Page 24 of Silver Sanctuary
“I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted.” Her head shook back and forth as her eyes dropped down to her hands. “I’m trying my hardest to be kind, to show this town that I’m trying to make amends for my mother—for the terrible wound she left in this place. I know what she did was the most horrible thing, taking an innocent life, even when she didn’t mean to, because of her addiction. It was a caraccident.Everyone acts like I should have been driving at fourteen so it didn’t happen, but I was just a kid trying to survive.”
Her hand came up to bat away the first tear that fell over her lashes. “I know she hit that little boy, and it was the most horrific thing that’s happened in this town. She killed Courtney’s little brother and that impacted everyone in this community so profoundly—even people that you love. This whole town seems to think that I should have stopped her from driving that day, but I was just a kid trying to survive. They hate me now, but where was the outrage for what I wentthrough everyday? Where was everyone’s outrage when I showed up at school dirty and starving? Where were the kind and caring community members when I was wearing clothes two sizes too small for me, with shoes that had holes in them in the winter and no jacket? Where were they when my mom left me for days at a time when I was just five years old? I never showed up to school that entire week, Nash. I lived off of a single box of cereal for all those days because there was no other food in our house. Yes, that family suffered the most horrific way anyone could when my mother drove under the influence. But I suffered too.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “All these years, I’ve wondered why God gave that little boy what I had prayed for every single day.”
His heart shattered. “Lace?—”
“No. You don’t get it. You couldn’t possibly know what it’s like to be so hated for something you had no control over. For something you wished would happen to you. I’m jealous of that child, Nash. I shouldn’t have had to stay. I wish I could have taken his place.”
“This community failed you, baby. This was never your burden to bear, and it makes me sick, what they’ve done to you. But I’m here now. I’m a part of this community, and I’m never going to let someone treat you like that again. Do you understand me?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, her body folded in on itself as sobs raced through her. Nash wrapped his arms around her and gently moved her onto his lap. He let Lacy cry, absentmindedly running his fingers through her hair, and then over her back in little calming circles.
Her sobs turned to quiet sniffles, and all too soon, she was pushing back from his chest.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have fallen apart like that.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with me. I’m big and burly, remember? A few tears aren’t going to hurt me.”
She replied with a watery laugh, except it truly held no humor. “I’m really lonely. It was so stupid to think we could come back here and the community would welcome us. This is the only place that has ever felt like home. I wanted to come back to do something nice in honor of that little boy—give something beautiful to Silver Springs. But the rejection hurts worse this time because my mom’s not here. And all of their hate, all of their anger, it should be on her. Not me.”
“That’s exactly right.”
She shook her head. “But they’ll never see that. And I’ll always be left wondering why I’m never enough to be loved. Why I’m never enough to be worthy of friendships. It’s so lonely on this side, Nash. I’m terrified that one day, Embrie’s going to feel it too. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t let that darkness touch her.”
“You won't. You protect her so fiercely, Lace. I’ve seen it?—”
“Oh, shit. Lacy? Nash?” Stone’s voice echoed across the walls of the shop. Nash patted the top of Lacy’s leg before pushing off the ground.
“Doc. Over here.” Stone nodded, walking back behind the counter.
“Hey, Lacy. You okay?” Stone asked as he maneuvered around Nash to her other side.
“I’m sorry you had to come over here. It’s just a few cuts from the glass shattering; I could have taken care of it at home.”
“No, I’m glad Nash called me. Sometimes cuts can be deeper than we think. I’ll look them over, if you’re okay with that, and then we can get them cleaned up and bandaged so they don’t get infected.”
“I’m going to call for a deputy so we can report this. You okay with letting Doc look you over?”
Lacy’s smile was there, but he could see the tension still keeping her body tight.
She nodded, and he stepped away to make the call. By the time he was turning back around, Stone had some antiseptic wash and bandages laid out next to her.
“Ready, Lacy? This is going to sting, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“She’s had a kid, Doc. She’s as tough as they come.” Her eyes lifted to find Nash, and for a second, something other than worry swirled with pain flashed at him, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. Lacy bit her bottom lip and that was all it took. Nash was back down on his knees, reaching for her.
“You need a hand to hold, beautiful?” he asked as his hand slid under hers.
“Thanks.”
It only took a few minutes for Stone to have Lacy’s cuts cleaned up, and by the time she was back on her feet, handing him a broom, red and blue flashing lights pulled up to the curb.
Eight
“Seems like if you didn’t want folks reacting like this, you’d have stayed away.”
“Excuse me?” Nash stepped in front of Lacy. She’d been answering questions for at least twenty minutes since the deputies first arrived, and he didn’t like the accusation in that particular deputy’s voice one fucking bit. “Are we going to have a problem here? Lacy is the victim of a crime—several fucking crimes, in fact. You’re here to protect her, isn’t that right?”
