Chapter 10
Sky
We were halfway back to the house when I felt myself go weak. My foot caught on the ground, and I tripped.
McCrae grabbed me before I could fall. “I got you.”
“Sorry, I guess everything just hit me all of a sudden.”
“You were just in the hospital,” Kayla said. “You’re exhausted.”
“Let’s get you to bed,” said McCrae.
I felt like a child protesting. “No, I don’t want to go to bed.”
But it didn’t matter anyway, because Kayla said, “That’s a good idea.”
Kayla held open the door as McCrae brought me inside.
He carried me to my bedroom, the way I imagined my parents might have done when I was small. If I had parents. I thought of the scene in Annie when she would sing about parents she’d never met. Why couldn’t I remember my parents but I could remember the movie Annie? Weird.
Kayla shooed him away. “I’ll get her in her pajamas. Maybe you can get her some crackers and a glass of water.”
McCrae nodded and left the room. It seemed like he didn’t want to go.
I sat on the bed, sucking in a long, slow breath. The plush comforter beneath me offered some comfort as I tried to regain my composure. “I’m sorry I’m kind of a wreck.”
Kayla pushed my hair back from my head. “It’s okay. You’re okay. Take a slow breath. That’s it. Slow breathing. You’re doing great.”
I sucked in a breath and then let it out. “I’m sorry. I just—”
“Nobody’s going to blame you after what you’ve been through,” Kayla said, cutting me off. She helped me unbutton the back of my dress. “You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”
After a minute of breathing like that, I was able to calm my pounding heart. My mind had cleared a bit.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Kayla called out.
McCrae entered the room and knelt by my side, holding the water out like he expected me to need help drinking it.
I looked up at him gratefully, accepted the glass, and then took a sip. “Thank you. I’m feeling better.” And I was. I nodded at him as he opened the pack of crackers and offered a few to me. They tasted good, simple and salty.
Kayla finished taking off my shoes, and she looked back at McCrae. “Let me get her ready for bed, and then I’ll call you back.”
He grunted and then moved out of the room. “I’ll get ready for bed too.”
I stood and put the crackers down.
Kayla opened up the suitcase and pulled out a nightgown. It was cut off at the cap sleeve and flowed down to my feet. It looked old-fashioned, but I didn’t care. She helped me change into it, and then she brushed my hair back and put in a scrunchie from my toiletry bag.
“Thank you,” I said softly. I ate another cracker, feeling even better. “I’m sorry to be such a bother.”
Kayla let out a light laugh. “Are you kidding? I’m just happy to be the one taking care of someone else.” She tapped my shoulder, and when I looked in her eyes, I could tell she meant it.
It made me want to cry again, but I sucked in a breath. “Well, you do a good job of it.”
She shook her head and then softly put her hand on my forehead. “Everyone needs help sometimes, Sky. It’s okay.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
She cocked a brow. “What are you thinking?”
I shrugged. “I wonder what my real name is.”
“Me too. Okay, so, do you want more crackers? Or should we brush your teeth? We have some makeup remover.”
I finished eating and took another drink. “I’m good now. I think it was just the shock of everything, but I am tired, and I think I’ll go in the bathroom and take my makeup off and brush my teeth.”
It was odd that I could still do all these normal things but I couldn’t remember my name, where I was from, or if I had a family. Without warning, the thought hit me again—no family had shown up to claim me.
I was alone.
Kayla was still there. “Are you okay?”
“I guess. I mean, I’m so grateful for you guys, but where’s my family? Where are the people who care about me?”
She hesitated. “I think I would feel the same way.”
In the bathroom, I got ready for bed. The bathroom was spacious, with a large mirror that reflected my tired, confused expression.
When I came out, McCrae was standing there, wearing a white T-shirt and gym shorts. “How are you?” he asked quietly. He seemed to be taking in my appearance, and I couldn’t hold back a smile.
“I’m okay, but how do I look?” I met his gaze as he studied my face, his eyes soft in the gentle hallway light.
He shrugged. “You look fine. How are you feeling? I’m just concerned. Maybe we should take you back to the hospital.”
I shook my head and moved toward the bedroom. “No way, you’re not getting rid of me so easily.”
“I didn’t mean that I wanted to get rid of you.”
I turned back and smiled at him. “I know.”
We stared at each other, and tension ramped up between us. I felt drawn to this man. Then I felt guilty. I didn’t know if I should be feeling this way about someone I’d just met.
He hesitated.
“It’s weird, right?” I continued. “That no one has come for me. I mean, if you had a girl or you were married, wouldn’t you be looking for her? Has anyone called the police? Have there been any inquiries about me?”
McCrae’s face went even more somber. “I told the gal on dispatch to call me if there was anything. The whole station knows that they should reach out to me if anyone comes in. And you know we’re looking. We’ve got some people.”
To my horror, I felt like crying again. I waved my hand in front of my face like I could banish the tears. “I’m sorry. I’m just—I’m so confused. I hate this.” I rushed into the room and tumbled onto the bed.
I hadn’t closed the door behind me, so he followed.
I sniffed and then turned back to him. “I’m being such a baby, and I’m so weak. I’m falling apart. Sorry.”
McCrae gently lifted me up so he could pull the bedsheet back with the blanket. “None of that. Let’s get you to sleep. You just need a good night’s rest.” He drew the covers over me and then patted the sheet, tucking me in as if I were a child. “You’re going to be okay.” He took a step back.
“Wait,” I said softly. “Could you stay for a little bit?”
He looked uncertain.
I let out a pathetic laugh and then a groan. “I don’t know who I am in real life, but I can tell you right now I hate this person I am being.”
“It’s okay,” he said casually. The bed was huge, and he scooted down to sit at its foot, leaving a distance between us. He pulled out his phone. “I’ll read you a story. You close your eyes, and I’ll just be here.”
Now I giggled. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, that’s what my parents used to do for us anytime we were freaked out or needed something.” He tapped on his phone. “I’m just doing what my mom used to do. She would always read from the Bible. So I’m going to read you a Bible story. Okay?”
“What story are you going to read me?” I tried to distract myself by how silly the situation was, but I was grateful he was staying for a minute.
“What story do you want from the Bible?”
I had to think through the ones I knew, and I was surprised that they actually came to mind. “Well, there’s the story of David and Goliath, the story of Job …”
He grunted. “I’m glad you remember that.”
I laughed. “Me too.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m going to read you one of my favorites. I’m going to read you the story of Jonah and the whale.”
“Sounds good.” I propped myself up on my side.
He shook his head. “No. You lie down and close your eyes, and I’m going to read in a really slow, boring voice.
” His voice dropped down to a quieter tone.
“And you’re going to relax. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, and if I finish Jonah and the whale, I’ll just find another story and read it to you. You’re going to be just fine. Okay?”
“Okay.” I slumped back and waited.
He started reading, telling the story of how Jonah was supposed to go to Nineveh but didn’t want to. I listened to the deep, soothing rumble of his voice as he read, my eyes growing heavy as the tension slowly left my body.
Then, I fell asleep.