But it was true. I had an offer to play with an incredible orchestra touring across Europe. It was an unbelievable opportunity. I wanted to believe that my sister would be happy for me. We'd always been there for each other, but the last several years had been more about me being there for her.

I'd moved to Carmel with her after college, when her very serious boyfriend had popped the question right after graduation. Steve had just finished law school and was about to join his parents' firm in Carmel. Dani hadn't wanted to move there without me. So, I'd gone to help her get settled and plan her wedding. It wasn't supposed to be forever. But after the wedding, she'd wanted to open the boutique, and she needed my help again. Then had come her issues with pregnancy, miscarriage, and sadness. My sister had needed me, and I couldn't say no to her, because when I'd needed her, she'd been there.

It had been the two of us against the world since my mother had died when we were seven. Our dad had been around, but his grief had taken him away from us, mentally and emotionally. He hadn’t come out of that grief until he'd remarried, and then it was all about his second wife, Vicky.

But even without the attention of my father and stepmother, I'd always had Dani. Born twenty-two minutes before me, Dani had taken on the role of big sister from the minute she was born. She'd been the bossy one, constantly looking ahead, making sure I wasn't breaking any rules and acting like my second mother. I'd needed her to fill that role. I owed her a lot and leaving now would hurt her. Not just because she'd need to hire someone at the shop, but because after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, she was now four months pregnant, and the last thing she needed was stress in her life. It wasn't the best time to leave.

But would there ever be a good time?

Once she had the baby, Dani would want to be home with her child. She'd want me to keep the boutique running. I couldn't keep putting my own life on hold no matter how much I loved her, no matter how much I didn't want to disappoint her.

My phone rang, and Dani's name flashed across the screen. I felt almost panicked at the sight of it. I knew she was wondering where I was. I couldn't talk to her on the phone. This conversation had to be done in person. I sent her a text, telling her I was on my way back, and then I started the car.