Pearl brought tea to Kat’s room for the two of them, along with a message from their mother for them to visit as long as Kat felt up to it. The entire family knew that the sisters would have much to talk about. Amala loved every minute with Kat as the strength of their bond was rekindled. She knew these years apart had been absolutely necessary—in ways Kat didn’t know about—but Amala was glad to have now come home and to renew her sisterhood with Kat. And for now she chose not to think about how what they were sharing would be temporary. Later, when she was alone, she could cry if she felt the need. While she was with Kat, she was completely all right with following Kat’s example of enjoying the present and making the most of the time they had together.

* * * *

Suppertime was drawing near when Henry went to the room he shared with Kat to see if she felt up to going to the dining room or if she preferred to have a tray brought up. Some days were more difficult than others, and he never knew exactly what to expect. However, he suspected that the bad days would become more frequent until she would never be able to leave her bed at all. But he couldn’t think about that. He just had to keep moving forward, day by day, and not think about the past or the future. He could only think of the present and try to do as Kat had pleaded with him to do: make the most of what they had.

Henry knocked lightly, not certain if Amala might still be here with Kat and not wanting to intrude on their sister time. When he heard no reply he opened the door carefully and peered into the room to see that both women were asleep. They were facing each other as if they’d drifted off in the middle of relaxed conversation. Beyond that, the only thing they had in common was their bare feet. There was no similarity in their appearance or coloring, nor in the way they were dressed. Kat had changed from her nightgown into a red dress since he’d last been in the room; Amala must have helped her. He carefully closed the door and leaned against it, just taking in the sight as if it were a painting that he never wanted to forget. Sisters, he would have called it. And the stark contrasts in the two women made the bonds they shared all the more beautiful.