Fast. Furious. Forever. Was that kind of love possible? Especially when the hardships of life crowded in?
Forever hadn’t been part of her parents’ marriage. Their marriage had probably already been weak when Madison’s leukemia came along and caused an even bigger rift. Dad had pushed for more experimental drugs and had wanted to enroll Madison in additional research programs. But Mom had doted on Madison and had always chosen to do whatever Madison wanted, whether it had been sound reasoning or not.
Kinsey had tried to stay in the middle, not taking either side, trying to help Madison stay alive but also respecting her sister’s wishes not to drag out the end of her life and the pain and misery.
“What’s holding you back, Kinsey?” Kade asked.
What was holding her back from embracing the love Tyler was offering her? It wasn’t really the traveling or her freedom or even her wanting to experience more of the country. She’d already seen more than enough and experienced more places and people than most.
Was it fear? Fear of letting herself love again when she could lose that person?
She sighed heavily. “Honestly?”
He nodded, clearly waiting for her answer.
“I’m a wimp.” She’d witnessed so much bravery from her patients in facing their difficulties. Maybe it was time to take a lesson from them and face her problems instead of running from them.
Kade’s eyes brightened. “You know what they say about being a wimp, don’t you?”
“I don’t know, Kade. I don’t know if I can be brave.”
“They say the best way to gain courage is to climb your mountain.”
She wasn’t sure she was ready to climb her mountain, to make a change, to push through the fears. After walking away from her fears for so long, the easy and level path beckoned to her.
At the ping of an incoming text, Kade read the message and then began to type a response.
She started to reach behind her for one of her suitcases. She had a few hours before her flight left. Even so, she didn’t need to bother Kade any longer.
He glanced up from his phone and then waved at someone exiting from the nearby terminal gate. The morning sunshine poured over a robust woman with short, curly black hair and an extra pep to her step.
Kinsey sat forward. “Pippa?”
The dear woman waved as she crossed to the helicopter.
“What’s Pippa doing here?”
Kade was already opening his door and stepping out. He bounded over to Pippa and shook her hand. All the while, Kinsey could only stare at her friend.
As Pippa and Kade began to walk back to the helicopter, Kinsey finally unbuckled and climbed out. When her feet touched the ground, Pippa was there, wrapping her up in her big arms. “Girl, it’s good to see you.”
Kinsey hugged her friend back, surprised at how much relief she felt at seeing the woman.
Pippa pulled back and held Kinsey out at arm’s length, perusing her from her head to her toes. “Just like I thought. You’re more beautiful than ever and causing all kinds of trouble up here because of it.”
Kinsey laughed. “That’s not true.”
“Oh, it’s true all right. My phone’s been ringing practically nonstop since you told T.W. you were leaving yesterday.”
Kinsey’s smile fell away. “He’s been calling?”
“Oh yeah, and he’s had his kids calling too.” She nodded at Kade, who was now loading her suitcase into the back of the helicopter.
“I already explained everything to everyone, that T.W. deserves a more competent nurse.”
“Yes, ma’am, but they told me they want you to stay on the case, that it would be more detrimental to T.W.’s health if you left him at this point.”
“That’s not true. He’s doing great, and he’ll do even better with someone who isn’t distracted.”
