Page 7 of Knox

“What’s wrong?” I could instantly hear the worry in her voice.

I stared at Mallory as I answered my mother. “Mallory was in a head-on collision yesterday. She had several surgeries and now she’s in a medically induced coma.”

Mom gasped. “What?”

“Yeah. Doctors are keeping her in a coma because of the injury to her brain.”

“Is she going to make it?”

“I … I don’t know.” Another tear slid down my cheek.

“Oh, honey. How’s Grady handling it?”

“He doesn’t know. He stayed at my place with Knox while I rushed to the hospital. I haven’t left her side most of the night.”

“What can I do? I can pack and?—”

“Debra and Hank should be here soon and they’ll be with Mal while I go home and take care of Grady.”

“If you need anything, please let me know. Even if I need to come take care of my grandson.” I hadn’t been there when my parents first met Grady. After I found out about him, Mallory set up a visit with them. Just like me, they fell for him right away. Finn and Marissa did too when they brought their kids over, and Grady got to play with his cousins.

The door clicked open again, and when I looked up, I saw Mallory’s mom step in first, followed by her father.

“I have to go. Debra and Hank just got here.”

“Call me if anything changes with Mallory or you just need me to get on a plane,” Mom said.

“Will do. Love you.”

“Love you too, honey.”

I disconnected the call and watched as Debra went straight to her daughter and wrapped her fingers around Mallory’s. Her husband stood frozen at the end of the bed, staring like he couldn’t believe the broken body in front of him was their little girl.

“Is she going to be okay?” Debra asked, tears in her eyes.

I pushed to my feet. “They say it’s too soon to tell. The doctors put her in a medically induced coma to help with the swelling in her brain, and she’s stable.”

Hank finally pulled his eyes from Mallory and looked at me. “Grady ... he wasn’t with her, right?”

I shook my head. “No. She’d dropped him off with me before she left. He’s home. He’s okay.”

Debra exhaled, her grip on Mallory never loosening.

Hank stepped closer. “Do we know any more about what happened?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “No. I only know she was driving to the resort for the spa weekend Knox and I gave her for Christmas. She left after lunch and wanted to get there early.”

Debra lowered herself into the chair I’d been in earlier. “She finally took a break for herself.”

The weight in my chest turned sharp. “I had encouraged it. Told her she deserved some alone time before the season started.”

Debra turned to me. “You pushed her to go.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I thought it would help her recharge.”

“And now she’s here. Hooked up to a machine.”

“Debra,” Hank warned quietly.