“Yes.” It helped that she understood. “And so foolish for not seeing it. I thought we were close and it turns out I didn’t know him at all.”
“Knowing someone isn’t just a question of spending time with that person. They have to let you in. Opening up must be difficult for someone who believes his career relies on him projecting a certain image.”
“He wasn’t interested in the real me.”
“Then he is the wrong man for you.” Suzanne straightened the covers. “Life is a big, exciting, sometimes scary adventure, and you have to choose the person you take that adventure with very carefully. You need someone who is going to cheer you on when you succeed and pick you up when you fall. Would he have done those things?”
Sky stared into her tea. She didn’t bother trying to drink. She knew she wouldn’t be able to force the liquid past the lump in her throat. “No. I did fall. Literally. And I honestly don’t know if he would have hit me or not if I hadn’t moved. I hope he wouldn’t. But he didn’t even stay to check that I was all right.”
“You’re not my daughter, but if you were I’d be telling you to run, not walk, from a man who stepped over you when you were injured, whether or not he was responsible for that injury.” Suzanne reached out and took the cup from her. “Don’t think about it now, dear. Just rest, recover and then see how you feel later on.”
It was the type of conversation she would have loved to have had with her own mother.
“I don’t know what would have happened if Alec hadn’t come to check on me. He was—” she swallowed “—he was so calm. I bled on him and I was horribly ill and he didn’t leave my side. The only reason he brought me here was because he didn’t want to leave me on my own in London.”
“I’m glad he did. Because it shows that deep down my Alec is still there. I was worried he might have changed forever after what happened, but I see now he’s just buried that caring side of himself. And I suppose no one can blame him for that.” Suzanne handed her the scone. “Try this. It’s delicious.”
Skylar nibbled the corner of the scone. It was warm and buttery and crumbled in her mouth. “It’s good.”
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you by putting you in this room. It was a misunderstanding. Michael is an old family friend and he called his mother and she called me and—well, Alec is furious of course, but we’re full at the inn so I can’t give you your own room even if I wanted to. Alec can sleep on the sofa. It’s perfectly comfortable.”
He’d already spent one night on a rock-hard sofa because of her.
“I could sleep in the living room, or share with Olivia—”
“The living room will be noisy with people coming and going and Liv has a tiny room in the eaves of the attic. On top of that, she sleepwalks. You need your rest and so does Alec. You’ll both be fine in here.” She picked up the tray. “Come down when you’re ready. We’re going to open champagne.”
“Champagne? But now that you know that Alec and I—”
“We have plenty of other things to celebrate. Alec being home for a start, and your success!”
“Mine?”
“Yes, your exhibition. Simon picked up a stack of papers and most of them have mentioned you. I know you’re feeling all mixed up about everything, but that mustn’t stop you feeling proud or enjoying your moment. It’s important never to walk past an excuse to celebrate. I’m sure your family feel the same.”
No, Sky thought. No, they don’t.
Alec’s family had been more supportive in a few hours than her parents had been in a lifetime.
“Do you have many guests coming tonight?”
“No guests, just family, and you’ve already met all of them. It will be very informal.” Suzanne left the room and Sky flopped back against the pillows and stared at the flickering fire.
“No guests, just family,” she murmured to herself. “Informal. I can’t even imagine how that looks.”
“It usually looks pretty untidy. Why? What happens in your house?” Alec’s voice came from the doorway and she sat up again, startled.
“I didn’t see you there.”
“I know. Because you were talking to yourself.” He closed the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. “How is your head?”
It felt strangely intimate,
being alone in the bedroom with him.
Remembering what his mother had said about him being unable to walk past someone in trouble, she produced her brightest smile. “Great. The sleep really helped.” Her head throbbed, but there was no way she wanted him to feel responsible for her. He’d already done more than enough.
“Did my mother wake you?”