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As I helped her with her seatbelt, I asked, “Are you thinking of getting a new job?”
She trembled a little and couldn’t even look at me. “No. Yes. Maybe.” As the helicopter lifted off, I held her hand, and she met my eye. “I haven’t formulated my thoughts, but it was so odd today when the president of the company stopped at my desk to say hi.”
I nodded. Her skills were in demand. I’d have to hire an analyst soon, and she’d be good to have at my side. “If you do decide, please let me know. Data is important in all companies, and I might have ideas about where you can look.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want a handout.”
I tensed. I never wanted her to feel beholden to me. “It’s not a handout.” We landed at the hospital, and I asked, “So where did your sister live before this?”
“She had an apartment near this hospital, but I put her things in storage.”
We walked to the stairs. At some point, we would talk about getting her sister back on her feet, but for the moment, I asked, “She worked here?”
“Yeah, as a nurse.”
We made it to the third floor and passed the nurse then went to a corner room that was cheery. Avril smiled brighter as she met her sister’s gaze. “Abby, hi.”
Avril took her sister’s hand with the IVs in it and pressed it to her heart.
“You’re holding hands,” Abigail said.
Avril let go of my hand fast. I held her chair for her and then took the seat near the window and asked, “How was the first treatment?”
Abby moved her chair and sat down and then squeezed Avril’s hand. “I never thought I’d get the VIP room. Thank you, Kir.”
Heat rose to my face, and I shook my head. “Don’t thank me. Just get better.”
She said, “That’s the plan. Your mom sent those flowers.”
I relaxed. I could let them talk, and I would happily wait outside. “We’re all rooting for you. Did you meet with my doctor?”
She laughed. “Dr. Hottie. Yeah.”
Avril asked, “What?”
Abby shrugged. “I have cancer, but my eyes work just fine. And yes, we chatted, and he mentioned proton treatments, which wasn’t in my plan of care, and spoke to my doctors.”
My ears perked up. “Did you want to?”
She stared at me. “I want to do anything to get well and see you two happy over dinner or anything outside of this hospital.”
I texted the doctor in question to set up the treatments.
Avril hugged her sister. “Now, that sounds like a plan.”
Once Avril sat back down, Abigail asked, “So what are you two doing after seeing me? You’re both dressed nice.”
I tucked my phone away. “My brother’s wedding is tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll fly to Connecticut for the weekend festivities.”
“Festivities?”
Avril then nodded and stood. “Tonight, it’s a bachelor and bachelorette’s party that we’ll catch the end of. Tomorrow morning, breakfast. The afternoon, wedding, and there’s an all-night reception. We end with the goodbye brunch on Sunday and head back to our real lives.”
I was glad she remembered the details, though I should have guessed she would.
Abigail said, “Oh, I can’t wait for you two to get married. I don’t know if I’ve ever been to an event-type shindig.”
Avril’s face pinkened. “Abby, we’re not anywhere near that.”
