Chapter 67

"By the way, Krista has agreed to marry me," AJ announced proudly.

"That's wonderful, Kris! We can have a double wedding! I'll buy your gown as a wedding present." Krystal smiled reaching out to hold Tom's hand. It would be such a perfect day.

"No, that's too soon for us," Krista said hanging her head.

Hurt, Krystal glared at AJ.

"We have plans to get married a little later," he smiled at Krystal. "Don't be hurt, but we'd like to have our own special day as I'm sure you and Tom would."

Seeing the look her sister gave AJ, Krista said, "It is my choice to wait, Krys, not Albert's. He would like to be married right away, I'm the one that said no."

"Why, Kris, if you're in love, why wait?" Krystal asked shaking her head and looking at her sister for some answer that would make sense.

"Because I won't marry him until I'm sure the transplant is a success. If its not, there's no need to get married. Plus, if you should die I don't know that I could face going on!"

Tom looked stunned as the impact of what Krista had just said hit him. Looking at Krystal and AJ and seeing that they were not surprised by what Krista had said, he knew this news had been kept from just him. Knowing what the transplant meant to his best friend and to his fiancée, Tom couldn't voice his objections to the procedure. He quietly got up from the table and walked out of the house to the back patio. He needed some time to face this alone.

"Everyone help yourself, I need to talk to Tom for just a minute," Krystal said rising from the
table and heading for the patio. She thought he would have known that there would be risks in the procedure, but evidently he hadn't taken into consideration they would be for her.

"Well, I guess I blew that," Krista hung her head. Wouldn't she ever learn to keep her big mouth shut?

"Don't worry, Darlin', it's something they'll have to work out themselves. Lets just continue on with our
meal and pretend we're in a romantic restaurant," AJ smiled taking her hand and kissing the knuckle. "Come with me to some foreign get away where there's no one but the two of us."

"I don't think I'm hungry anymore. They're both upset and it's because of me. All I seem to do is cause problems for everyone."

Tom heard Krystal come onto the patio, but he didn't turn. Knowing that he couldn't ask her not to do this for her sister, he held the pain of the thought of losing her close to his heart, hoping not to let her see.

"Tom, can we talk for just a minute, sweetheart?" Krystal asked fearfully.

"What would you like to talk about, Krystal? Is there something else you're keeping from me?"

"You didn't cause this problem, Krista, she failed to tell Tom the whole truth. It's her fault not yours," AJ replied trying to take her in his arms to soothe her but she was having none of that. "Please, Krista, they love one another and will work it all out."

"She wouldn't have been keeping things from him if not for me!" Krista got up and began to pace the large room; she just knew that this was all a big mistake. She wondered if she could get AJ to take her home and she could sell the shop and get moved before anyone found out about it.

"Tom, I didn't keep it from you. You knew there would be risks involved in the transplants. I just assumed that you realized that part of them would be for me. They're not as high as they are for Kris, darling, and if I don't do it, who will? Can I just stand by and let her die? Would you do that if you could save AJ?" she asked begging him to understand.

To be continued…