She stood with her parents and Fallon next to the gurney in the quiet room as the attendant pulled back the white sheet and stifled a sob.
Her mom’s hand rested on Lark’s shoulder as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father looked terrible, his eyes a crimson shade of red, swollen, and puffy. How was this real?
Grady stepped closer and pressed his lips to his mother’s forehead, “I’m so sorry, Mom. I should have been there to protect you. I should have gone for the walk with you and Lark. I should have protected my girls, and I didn’t. I failed you, Mom. I’m sorry.”
Lark looked away as her throat clogged, “it wasn’t your fault.”
“Grady,” Everly cleared her throat. “You couldn’t have stopped what happened. Her heart.”
“He did it,” Grady took a shaking breath. “He f*****g did it but I
