Page 54 of Keeping Knight

“Nothing,” she says. Then she starts crying harder. “There’s nothing.”

Dammit. I’m so pissed at myself for letting her come. First Sylvia’s shit, and now Liam’s. It’s too much for her. It would be too much for anyone. Feeling helpless, I lift her onto my lap. “I’ll just hold you, then.”

“It feels like it’s happening all over again,” Ruby says. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Ah, sweetie.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“She thinks I killed him⁠—”

“No.” I jostle her on my lap. “No. I don’t give a shit what that woman said. She’s wrong. We all know it.”

Ruby goes silent. She exhales, letting out a shuddering sob. “You don’t know. I never told you how my dad died. Maybe it was my fault.”

“It was not, Ruby,” I reply firmly. “Don’t let her get into your head.”

She stares at her lap as she whispers, “We were on our yearly hiking trip. Every year, my dad and I would go up to our camp in the Adirondacks. We’d spent a long weekend there, hiking and grilling and just getting away from everything. It… it was our special thing.”

“It sounds very special. A really nice memory to have with him.”

“The last time… when he died. I didn’t stop him from going. I didn’t even think. He’d always been so healthy, and he worked out, ate well… most of the time, at least. I never considered it could have been too much for him.”

“Lots of older people go hiking, Rue. People in their seventies and eighties.”

“He died right in front of me, Micah. We were hiking. Having fun. Talking. One minute everything was fine, and the next… he was gone.” Another sob bubbles up. “I tried to help him. But nothing worked. I had to sit there with his body until the Rangers showed up.”

Swallowing a curse, I hug her closer. “I’m so sorry.”

“I wondered. What would have happened if we canceled the trip. But I never thought… Maybe that was stupid of me. I should have realized it was my⁠—”

“No.” Cupping her cheek, I tilt her head up to look at me. “It was not your fault, Ruby. Not even a little. And you know it. That woman got in your head, and that’s making you doubt yourself. But she’s one hundred percent wrong.”

“What if she’s not?” she whispers.

“She is.” I hold her gaze. “Your dad was a smart man, right? A doctor? So if anyone would know what they’re physically capable of, it would be him. And if he said he was fine to go on the trip, there would be no reason not to believe him.”

“But—”

“It’s terrible,” I continue. “But heart attacks happen like that sometimes. There’s just no warning. No symptoms. It sounds like that’s what happened to your dad.”

Before Ruby can respond, I press on. “I am so, so sorry that you had to go through that. But I am absolutely certain you had nothing to do with your dad’s death. Nothing. Just like you didn’t manipulate him into changing his will. Your stepmother is just plain wrong. She’s messed up in the head and she’s throwing out irrational accusations. That’s it.”

“Do you think she really tried to kill me?”

“I don’t know. But we’re going to find out.”

More tears streak down her cheeks. “My dad would be so upset if she did. He would feel like it’s his fault. For bringing her into my life.”

“Would you blame him?” I ask. “If it turns out Sylvia is guilty?”

Ruby shakes her head quickly. “No. Of course not. He’s not responsible for her.”

“And do you think he’d ever blame you? For what happened on the trip?”

“No.” She pauses to think. “No. He would say it was just his time.” After a pause, her face crumples. “But it wasn’t supposed to be his time. He’s supposed to still be here. I’d introduce you to him, and I’d go upstate to get a turkey, and… I just miss him. So much.”

Until now, I never truly understood how someone’s pain could feel like your own.

“I know,” I say. “I wish I could make it better for you. But I can tell you some honest truths. If you want to hear them.”