A Family of Their Own(55)

“I understand. Even now we have no guarantee about the insurance or the success. It’s still up in the air.” She listened as he explained the insurance situation, asking herself what would she do if Lucy’s treatments cost hundreds of thousands that weren’t covered. The answer was clear. As Ross said, she would do anything. Sell her house. Whatever it took.

“God can make anything happen, Ross. We just have to pray.”

“Unceasingly.”

How many times had she told herself that? “And we will.”

Ross hesitated. “So where do we stand? I need to see you.” His plea etched with apprehension.

Kelsey winced at the sound. Her comment had wounded him, and yet her concern had been real. They needed time, but how? Her sister would arrive at any moment. She had no idea what Lucy’s latest problem would do to her. And Lucy’s birthday. She tried to concentrate, but just then a car door sounded outside.

“Ross, I think Audrey’s here. I’ll call you later so we can resolve this, okay?”

“Resolve us or take time to talk?” Sadness emanated from his tone.

“Not us. I mean find time to talk.” She heard the door rattle. “I have to go. She’s here, but I’ll call.” She hung up, dashed to the door and flung it open.

Audrey’s eyes widened. “I thought you weren’t home.”

“I was on the phone. Sorry.” Kelsey pushed the door open. “Where’s Jeff?”

“At his meetings. I’ll pick him up before the party.” Audrey stepped inside pulling a carry-on bag. “I’ve been upset since we last spoke. I’m so sorry about Lucy.” She drew Kelsey into an embrace. “How’s she taking it?”

“Better than I am, I think.” She motioned for Audrey to come inside. “Lucy focuses on the positive side of things. She’s upset, but she bounces back fast.”

Audrey looked around. “She’s not here?”

“No. School won’t be out for another hour and a half.”

“Good. That gives us time to talk about her birthday.” Audrey grabbed her bag, rolled it into the great room and paused by the stairs. “Which bedroom?”

“Take the biggest one at the top of the stairs.”

She gave her an okay sign and headed toward the guest room. Kelsey drew in a breath and continued to the kitchen. She turned on water for tea—her sister’s favorite—then leaned her back against the cabinet. She ached inside since talking to Ross. She’d hurt him, and it was wrong. Being unkind had never been her way, but she’d done exactly that. Her tone of voice had taken her words to another level. She’d known it the moment they flew from her mouth. Sarcasm had taken over, and her usual peacemaker’s approach had vanished.

How could she have done that to someone who meant so much to her? She realized it now, facing what she’d done. She’d missed him the past few days. They’d always talked nearly every day, even when they didn’t have time to see each other. She laughed at how many times the phone rang in the middle of her workday. But she loved the interruption.

Now she had to put him off again with Audrey’s arrival. Such rotten timing.

Kelsey pulled herself back from the counter edge and lifted out two mugs and dessert plates. She dropped two tea bags in the cups and opened up the plastic container filled with home-baked peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss pressed into the center. Also her sister’s favorite. As she turned, Audrey stepped into the kitchen. “Did you find everything? I set out fresh towels for you.”

“Everything’s fine.” She stepped closer. “What’s on the plate?” She eyed the cookies and grinned. “You remembered.”

“How could I forget? Let’s sit over there.” She motioned to the breakfast table and waited for Audrey to go ahead. She set down the cookies and returned to the kitchen counter to prepare the tea. “So what do you have in mind for Lucy’s birthday?”

“Something fun.”

She could tell that Audrey had already bitten into a cookie. “That sounds mysterious.”

Audrey chuckled. “It’s something I loved to do as a kid.”

Kelsey’s mind stretched into her childhood. Audrey liked to do many things and nothing struck her. “What?”

“Roller skating.”

The water for tea spewed from the kettle and Kelsey poured it into the mugs. Roller skating. Lucy had only gone skating a couple of times, although she did okay, but what about Peyton? The question knotted in her throat. “That’s a stra—unusual idea.”