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Hank cleared his throat. “There’s something I need to show you.” He reached into the canvas bag he was holding and pulled out the owl blanket.
Willa let out a gasp that echoed in the room. “Wh-where did you get that? That’s Lily’s blanket. I’d know it anywhere!” She moved toward Hank and grabbed the blanket from his hand, then pressed it close to her face to examine it. Then she let out a keening sound.
“It’s Sage’s blanket. She brought it with her to town. Only she can tell you why she has it among her belongings,” Hank said, his voice sounding matter of fact. He was all business now and she barely recognized him as the kind, bighearted man she’d fallen for.
Nate moved to his wife’s side, worry etched on his rugged features. “What is it, Willa?”
“Mom! What’s going on?” Connor asked, alarm ringing out in his voice.
Willa pointed at the hem of the blanket, then swung her gaze in Sage’s direction. “She’s Lily, Nate. She’s our little girl.”
Nate’s expression was pained. “We’ve been down this road before, sweetheart. It’s just another scam from someone looking to exploit our family’s tragedy.” He shook his head as if in disbelief at the turn of events.
“Exactly!” Connor said, glaring in her direction. “She’s just another con artist.”
Willa shook her head, appearing dazed. “No, she’s not. I stitched her initials on the hem of the blanket, right under the owl’s wing. It’s right here,” she said, running her fingers over the stitchwork.
“No, Willa. It can’t be true,” Nate said, pain ringing out in his tone.
Willa tugged on his arm. “Don’t you see it? She’s our girl. They share the same hair color. Her eyes are brown. The jut of her chin is like mine. I can’t believe we didn’t see it before now.” She turned back to look at Sage, her eyes begging for mercy. “Please. Tell us the truth. Are you Lily? Are you our daughter?”
Hank let out a shocked sound. Clearly, he hadn’t seen this coming. He must have believed she was nothing more than an opportunist, and from the look on his face he appeared as stunned as she felt. And honestly? Being exposed in this manner was shocking. She hadn’t prepared herself for it, not in the slightest. Sage felt her legs threatening to give out on her. Her first instinct was to run, but that wouldn’t solve anything. This was a moment of reckoning twenty-five years in the making.
There was simply no way out of this but to tell the truth.
Although she wasn’t sure she could ever adequately explain why she hadn’t divulged everything weeks ago, Sage slowly nodded her head, locking eyes with the woman who’d given birth to her.
“Yes. It’s true. I’ve had this blanket ever since I was born. I didn’t come to Owl Creek to trick you or exploit you for personal gain. I’m your daughter. I’m Lily.”
* * *
Sage’s words nearly caused his heart to stop beating. Surely he’d misheard her? The reaction from everyone in his midst proved him wrong. There were tears and a torrent of emotion. Sage was Lily North? He’d convinced himself she was just another con artist, but with Willa authenticating the owl blanket, reality was staring him straight in the face.
He looked over at Sage. As soon as their eyes locked he saw the truth shimmering in her eyes. It was all true!
Willa began crying and she reached out her arms to S
age, pulling her into an embrace.
She held on tightly and began to rock back and forth as if Sage was a small baby. Nate let out a cry of joy and wrapped his arms around both of them. A mystified-looking Connor had his arm around Beulah, who looked completely floored by the news. Shock hung in the air as well as a feeling of jubilation.
“This is the best news in the world!” Jennings said, placing a kiss on Sage’s cheek. “I never thought we’d lay eyes on you again. I don’t care why you didn’t tell us before today. I’m just ecstatic that you’re home.”
“We need her to take a DNA test,” Connor said, his expression full of skepticism.
“Hush, Connor,” Beulah chided her grandson. “The blanket is proof.”
“I don’t mind taking one,” Sage said. “It’s a good way to make certain I’m who I believe I am.”
As he watched the drama unfold, all Hank felt was pure, molten anger. How had he let himself get bamboozled by another dishonest woman? She’d been lying to everyone ever since she stepped foot into town. And now she was acting as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Why were the Norths accepting everything she said at face value? She’d lied to them all!
God... Not again. Why are You putting me through this pain all over again? Am I destined to be blind to deception and betrayal?
Hank felt like a prize fool. Once more the wool had been pulled over his eyes by someone he deeply cared for. Sage Duncan wasn’t who she’d claimed to be. This whole time she had been playing him for an idiot. She was Lily North, the missing Owl Creek baby. He’d spent time with this woman and opened himself up to her, yet she’d been sitting on this explosive secret for weeks. Clearly, nothing between them had been genuine. He’d worn his heart on his sleeve and asked her to stay in town when in reality she’d had her own agenda this whole time.
“I think you need to deal with this as a family,” Hank said, nodding in Connor’s direction before he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, determined to get as far away from Sage as possible. Only she wasn’t Sage, he reminded himself with a groan. Everything about her had been a lie from the moment she’d arrived here in town. Once he’d stepped outside, he heard her calling after him.
“Hank! Please, stop! Come back. I’d like to explain why I kept my identity a secret.” Although she was imploring him to stick around, he wasn’t in the mood to hear her out. If she’d been honest with him from the start, he would have listened and helped her approach the North family. Instead she’d continued with her charade until it had all backfired.
