Chapter 27

"That is what the shop is all about," she whispered looking into his wonderful eyes, hardly able to concentrate on what she was saying. Shaking her head she put the massage oil and tea in a bag and handed it to him. "Here you go, if you use them regularly the pain should be less and less as time goes by till it is gone completely."

"Amazing, and you would give up helping people when your sister would willing help you," he said shaking his head. "I just don't understand someone that won't give hope a chance."

"You don't know that! You don't know either of us really!" she was in tears again.

"I've spent time with both of you and have a pretty fair idea of what you both stand for. I know that she loves you and I think you love her too. I know you love the twins and would like to live to raise them," he said wiping her tears away. "Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you're afraid to hope, afraid that hope will be dashed at your feet."

"How do you do that? Read my heart that way?" she continued to cry even more so at his gentle touch.

"I have no idea, Krista. It's just so clear that I'm surprised that everyone can't see it. Will you talk to Krystal and give her the opportunity to at least turn you down on the transplant before you give up hope?" he asked pulling her to hold her next to his chest so she could hear his heart beat. "Do this for me, for the father of your children. Do this for our children growing beneath your heart."

"Okay, if you think it will do any good, but don't say I didn't warn you when she says no," she sighed.

"Do something else for me if you will," he smiled. "You are so beautiful; I have yet to see you smile. Please smile for me."

She tried, she really tried, but the smile wouldn't come, "I can't," she whispered as a single tear slid down her cheek.

Wiping away her tear he smiled sadly, "Someday. Someday you'll smile for me and it will be so beautiful it will out shine the sun." Rubbing his hands up and down her arms he asked, "Would you like to go back and visit with your sister now?"

"No, I can't leave the store," she said in a rush. Looking for any excuse to put off more hurt.

"She'll be here the moment I get back to work. It was all they could do to restraint her while I left to come and talk to you in private," he warned. "Are you sure you don't want to come back with me for moral support?"

"All those medals on your chest and you're afraid of someone my size? Well almost my size I guess from what you said earlier that she is not pregnant. Do you have to tell her where I am?"

"No, but I accused her of being you. I have been looking everywhere for you since you left my
office. This morning she started work at JAG and I'm afraid I was horrible to her and she took me to task for it," he replied rubbing his head. "Now I must go back to work and face what remains of her wrath. Since I wouldn't let her come with me, I'm afraid it's going to be terrible to behold."

"What is so bad about being me?" she demanded hurt.

"Nothing's wrong with being you. I just thought you had disappeared into thin air and when
Krystal came in this morning imagine my surprise. Then when I saw she wasn't pregnant, I thought she had an abortion and the fur flew," he explained. "I should have known that the mother's heart in you could never have done nothing like that, but I was so scared."

"You thought I aborted the babies?" she gasped clutching her tummy with both her hands protectively and backing away from him.

To be continued…