Page 45 of Dancing in the Rain

“You don’t have to rush off.” Peyton followed him.

“Actually, I want to have a word with Sara alone.” They found Sara in the living room, Chloe apparently still playing her videogame.

“You two talk,” Peyton said. “We’ll be in the kitchen.” She grabbed Nik’s hand and tugged her around the corner.

“I hope you have wine,” Nik said.

“Oh, I do. And I definitely need a very large glass.”

She filled in Nik on her visit to the hospice the other day as she got out glasses and opened a bottle of Chardonnay. “I don’t know when it will happen. It’ll be up to Sara to make that call, I guess. But she decided she doesn’t want Chloe hanging around watching her when it gets near the end. She wants me to bring her for short visits, and she wants us there at the end if we can be.”

“Your sister is amazing. She’s got every detail looked after, doesn’t she?”

“She does.” Peyton peered down at the golden liquid in her glass. “I think it gives her a little bit of feeling in control when her life is really out of her control.”

“I think I’d be too busy sobbing to worry about other people.” Nik grimaced and sipped her wine. “Nice.” She held up the glass.

“I guess we don’t know how strong we actually are until we’re faced with the toughest obstacles.”

Nik nodded slowly. “That’s probably true.”

Drew appeared at the kitchen counter separating the room from the dining room. “Okay,” he said. “I just talked to Sara. She’s agreeable to me spending more time with Chloe.”

Peyton nodded.

“So I’m going to say bye and fix a time to get together again.”

“Okay. She’ll be happy about that, I think.”

Drew shrugged but looked pleased.

Peyton and Nik carried their glasses into the living room. Sara motioned Peyton over with an urgent gesture.

“What?” Peyton crouched beside the recliner. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes.” She bit her lip. “I agreed he can see Chloe again. But I want you to be with them. Okay?”

Peyton regarded her sister. “Um, okay.”

“Whenever she sees him. You’re with them.”

She’d do anything for her sister at this point, although she wasn’t sure of the necessity of a chaperone or babysitter or bodyguard or whatever role Sara had in mind for her. But if it set Sara’s mind at ease about Chloe and Drew spending time together, of course she’d do it.

Chloe and Peyton accompanied Drew to the door as he left. He paused and turned to Chloe. “Can I give you a hug?”

Her lips pushed out and her small shoulders shook as she gave a short nod and moved closer. Drew crouched down and hugged her. Her arms went around his neck and squeezed. Then she jumped back and swiped her cheek. “See you next week.”

“Yeah.” Drew watched her as she bolted up the stairs. He turned to Peyton, a crease between his eyebrows. “Is she okay?”

Peyton sniffed, tears threatening. “Yes. She’s good.”

Drew rubbed his chest as if it was hurting. “Okay. Should I call you to arrange something?”

“Sure, that would be best.”

They stood in the foyer. He gazed into her eyes. “I know you have doubts about me. Both you and Sara.”

She said nothing.

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