A Mother Would Know (84)

Hudson had seen Molly the night she died. He himself had admitted that she rejected him. If Natalia was telling the truth, Hudson doesn’t like being rejected, especially not by women. But that wouldn’t be enough reason to kill her, would it?

“You’re the only woman who will never hurt me.”

The TV clicks on downstairs, startling me. I flinch, suppressing a gasp. Then I quickly snatch up the journal and press it to my chest.

Journal in hand, I make my way back to my room, staring with dread at the hook and latch hanging from the door frame, wishing it were on the inside of my door instead. I slip into my room and firmly close the door behind me.





Ashes, ashes,

We all fall down...

I prop my feet up on the coffee table, thinking about how finally Kendra is getting what she deserves. Just like she’d so cavalierly said about that mouse, she had done this to herself.

This time she’d gone too far, and she would pay for it.

She’d underestimated me.

Leaning back on the couch cushions, I click through the channels, trying to find something to watch. I marvel at how relaxed I feel—the most comfortable I’ve ever felt in this house.

Mom thought it was her fault that I’d taken off years ago and never came back, but that was never the case. I’d stayed away to avoid Kendra. To finally be safe from her torment. It’s why I never stressed about my phone being shut off or jumping from couch to couch and place to place. Harder to locate that way. Far off of Kendra’s radar. Just the way I liked it.

I wouldn’t have come back this time, except that I’d been worried about Mom. She’d always been so confident, self-assured, independent. Hearing her sound scared and needy really messed with my mind. I had to see for myself if she was okay.

But after I’d moved in, she seemed like herself. Sure, she was much more of a homebody than I’d ever remembered, but other than that, she appeared to be okay. She had little bouts with forgetfulness, but who doesn’t? I felt like maybe she was just overthinking things. Grandma’s illness had taken a toll on her.

It was clear Kendra was uncomfortable with me being here, though, and that was part of the reason I wanted to stay. I liked watching her squirm. I wasn’t a little kid she could control anymore—and from that first Friday night, I had the strange feeling she was up to something. It’s why I asked Theo to go out. I knew it would piss my sister off. Well, that and I wanted to find out more about the hot blonde he worked with.

After Natalia, I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I wanted uncomplicated. Fun. A casual hookup.

Molly seemed like she might be up for that. I felt it in her flirty smile when Theo introduced us. The way her eyes narrowed in that seductive way, and how strategically she licked her lips, brushing a stray hair from her face.

Natalia had been a frigid bitch the last few months of our relationship, twisting my love for her into something ugly and mean. But I wasn’t a monster. I just needed a girl who could see that. Even if it was only for a little while.

The night I went out with my brother-in-law, I let him pick the place.

“Midtown Saloon?” I had asked, eyebrows raised when Theo pulled his Honda Pilot into the parking lot.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing, man. I just pegged you as a swanky restaurant bar guy.”

Theo turned to me. “I am. But I thought you wanted me to hook you up with Molly.”

I smiled. “She’s here?”

Theo shrugged. “Maybe. I know she comes here a lot.”

To my dismay, Theo’s hunch had been wrong. Molly was nowhere to be seen.

“Well, better luck next time,” Theo said, but I didn’t think he sounded too bummed that Molly wasn’t there.

When we sat down at the bar, I ordered a beer, while Theo ordered some fancy whiskey drink, reminding me of my dad. Whiskey had always been his drink of choice, too. I briefly wondered if that was one of the things Kendra liked about Theo.

But then Theo said, “Don’t tell your sister I’m having a drink. She’d kill me.”

“Yeah, what’s with that? Is it like a religious thing?”

Theo laughed. “No, it’s a Kendra thing.”

“How are things with you two?” I asked as the bartender slid a beer in front of me. “She seemed kinda bitchy with you last night.”

Theo picked up his fancy cocktail, the one large ice cube clinking against the side of the glass. “Yeah, she’s always been a little uptight.” He paused, took a long sip. I wondered if he’d speak again. I knew I was pushing it, calling my sister bitchy to her husband. But then Theo put the glass down on the counter, still staring into it. “She was on these meds for a while. Antianxiety meds and sleeping pills. And they worked. She was actually pretty chill when she took them.”

“Kendra, chill?”

“Right?” Theo laughed. “But she stopped taking them when she found out she was pregnant. She told me she went back on them after Mason was born. It’s why she didn’t breastfeed. I’ve picked up the prescription for her a few times, and even seen the empty containers in the wastebasket.” He took another sip. “But I know she’s not taking them.”

“You sure?”

Theo nodded soberly. “I know what she’s like on the drugs and off the drugs, and trust me, she’s not on them.”