Chapter 14

Let's go somewhere we can talk about this. I'll wait until they get Kerry upstairs and then we can get a cup of coffee or something." There was no way Gil was going to let Selina push him away after all these years. He had waited too long for this opportunity.

"Can we do this tomorrow?" She wiped at her eyes. "I'm worn out right now, and I still have to talk to the hotel, make sure they've removed all of the peanut butter from the room. Oh God, and extend my reservation, we were supposed to leave tomorrow morning."

He shook his head. "I have the hotel room sealed, in case there was any question of what happened there. No one will have cleaned up, or even gone in. I'm the only one with permission to enter the room. Come stay with me. I can pick up your things while you get Kerry settled here."

"Gil, no." Unreadable.

"No you won't stay with me? Or no, don't get your stuff for you?" He played it purposefully obtuse.

She took his hand. "Sweet Gil. How could I stay without you and then go home? I couldn't. I appreciate the offer, but no."

"Staying with me is coming home. Don't go back." His voice was deep, quiet and dead serious.

"I can't do this now." She took back her hand.

"Fine. I'll wait."

"Gil," pleading.

"Selina." Definative.

Forty-five minutes later he tucked the white hospital sheets around Kerry's small frame. "You're all set now, you have my cell phone number right?"

"Yes. I keep it. I keep it right here so I can call if I get scared."

"Very good. I'll be by in the morning to check in on you so you'd better behave you hear?"

"I will. I promise. You gonna take care of Selina?"

He kissed Kerry's forehead and whispered, "I'm gonna do my best."

Selina returned from the nurses station with the Popsicle Kerry had asked for and shook her head at the pair of them, "You two look like you've been cooking up a scheme."

Gil winked at Kerry. "We are scheme free, of that I assure you. Now what do you say Kerry, you sick of your sister yet, can I take her away for a little while?"

"You take her. Take her to the place with the stars on the water."

Selina turned to him, "From one of your letters. She remembers everything."

She bid her sister goodnight and told her to call her cell if she needed her. She made Kerry recite the number, even though she had known it for years and then kissed her cheek goodnight. As she did Kerry whispered to her loudly, "Kiss him, not me."

XXX

"I would never recognize this neighborhood, but you get back to this diner and nothing inside has changed at all." She marveled at the place they had sat so many times before, and most notably, the night she told him she was leaving.

It had been an unbearably hot night so the two had chosen to eat out rather than make something at home. She hadn't planned on telling him in public, but when he started to talk about going to the new display at the college the following week she couldn't let him go on.

His face as she'd slid the modest diamond across the table to him had broken her heart. She'd carried the look of shock and abandonment with her every day since. Tonight she was cut even deeper by the hope she saw when she once again looked at the man she'd always love.

They ordered coffee and just like always he talked her into pie. "Kerry seems really good." It left his mouth before he could stop it, his mind focusing on his most recent interaction with her, not what brought them there in the first place.

"Other than the whole suicide attempt? Yeah." She knew. She saw the vague humor of his mistake. He was off the hook. "I was completely shocked she'd do this, I wouldn't have ever agreed to come for this convention if I had any idea. She had been in such a good mood when we left, hell, even for the first few days we were here."

He looked at the table. It was clear he had something to say, and was deciding, weighing whether now was the time or if there would ever be another chance. When the waitress had finished delivering their order Salina prompted him. "Go on Gil, say what you need to say."

It hurt him that she were preparing for this as she would a blow. Still, he had to try. "I know everything you've done was for Kerry, I love that about you. You did what you felt you had to do, in the way that you needed to do it. Help me understand why you won't consider now, trying it my way."

He watched her chew her lip, her fingers lacing around the coffee cup for strength or warmth, or perhaps just a place to keep her hands steady. His letters had said everything he could think of to convince her, there was no point repeating them now.

"She thinks she wants this, but she doesn't handle change well Gil. I know you don't think it's easy. I know you think you're prepared for the way that she is, but…" her eyes grew red and shiny with tears, "I'm her SISTER. I love her and there are times I can't stand her. How could I subject you to that?"

It killed him to sit and watch her cry. He wanted to be the old Gil, the one who could scoop her up and rock her in his arms. He settled for words. "Lina, anyone who has ever cared for someone with similar issues has felt the same way. I love her too, because she's your family, trust me to be there and make it through with you. I haven't been run off yet."

"I don't know."

The most beautiful words he'd ever heard. An opening. A glimmer of hope.

"Then let me show you. Stay with me."

"I'm afraid."

"I'm not."