed.
Blinking, lightning flashed again. Like magic, Chelsey had vanished. Please let her be seeing things, she thought, scampering across the room, then locking the door. Where’s Richmond’s dog, Killer, when I need him?
Kayla’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She darted across the room to answer it. Spying the screen, she saw it was her sister, Alana. “Alana.” Her hands trembled as she held the phone to her ear.
“I made it home for break, Sis! I love the way your man fixed up the house. It’s beautiful, Sis.”
Heart thundering inside her chest, Kayla peeped through the slits in the blinds to see if she could spot Chelsey out there, but it was too dark. “I think someone broke inside the house,” she whispered.
Alana’s shocking gasp came through the phone. “I’m on my way over there. Call the police from your house phone while you’re on the phone with me.”
“I can’t; the electricity is out.”
“Well, click over and do it.” Alana’s worrisome tone did very little to soothe the fear she was experiencing. “I’m in the car now. Lock yourself inside a room, and don’t come out.”
“Okay. I’m going to click over now.”
“Wait. Who do you think may have broken in?”
“I know for sure it was Chelsey Wimberly.”