“They don’t work for me either.” She sighed.

Bree began to gently shut the guest room door behind her. “Goodnight. See you in the morning.”

“Stay in my room tonight,” she told her sister. “I doubt either of us is going to fall asleep anytime soon. I’d rather lay there in silence with you than be alone.”

“Yeah, this sort of distraction is terrible for my knitting,” Bree said, smiling. “You should see the hideous sweater I’ve been working on. If Tansy starts wigging out again, it’s going in her Christmas stocking.”

After brushing their teeth and washing their faces—just as they had done as girls—they climbed into Renee’s bed. She pulled a sheet and the comforter up to her chin, while Bree was content with a knitted blanket.

“You still don’t use comforters like the rest of us?”

“Never have, never will,” Bree quipped.

They closed their eyes and tried to sleep.

“I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with my life, if I only have a few months left or so,” Bree whispered.

Renee felt her mouth go dry. She swallowed and blinked. “You’re going to be fine. Stop talking like that.”

“Don’t. You know very well neither of us has any idea what’s going to happen.”

“I’m not letting you go anywhere. Not when there’s underwater basket weaving to tackle. And poodle training. Or you could attempt to sail the world!”

Bree let out a sad giggle.

“Or mushroom hunting, or learning the art of southern barbecue.”

“Maybe I’ll learn Klingon and become a YouTube sensation.”

The two sisters laughed and it felt really good.

“Do you know what scares me the most?” Bree confessed when they caught their breath. “I haven’t met the love of my life yet, and that isn’t something you get to plan. I may very well die and never meet the one.”

“Oh, Bree,” Renee sighed. “I hope that for you more than anything.”

The two sisters grasped hands and finally, finally fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine