Wasn’t it just like Daria to try and comfort Desi?Ignoring the swelling in her sister’s hand, Desi swallowed a lump of guilt and sorrow.“I just hate it that she spent her last minutes here.”Tugging from her sister’s grip, Desi hugged herself, feeling a sudden chill.“In this cold, sterile place that smells like…like death.”The dreaded word fired from her lips before she realized.But when she glanced at her sister, no fear appeared on her face.Just the usual blanket of peace…and a hope that always baffled Desi.“I’m sorry.”
“What for?”Daria chuckled.“That you said that gruesome word,death?Oooooooh.”
Desi huffed.“How can you make fun of such a serious thing?”She bit her bottom lip.“I don’t know what I’d do without you.After Pops died, you’re all I have.”
“Oh, Desi, I’m sorry.I don’t mean to make light of it.It’s just that death is not the end.Actually, it’s a beginning.”
Desi shook her head, her annoyance shoving aside her pain.Temporarily.“Don’t start all that religious crap with me.”
“It’s not crap.”Daria gave a gentle smile.“God is very real.He loves you and wants you to know His Son, Jesus.Who else would die so torturous a death for you…just so you can be with Him forever?”
“I know all about the Gospel.I grew up with the same parents, remember?”
Frowning, Daria studied her sister.“Then what happened to make you lose your faith?”
Desi shrugged and slid a strand of hair behind her ear.“I don’t know if I ever had any.”She studied the look of expectant hope beaming from her sister’s eyes, a hope she didn’t wish to crush.But if Desi was anything, it was brutally honest, and she wasn’t one to lie to spare someone’s feelings.She preferred the truth, so she gave it to others.Point blank.
“Mom and Dad prayed for this God of yours to heal you for many years, but nothing ever happened.In fact, you got worse.And then Dad died at sea and Mom wasted away in this hospital until there was nothing left but bone and flesh and broken dreams.”
Daria glanced down at her swollen ankles, the joy of only moments before fading from her face.
“I’m sorry, Dar, I’m not like you.I can’t believe in something or someone who is supposed to love us and be all-powerful but who never answers prayers.Look at our lives.We lost both our parents when we were not yet teens.What kind of God does that?”Her voice came out a bit louder than she wanted, drawing the attention of another dialysis patient a few yards away.
Daria attempted a smile.“There’s a purpose for everything.”
“Even death?”Desi regretted repeating the word.
“Especially death.”
“I will never understand you, Daria, but I will always love you.”She leaned closer and gripped her sister’s swollen hand.“It totally sucks that I’m not a match.But I promise I am going to find a way to pay for a transplant.”
“You worry too much.I’m near the top of the wait list, and if we get the call, God will provide what we need.”
Sweet, sweet Daria.So naïve.What she didn’t know was that her insurance only covered part of the cost of a transplant.Then there were the anti-rejection medicines and follow-up visits that could cost thousands a month.As it was, Desi was paying $1500 out of pocket every month just for dialysis.Money she could use to increase her business, which wasn’t doing well at the moment.She needed more customers, she needed to win the lottery…
She needed a miracle.
Or better yet, to find that treasure Pops swore was right off the coast.
Instead of arguing, Desi sat back and smiled.“You have my word, Daria.I’m not going to let you die.”
Chapter 4: The Call of Time
Emotionally and physically spent, Desi flung her duffel bag over her shoulder and headed down the dock toOcean’s Echo, Ethan and Camila on her heels.The late afternoon sun pummeled her, heating her skin, even as the humid breeze cooled her still-wet hair.They’d already parted ways with the two young men they’d taken out for a dive.Two young men who’d told her they were advanced open water divers, but who, as it turned out, were anything but—an obvious fact after a few minutes in the water.Which made her life more difficult as she had to keep a keen eye on them the entire time.That was, when they weren’t flirting with her and inviting her to a party on their yacht that night.There’s nothing she hated more than unfounded arrogance, unwarranted confidence, and rich, spoiled boys who’d never accomplished a thing in their lives.For some reason, these were the types who always hit on her.Either the rich, spoiled men who thought women should swoon at their feet, or men looking for a mommy to take care of them.At this rate, she’d never get married.Not that marriage was something she longed foranyway.Not with any of the men she’d ever met.
“Meant to ask how your sister is?”Ethan eased beside her, his white teeth beaming in the sunlight and his muscular surfer good looks hard to resist.
Here was a man she could go for.But apparently, she wasn’t meant to hook up with a decent, honorable guy who was overloaded with testosterone.Nope.She was most likely destined to be an old maid huddling in a rocking chair on the porch of a beach shack, reading one of those silly historical romances she enjoyed.
“Desi?”Ethan stared at her quizzically.
“Oh, sorry.She’s…she’s not doing well.She looks worse.”
Frowning, Ethan touched her arm, halting her.“I’m sorry.”
Camila came up behind them squealing like a love-sick pelican, bypassing them both and muttering, “He’s here.”
“I’ll keep praying.”Ethan nodded, giving her a look of concern and care.
