Chapter 13
Lizzie and Muriel seemed trapped in emotional prisons, neither daring to take the next step. Skylar, reflecting on this, realized she was no different, similarly confined.
Lizzie's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I want to see her, Skylar. I'm going over right now."
Skylar responded calmly, "Okay." Muriel's earlier conversation had hinted at this desire; years of unspoken words likely lay between them.
Dusk fell quickly. Many people enjoyed the hot springs; others sang or played instruments. Laughter echoed from both villas.
After ten minutes in the springs, Skylar retrieved two glasses of juice and joined Janine. Their conversation began.
"Skye, I saw the news this morning. Steven said the man was Ned, not Joe. They're identical. But seeing it, I wondered if such a coincidence is possible."
"They look too similar. Could Ned be Joe with amnesia—like in those TV dramas?" Janine asked, her love for melodramatic television evident. She'd developed a fondness for their unbelievable twists in recent years.
Skylar chuckled. "Mom, real life doesn't have that many crazy coincidences." She'd entertained the fantasy herself, but Aiken's findings were clear: Ned's life was well-documented, and there was no overlap with Joe's. They were simply two people who looked alike.
"You're right. These past two years, I've grown older. I've dreamt of a family reunion, everyone achieving their wishes, no regrets. Steven's marrying soon, Charles is thriving, Harvey's in college. But you, Skye, so far away in Murida... I worry," Janine confessed, her eyes filled with concern.
Her daughter's extraordinary nature only amplified her anxieties. Janine knew the pain of losing a husband young; she didn't want Skylar to endure similar hardship, yet she already had. Skylar had successfully managed Sullance Group for three years. Janine hoped to provide a better, worry-free future for her, clinging to the hope that Joe might still be alive.
A sigh escaped Janine. These were fantasies. She recalled Finn's disappearance after the accident. Initially, she believed he was alive, clinging to that hope for years. Eventually, she understood life moved on, even if dreams were relinquished. This realization pained her for Skylar.
"Mom, don't worry. I've sorted things out. I need to look forward. Grandma's health hasn't been good these past two years; the doctors say she may not have much time. I'll stay with her for now, then return. If new opportunities for love arise, I won't hesitate," Skylar said gently, reassuring her mother.