The Candle Palace
by Devney Perry
Contents
Chapter 3
Overview
Milo's pointed claim that he 'has Sara' exposes their growing bond to his parents and Dr. Vernon, who corners Sara with an unsettling, boundary-blurring warning. Sara tries to distance herself by trading patients with Kym, but ends up back in Milo's room that night, where he confesses his survivor's guilt over the explosion that nearly killed his boss, Sheriff Jess. Sara comforts him, deepening their connection.
Summary
Milo presses his parents, Kirk and Teresa, to return home to Montana, declaring he isn't alone because he has Sara. The intimate phrasing draws Dr. Vernon's suspicious attention. Sara deflects by reassuring his parents that the staff will care for Milo, careful not to confirm the implied closeness. Internally, she acknowledges she has been spending every evening in Milo's room since his parents began leaving for their hotel, drawn by his gentle smile and unable to follow through on her plan to switch sides of the unit.
Dr. Vernon pulls Sara into the hallway and questions whether something is going on between her and Milo. She denies it, but Vernon steps too close, invites her to call him Greg, and hints that romance between coworkers is easier than with patients. Unsettled, Sara escapes to Luna's room, where Luna confides that Vernon also creeps her out, particularly around her mother. Sara and Luna also discuss Luna's upcoming discharge and her fear of returning to school with scars; Sara encourages her honestly. Luna mentions Milo shouting the name 'Jess' in the night.
To create distance, Sara trades patient assignments with Kym, taking Kym's heavier side and giving up Milo. She works the day avoiding Milo's room. At shift's end, she notices his light is on and, against her resolve, goes in to check on him. Milo apologizes for unsettling her earlier and quietly asks her to stay.
In the dark room, Sara finally asks why Milo wants his parents gone—he says they belong home—and why he wants her with him. He admits her voice soothes his pain and helps him forget he is a screwup. Sara asks about Jess, and Milo reveals Jess is his boss, the sheriff of Jamison County. He recounts how he, Jess, and a forest service worker named Beau investigated a suspected meth lab; Milo opened a rigged door, triggering a propane explosion that severely burned him and impaled Jess on a tree branch. Jess will survive, but Milo is consumed by guilt. Sara moves to his bedside, takes his bandaged hand, and tells him the bomber is at fault, not him. Milo's fingers curl around hers as he accepts her comfort.
Who Appears
- SaraBurn-unit nurse torn between professional boundaries and growing feelings for Milo; comforts him about the explosion.
- Milo PhillipsBurned deputy who pushes parents home, asks Sara to stay, and confesses guilt over the explosion that nearly killed Jess.
- Dr. Vernon (Greg)Attending physician who interrogates Sara about Milo, then makes inappropriate, boundary-crossing overtures toward her.
- TeresaMilo's mother; reluctant to leave him at the hospital despite his urging to return to Montana.
- KirkMilo's father; insists on staying but ultimately yields to Milo's request to go home.
- LunaTeen burn patient nearing discharge; confides Dr. Vernon creeps her out and worries about returning to school.
- KymFellow nurse with a headache who trades patient assignments with Sara, taking over Milo's care for the day.
- JessSheriff of Jamison County and Milo's boss; severely injured by a tree branch in the same explosion, expected to survive.
- BeauForest service worker who accompanied Milo and Jess and pulled them from the blast site.
- ConnieEvening-shift nurse who sees Sara in Milo's room and quietly closes the door.