Chapter 86

Walking over to where Krista stood AJ took her hand in his. Placing her hand over his heart where she could feel the strong and steady beating. "Darling, do you feel my heart beat? Each beat is for you, and only you because my heart is yours. You're holding my heart in your hand and only you have the power to break it. I love you more than life itself, Krista
Kennex, and would give my life for yours any day."

"Oh, Albert! I love you too!" she cried and broke down falling into his arms weeping for the unconditional love that he offered her. The first time that she truly felt that secure in someone's love.

"Don't cry, darling, I wanted to make you happy with my love not sad," he said caressing her hair back from her face and wiping the tears away. "Had you no idea how very much I love you until now?"

"No, I couldn't let myself believe it. No one has ever loved me like that!" she cried.

"Tom, aren't they so sweet together?" Krystal asked as she sat crying at the table.

"I am glad that they are as happy as we are my love. AJ deserves someone very special in his life, and it is wonderful that we found our loves at the same time. I think the four of us have long and happy lives to look forward to, don't you?" he asked opening his arms for her to come and sit on his lap, so he could hold her like AJ held Krista.

"That's hard for me to believe, my darling," replied AJ holding and rocking her. "I can't imagine anyone not loving you. You have such a sweet and gentle soul. Your sister loves you dearly and I would give my life to protect you. Does this mean you've changed your mind about a double wedding?"

"No, Albert, my reasons for that still stand. If I don't survive I don't want you to be a widower. I love you to much to do that to you."

"Krista, sweetheart, as much as I love you, you're making no sense. Think, darling, I will have lost the woman I love and the mother of our children. In every sense of the word, I will be a widower. Better to have been married to you for a short time than never at all," he wept in her hair as he tried again to make his point.

"But won't it hurt you less if we weren't married if I die?" she could not understand his view when she was so sure that hers was true.

"Krista, losing you would rip my heart out no matter if we're married or not. The pain would be the same, so I can't see your point in waiting. I'm sorry," he said shaking his head. "If you lost me now, would it hurt you less then if we were married?"

"Kris, you're going to live! I've read the odds and with identical twins it's a 98% chance. If someone gave me those odds and Tom just asked me to marry him, like AJ did you, I'd be grabbing the man, and saying yes. What are you actually afraid of, Kris? Besides the
transplant not working?" Krystal bluntly asked her sister. "You know the odds are good and AJ loves you. Tom and I love you and are behind you all the way. So what's standing in your way?"

Finally faced with the question that she couldn't answer, Krista jumped to her feet and ran into the bedroom crying. She slammed the door and fell across her bed.

"I'll go try talking to her," said Krystal getting up.

"No, you stay here with Tom. I'll go and see if I can find out why every time we get together she goes off like this," said AJ starting out the kitchen door.

"Wait! AJ, please don't yell at her and be gentle if you really meant what you said in here," Krystal pleaded with tears in her eyes and her hands were trembling. Had she pushed her sister too far?

"I will be, Krystal, but I will get to the bottom of this! One way or another!" AJ said as he went to the bedroom door and knocked.

To be continued…