This chapter is a little longer than the others. I am enjoying the feedback and the constructive criticism everyone is offering. The point of this is to learn to be a better writer and I need all the help I can get. Thanks again for following the story and offering advice. Have a great week!

Chapter 8

She watched as Abigail angrily shoved her clothes into her suitcase. The room had gone from full to bare in a matter of fifteen minutes. Pictures were yanked from the wall; miraculously still in one piece and hangers were strewn all over the floor. The both of them had been crying, desperately clinging to their own beliefs in what was right and wrong. The sound of a horn blasted from the driveway.

Addison looked at her sister who was struggling to fasten the clip on her bag. "I wish you would just hear me out Abigail. He is bad news and you are too young to understand what you are getting yourself into."

Abigail glared at her sister, "You know nothing about who he is Addie. You have always hated him and now that he's promised me a better life you hate him more because you think he's taking me away from you." She flung the bag over her shoulder and picked up her suitcase, "This is all my own decision. You can hate me for this Addison because I can't live without him. I love you and I'm going to miss you but I am going with him whether you like it or not." She rushed out of the room, heading down the staircase, dragging her luggage behind her.

Addison followed behind her, stubbornly refusing to help her with her bags. She may have only been three years older than Abigail but she also knew what was best for her. Leaving the security of home life for a loser boyfriend at sixteen was going to be the biggest mistake Abigail would ever make. She wasn't trying to make her break up with him, just trying to talk her out of running away with him.

Abigail threw her bags in the back of the car and looked over at her sister. "I love you Addie but I am not willing to lose him by staying. I hate you for making me choose and I will hate you even more if you try and find us. Just let me live my life and be happy." She rushed over and hugged Addison, tears streaming down her face. "This isn't goodbye forever Addie, I'll find you when I'm ready. I'm sure you going to make a great doctor someday. Take care of those patients like you took care of me all these years."

Those were the last words she had heard her sister say before she turned around and sped out of her life for twenty years…

The sliding glass door opened and Abigail walked out on to the deck holding two glasses of lemonade. She handed a glass to Addison and sat next to her, admiring the beauty of the ocean. She was dressed in a pink sundress that fit her way too loosely. She almost looked like a little girl wearing her mommy's clothes. Her clothes seemed to grow by the day as she continued to shrink. It bothered Addison to see her literally fading away in front of her eyes but Abigail would laugh it off and say things like, "Jenny Craig ain't got nothing on cancer". It appalled Addison that her sister could still joke in her predicament.

Addison had taken the week off so she and Abigail could spend more time together. They had been to Los Vegas twice but the excitement proved to be too much for Abigail so they decided to stick close to home. Because Addison was new to Los Angeles herself, she had to rely on Naomi and her friends from the clinic to show them around or direct them where to go.

Violet and Naomi took turns taking care of Molly so that Addison and Abigail were able to go out for drinks occasionally. Abigail insisted that she live the rest of her days doing the things she was never able to do when she was married. She sang karaoke, danced on a bar, made out with a hot stranger she had only known for five minutes and went for a motorcycle ride with make out boy afterwards.

It was overwhelming for Addison to see her sister so happy yet so sorrowful. Addison herself had never felt so helpless in her entire life. Her divorce had been heartbreaking but something she knew would eventually get over. The death of her sister was going to haunt her for eternity.

Abigail cleared her throat, "You know I was thinking day about the day I left." She looked over at Addison, the look of regret expressed clearly in her eyes. "I know we've never talked about that day or how bad I hurt you. I know it's taking a death sentence for me to tell you this but I want you to know that I'm sorry."

Addison blinked back tears that seemed to be constantly on the verge these days, "One of the most important things I have learned in life is that even though we can't change the past, we can get make up for it by learning from our mistakes. You were not the only one to blame in what happened. I think that after mom and dad died, we each clung to different things. You chose love and I chose my career. We did what made us happy and in doing that, we each learned our own lessons. I will not say I forgive you because I never hated you to begin with Abigail." She reached out and took her sister's hand in hers. They hadn't held hands since they were children.

They watched the families on the beach chasing after the kids and playing games. It brought back memories of the times their parents took them to the beach for the holidays. Their mother was what most people today would call a diva. She didn't want sand on her but their father always had a way of getting her in the water and making her giggle like a school girl. It was just a few of the times they had seen their mom be so carefree. Their dad always was good about bringing out the best in her. The woman who tried to be so tough on the outside was just as mushy as the rest of the family on the inside.

"Remember that time when we went to the beach and the wind blew sand all over mom? It got all over her and she kept trying to wipe it off."

Abigail giggled, "Yeah, dad picked her up and threw her in the water. I still wish we would have had a camera ready for the shocked look on her face. She honestly didn't think he was going to throw her in."

They both laughed, "He kept throwing water at her while she was standing there yelling at him until she finally busted out laughing." She squinted in the bright sun as she watched the happy couples holding hands and walking along the beach. "They were so different but they fit each other perfectly."

Abigail winced suddenly, and shifted uncomfortably. Addison jumped up, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Abigail smiled weakly, "Nothing unusual Addie. I feel sharp pains all the time. Really, you can relax. I guess I'm not as good as hiding it as I used to be."

Addison shook her head angrily, "So I guess the quack treatment that Pete's been using on you isn't helping."

Abigail eyed her suspiciously, "Why do you have such a thing against what he does Addie? His treatment has actually helped a lot. He promised to help ease the pain, not take it away completely. You really should stop giving him a hard time about his field. You were the one who recommended him to me or have you forgotten?"

Addison rolled her eyes, "Only because you refused everything else. He was a last resort and to tell you the truth I thought you would be able to prove his specialty was all crap. I was hoping you'd prove me right about him."

"Well now… you almost sound disappointed that I am proving you wrong. Did you know that acupuncture can actually help with infertility? Pete told me this and he gave me a bunch of brochures about all the great things acupuncture can do."

"Why was he talking to you about infertility issues?"

Abigail shrugged, "Well I mentioned to him how you felt like you had lost your chance to have children and he already knew all about it. He's wanted to tell you about the different options alternative medicine offers but he's afraid you'll be upset with him for bringing it up."

Addison pushed her sun glasses down to the tip of her nose and looked over at her sister, "I'm not interested so let's drop the subject."

Abigail rolled her eyes and went back to staring out at the beach. "His treatment really has helped Addie." She threw up her hands in the air when her sister glared at her, "Just sayin…."

They sat in silence until Molly finally woke from her nap. Addison was furious that her sister was talking to Pete about her. It was bad enough she didn't believe in his alternative medicine mumbo jumbo but to have Abigail be so chummy with him sparked something within her that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She would almost insanely call it jealousy if she knew any better. Acupuncture for infertility? What kind of crap is that?