Page 33 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity (Secure Watch #2)
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?”
“Friends,” he said with a wink. “Once I explained to Cal how to find it, he was there and back in less time than it should take to get to my house from here.”
“Sounds like Cal,” she said, and this time her lips were smiling.
“Technically, I should wait until your dad is here to ask his permission, but since he gave that to me fourteen years ago, the same answer probably still applies.”
“Wait, what? You were going to ask me to marry you after high school?”
“I was,” Reece said with a nod. “See, I love you, Skylar Sullivan. I have for just about forever. That’s why I’m sitting here at thirty-one, still single and holding out a ring I bought when I was eighteen.
It seemed to me this was always where we’d end up.
Then, now, it didn’t matter—this was our destiny. ”
“You’ve kept the ring all this time?” she asked in awe, her gaze drifting to the box he held up again.
“And I’m glad I did, given where I sit tonight. Skylar Ann Sullivan, will you please marry me? I’ve wanted nothing more than to love and hold you every day for the last fourteen years. There’s no reason to wait another day.”
“But, Land, I have to leave town,” she whispered, leaning forward slightly from the bed until she remembered her broken ribs. “As sad as it makes me, I can’t stay here after all this.”
“Well, I did accept a new job today. Okay, a new old job, but it does require me to relocate.”
“To a little cabin behind a big security fence?” she asked, her lips tilted upward.
“At least for the foreseeable future,” he agreed. “Imag ine having a little studio in a place where inspiration is everywhere you turn.”
“That’s easy to imagine. So is a life with you, Land. Always has been, but I was too afraid that you’d give up opportunities in life because of my disability.”
“Angel, I would give up any opportunity for you, because that’s what love is. Ask yourself if you’d do the same for me.”
“I don’t need to ask myself that. The answer is yes. That’s why I pushed you away all those years ago and planned to do it again tonight. I love you, Reece Palmer. I’ve loved you since the first day I met you, but it took me too long to understand that I deserved that kind of love.”
“You, more than anyone I’ve ever known, deserve all the love in the world,” he whispered, taking the ring from the box and sliding it onto her finger.
Her brow went up. “I haven’t said yes.”
“You did,” he said, his heart pounding with joy and happiness to see that ring nestled on her finger. “You said, ‘The answer is yes,’ just a moment ago.”
“I meant about if I’d give up the world for you.”
“In my opinion, that answered my question.”
Sky’s smile grew as she gazed at the ring, the lights from above making it sparkle each time she moved her hand. “I like how it looks, but the way it feels is even better.”
“How does it feel?” he asked, leaning in to steal a kiss from her lips but pausing so she could answer.
“Like love,” she whispered, and he waited no longer to start the first kiss of the rest of their lives.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Deputies Under Fire by Delores Fossen .