“That Jacob guy?”
I laughed again because my sister’s voice spiked with the curiosity of a younger sister happy that her big sister was opening up to her.
“Yes, Jacob. Anyway, when he finally saw my scars he didn’t run screaming in the other direction. He kissed them.”
My sister sighed. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. Not once did he ever make me feel like my body was grotesque, or that I was some sort of charity case. He even showed up to my doctor’s appointment and held my hand as I waited for the results of my latest scans.”
“Wait, you had more scans? Does that mean—”
“No.” I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. “It’s something most cancer patients in remission have to endure. Each year I go to my oncologist to get tests and make sure I’m still doing well. After five years of a clean bill of health, chances of my survival go up incredibly. This was my fifth year.”
“And?”
“It’s all good. Scans looked great.”
She pushed out an exasperated breath.
“But back to the point. I told you all of that to say, that while I wasn’t one for romance and love and all that stuff you believe in, even I was able to find a guy—a great guy, who accepted me flaws and all.”
“Being a cancer survivor isn’t a flaw.”
“And neither is being a person living with a mental illness. We all come with our own hang ups, flaws, illnesses, trauma, or whatever. But you are a highly talented artist who’s going to be huge one day. You’re a kind soul who loves animals, and most importantly, you’re my little Journey.”
She giggled because that’d been my nickname for her ever since she was an infant.
“I told you to stop calling me that,” she said through laughter.
“And since when do I listen to you?”
“Since never.”
“I love you.”
“Love you, too, Grace.” She paused. “You know, Victory had a lot of problems and in my eyes wasn’t all that great a mother, but she did a couple of things right.”
“What’s that?”
“She gave me the best older sister I could’ve ever wanted and she named us appropriately. You’re every bit as courteous, good-natured, and refined as your name.”
A smile a mile wide blossomed on my face.
“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
“You deserve it and more.”
I dipped my head, continuing to smile because my chest filled with love for my little sister.
“You’re going to be all right, Journey,” I said a little while later.
“We both are. I know you miss Jacob. I can hear it in your voice. Is he still away for work?”
A pang of guilt rang through my belly at the white lie I’d told her. But I didn’t think it would be fair to Jacob to tell anyone who didn’t know him where he was at the moment. That would just lead to more questions, many of which I didn’t have the answers to.
“Yeah, he’s still away. But he’ll be back in a few weeks.”
“Good. He must be really important to be gone for work for so long.”
