Page 147 of Charity's Redemption

“I’m back,” I said, clapping my hands together and resuming my seat. “What did I miss?”

“Maybe this was a mistake,” my father said, standing and taking my mother’s hand.

“No, not at all.” I sat back and crossed my legs. “Tell me what’s been going on at work, Dad.”

“We don’t—”

“Eh,” I held my hand up. “My house, my rules.”

My mother huffed and placed her hands in her lap, covering the starched straight, pale pink dress she wore. Her hands wrung together was irritation.

“Um, just some petty crimes, a couple burglaries,” he said, his gaze wandering around the scenery behind me. “Oh,” he pointed his finger in the air. “I think we officially closed the murder-suicide case.”

I leaned forward, placed my elbow on my knee, and rested my chin in my hand. “What case?”

“Senator Adams case.”

“A murder-suicide?” I whispered as if I didn’t want anyone around me to hear.

My heart skidded to home plate and rejoiced with the good news.

“That is what it appears. We think she found out during the investigation that he was married and turned on him, his guards, and then on herself.”

“Why would anyone do such a thing,” my mother said, horrified.

“A woman scorned, mother…”

I left the statement open so she could interpret it any way she saw fit.

“Yes, well, it didn’t take long to understand.”

“Well, I need to use the restroom.”

“I’ll show you.” I stood and walked her inside to the guest restroom down the hall as Nico stepped out and sat down with my father.

My mother stepped into the bathroom. I slammed my hand on the door as she moved to shut it. “Just so you know, you can’t come into my house and act like you didn’t stick a knife in my back.”

Her mouth gaped open as her fingers curled around the edge of the door. “I didn’t—”

“Don’t deny it, Mother. Lying is a sin, remember?”

“I never turned my back on you.”

“When you stood with that priest and accused me of murder was the day you lost both of your children. I hope you realize that.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she chewed the inside of her cheek.

My hand slid from the door. “I do wonder what happened to that priest, don’t you?” She swallowed as I walked away. “Find your own way back.”

“What was that about?”

I halted as I exited the hall.

Max stood with his back against the wall, his hands in his pockets, and one leg perched behind him while he peeled an orange.

“What else would it be about, Max?”

“Didn’t Luca tell you to play nice?”

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