“You go to your sister,” he told her.
“Do you want to come with me?” she asked in a small voice. “I could ask if it’s allowed. ”
He kissed her forehead. “Family only. ” Though he’d be family soon, if he had anything to do with it.
For now, he had work to do. His mind was already two steps ahead, eager to track down the bastard who did this—and it all started at Simmons Timber.
But he wouldn’t stress Sorrow by speculating about things she didn’t need to hear, so he fudged the truth. “I need to get back anyway. ” He put his hands on her shoulders, fighting the urge to pull her in for another embrace. “Are you going to be okay here?”
She smiled weakly. “I’ll get a ride with Mom and Dad. ”
He cupped her cheek. “I hate to leave you. ”
She inhaled deeply, and he read raw affection in her eyes. “You just go find the bad guy. ”
Thirty-eight
Sorrow stood in the doorway, watching her beautiful, vital, energetic, pain-in-the-ass sister, lying broken and sleeping on a hospital bed. The sight dredged powerful feelings to the surface.
Laura’s left arm was in a sling, her shoulder was bound, and an IV tube was plugged into the other arm. Her face was bruised, and the sight of it shot a spear of anguish through Sorrow’s heart. For all her bluster, Laura was so fragile. What if she hadn’t survived? What if Sorrow had never gotten the opportunity to take back all those ugly things she’d said the last time they’d spoken?
Laura’s eyes fluttered open, and the two sisters stared silently at each other.
“Hey, sleepy,” Sorrow said finally.
“Sorry about your car. ” Laura’s voice was small and cracking, and she coughed, clearing her dry throat.
Sorrow was beside her in an instant, easing onto the bed, pouring some water from a pitcher at her bedside. “Forget the car. ” She stroked the hair from her sister’s head. “Hey, you did me a favor. It’s a miracle the thing still ran. ”
“Remember when Dad got it?” Laura asked, and the girls laughed at the memory.
“Totally. He used to wax it every weekend, right before Sunday night football. ”
Laura rested her head back, a wistful smile on her face.
“There were times,” Sorrow said, “when I wondered who he loved more, that car or us kids. I was shocked he handed it down to me. I thought for sure he was going to save it for BJ. ”
Laura’s response was instant. “Nah. Of course it went to you. ” She looked away, her eyes suddenly glimmering. She gave a shuddering sigh, and Sorrow could tell her sister was trying to hold back the tears. “I always screw things up. ”
“Are you kidding?” Sorrow took her sister’s good hand in hers and patted it. Laura was the favorite, the golden girl—the one who never screwed up. “That’s just the painkillers talking. You know you’re the family princess. ”
Laura pulled her hand away. “What are you talking about? You’re Dad’s favorite, you always have been. ”
Sorrow felt her jaw drop open, but darned if she could think of anything to say to that.
“Don’t give me that look,” Laura said. “Dad would never have let me take over the lodge. ”
Sorrow regained her voice. “As if you’d ever want to. ”
“Oh, please. ” Laura scooted herself up on the bed, looking ready to rant. “I’d have loved to work more around the place. But Dad always second-guesses me. Why do you think I took off? It’s not easy being the oldest. ”
The room was silent but for the general muted buzz and whirr of the machines. Sorrow had spent years feeling abandoned by her sister. But what if Laura hadn’t run from the family? What if she’d felt she had no choice but to leave, driven to prove herself?
“You really want to stay?” Sorrow asked finally. “Like, to live in Sierra Falls again?” She still didn’t believe it.
“It’s what I just said, isn’t it?” Laura sighed.
“Seriously, Laura. Permanently permanently? As in, you’re not going to get bored and take off again?”