Choosing Happily Ever After - Elena Aitken Page 0,34

to give it some thought. Do you have a partner or significant other in your life?”

Levi.

“I…um…well…”

The doctor smiled softly. “If it’s appropriate, may I suggest that you discuss it with him?” Hope nodded numbly. “Okay, let’s set up an appointment next week to discuss your decision and next steps. Either way, we will need to move forward on treatment as soon as possible. If you need to take time off work, or—”

“I run my own business.”

“This might be a good time to make sure you have help. No matter which route you choose, you will need a lot of support.”

“She’s got me.” Faith grabbed her hand, giving her strength.

“I meant what I said earlier,” Faith told her sister later when they’d finally finished up at the doctor’s office and sat on a park bench, looking out over the river. It was the same river that wound through Ever After Ranch before it found its way down the mountains and into the city. The rushing water had calmed Faith when she was feeling a little homesick for the mountain home she’d always been in such a hurry to leave. There were some things she missed terribly about her hometown. “You’ve got me,” she said to Hope, who stared out over the river. “For whatever you need. You’re not doing this alone.”

Hope nodded.

“I mean, I know that you’re not alone,” Faith added. “You have Levi, I guess. I mean, I don’t really know what’s going on there, but—”

“No,” Hope interrupted her. She turned to face her sister. “I need you, Faith.” Her sister looked at her so intensely that it took a great deal of strength for Faith not to break down. From the moment Hope had called to let her know what was going on and that there was a specialist appointment that she needed her to accompany to, Faith had wanted to break down. And not necessarily in tears. But with yelling, screaming, and…okay, probably tears.

She would not lose her sister. No way.

“I’m here,” Faith said. “For whatever you need. I got you, sis.” She reached over and took her sister’s hand but couldn’t look at her. If she did, she would for sure cry, and Hope didn’t need that right now. She needed her to be strong. Faith had always been the stronger of the two, while Hope was more caring or more sensitive.

“I need you to come home with me.”

Except that.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the sounds of the river wash over her.

Fuck.

“Faith?”

She nodded.

“You’ll come home with me?”

One more deep breath. There really was no other choice. “Of course.”

Next to her, Hope sighed audibly. “Thank goodness. Because I have such a busy season and I don’t know how I would do it on my own. I mean, I’m not on my own, but I can’t really ask Levi, well…I don’t know yet what I can and can’t do. But I’m going to—”

“Hope?” Faith turned to face her sister finally as she bit her bottom lip to keep from tearing up. “I told you, I’ve got you. And I’ll take care of the business if that’s what you need me to do. I’ll hold your hand, I’ll bring you tea and sandwiches, I’ll watch movies all day with you and sit with you for…for whatever. Okay? You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone as long as I’m around.”

As she spoke, Faith forced herself not to think about what would happen if Hope didn’t beat this. About the fact that it would be her who would be alone. But there was no time to think of anything but Hope and what she would need.

“Have you thought about your options?” She hated to ask because as far as Faith was concerned, there were no options. There was the option. But she also knew that wasn’t how her sister worked.

Hope nodded and the tiniest of smiles twitched at her lips and that’s when she knew.

Hope had already made her choice.

And it was the wrong one.

She didn’t mean to, but a noise that sounded disturbingly like the sound that their mother used to make when she was disappointed with something they’d done slipped out of her lips.

Instantly, Hope straightened her spine and shook her head. “I don’t expect you to understand, Faith. But…well, look, I don’t want to discuss it right now. I really should get back to the ranch. We have a wedding this weekend and—”

Faith put a hand on her sister’s arm as she stood to leave. “I’m