Page 50 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity
“Okay, thanks, Selina,” Skylar whispered, waving as the woman left her room and Lucas took his place outside her door.
Skylar gazed out the window at the lake beyond and sighed. Selina was right. It was time for a new name and town, but they wouldn’t include Land. He had suffered enough because of her. Despite their lifelong connection, she couldn’t let him throw the rest of his life away. Resolved, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall. They weren’t the first ones she’d cried for Reece Palmer, and they wouldn’t be the last, but she’d take the suffering if it meant he could be happy. After all these years, he deserved that more than anyone.
* * *
IT WAS LATEwhen Reece returned to Sky’s floor, but he paused at the end of the hallway to look down the hill and out over the lake. It was ironic that he could see the accident site from where he was, but he chose to focus on the thousand-foot laker that was headed into port. It was an iconic image of the Twin Ports and one he’d grown up with, but things were changing, and he had to be willing to change with them.
He pushed the door open to Sky’s room and noticed only the small light to the side of her bed was on. It cast a glow across her that reminded him why he always called her his angel. Tonight, seeing her wearing a custom pelvic brace made at her bedside and connected to machines that beepedand hissed, he had never loved her more. From what Selina had told him, he’d have to work hard to prove that to her.
Her eyes were closed and her face was blotchy, and he expected when she opened those sweet blue eyes, they’d be bloodshot from tears. Tears she’d cried over losing him for the second time in her life. That wasn’t going to happen. Not on his watch.
“Hi, angel,” he whispered, kissing her temple. “I know you’re awake, so open those beautiful eyes for me.”
“I need to rest,” she said, her voice raspy from the tears. “The doctors said I’ll heal faster.”
With a smile, he pulled a chair over and sat down. “Angel, look at me.”
When she opened her eyes, she proved him right, and his gut clenched to know she’d been alone, in pain and crying. He should have been holding her. “Selina said you’re going to be okay.”
“I am,” he agreed as he held up his hand. “The doctors bandaged it with some antibacterial wrap until they know what the drugs were in the needle. I feel fine, so I’m confident all will be well, but I’ll wear this until the results return.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her chin and lips trembling as she gazed at his hand rather than make eye contact. “I’m so, so sorry.”
He couldn’t stand the guardrail between them, so he lowered it and slid his hand under hers to hold it loosely. “Sweetheart, stop apologizing. None of this was your fault. Silas is a disturbed individual. He’s the very definition of the criminally insane. They’ve got him on twenty-four-hour suicide watch while they try to find someplace to send him that can handle his extensive needs.”
“My parents,” she whispered, tears falling from her cheeks. “They’re going to be so torn apart by this.”
Reece knew they’d be surprised, but more than likely, they’d be more angry than torn apart. Their son had killed his mother’s parents. There would be animosity and anger, but Reece knew the love was already gone.
“Your parents are on their way here. I was returning to tell you that Mina had gotten them on a plane to Duluth when the Silas situation happened. They’ll arrive in the morning and Lucas will bring them to you. I’ll also be here to help answer questions.”
“No, you won’t be,” she said, her voice breaking. “You have to go, Land. You have to go and live your life without me. You don’t want any part of the trial that’s about to happen, much less to associate with a Sullivan in this town.”
This would be tougher than even he’d thought it would be. Once he’d raised the head of her bed, he got a washcloth and wiped her face, letting the warmth soak into her cheeks. After she’d settled again and he’d gotten her a drink of water, he sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand.
“There likely won’t be a trial, Sky. It’s doubtful they’d find a psychiatrist who would consider him mentally competent.”
After taking a calming breath and clearing her throat, she finally held his gaze. “What will happen then? They can’t let him go.”
“No, Silas will never see freedom again. He’ll be sent to a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane, where he will stay until he’s either fit to stand trial or dead.”
“That makes me feel slightly better,” she sighed. “I don’t know that I’ll ever get over all the hurt Silas caused, Land.What did I do to make him so angry?” she asked, poking herself in the chest.
“Nothing,” he promised, wiping another tear. She’d been through so much the last week, and he just wanted to do anything to make it better for her. “Silas has been sick his entire life. There’s no blame or fault to be had here. You have two choices. You can move forward and live your life doing as much good in the world as possible, or you can dwell on the past in a lonely, solitary world. I don’t see any justice in the latter, do you?”
Her head shook, but her lips still trembled when she spoke. “No, I don’t. The problem is that this will taint my future. No one will buy art from a Sullivan ever again. Not in this town or anywhere.”
He tipped his head side to side while considering what she said. “I don’t know if that’s true or untrue. Some people probably wouldn’t, but I would venture to guess that most people won’t hesitate. That said, maybe it’s time for a change in name and place.”
“What, like using my mom’s maiden name or something? I suppose I could do that, but finding a new living situation would be tough.”
Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out a box. “I had a different name in mind.” The box opened, and a diamond solitaire sparkled back at her. “I think Skylar Palmer has a nice ring to it. Always have.”
“You— Is that an engagement ring?” she asked, her lips struggling to form the words.
“It is,” he said, swiping another tear off her cheek with the bandage on his hand. “The diamond is a bit small, but it’s what I could afford fourteen years ago when I bought it. We’ll consider it a placeholder until you’re well enough to go with me to pick out one you’d like.”
“I’m so confused,” she whispered. “How did you get a ring when you’ve been in the ER?”
