Free A Sister's Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray

new cat and the yoga class she was taking, they hung up.
    Tess wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. All she did know was that she had to see Simon again. She needed her brother back in her life. More importantly, she was determined to do whatever she could to keep him there.
    That was a vow she was proud of. And a wish she hoped would come true.

Chapter 7
    Friday, October 2
    T he day dawned bright and sunny. As she gazed out the window from her hospital bed, Amelia decided the weather couldn’t be more ideal. It suited her mood perfectly. On his morning rounds, the doctor had said that she could go home before noon. Amelia was so happy about that!
    She had been worried about being in this large, sterile building. Try as she might, it held nothing but horrible memories for her.
    But everyone around her was so kind. They were accommodating and patient. Every time someone walked by, they stopped in and said hello. A few times a day they brought her a cup of cranberry or apple juice. They talked about people they knew or her parents. It seemed most everyone had known either one or both of her parents.
    Still, it had been difficult to be polite.
    Every time she was alone, her mind would drift back to thehours she’d spent in the waiting room, hoping and praying that the news about each of her parents would get better instead of progressively worse.
    Last night, when the halls had been silent and she could only hear the faint echo of footsteps and voices from the nurses’ station, she’d watched the hands on the clock above her bed slowly move around the dial. She didn’t sleep a wink.
    Now she was watching the door for a whole other reason. Simon had said he’d be back this morning. She couldn’t wait to see him. The short time he’d been by her side, she’d been either in pain, afraid, or groggy. Then he’d left suddenly. Now she was anxious to thank him for his quick thinking and care.
    She was also looking forward to Lukas and Rebecca apologizing for their efforts to keep Simon away from her. Surely, after witnessing how much she needed him, her siblings would stop all the nonsense about trying to run her life.
    But by ten o’clock, she was beginning to lose hope. She knew Simon’s schedule as well as her own. He had to be at work by now. Still, she sipped coffee that a volunteer had just brought her and watched the door.
    When she heard the steady steps made by men’s work boots, she smiled.
    Only to see her brother walk through the door.
    â€œLukas.”
    At her tone, he stopped and raised his brows. “It’s gut to see you, too.”
    â€œSorry.” She hesitated, then decided to be completely honest. “I’ve been hoping Simon would stop by. Have you seen him this morning?” she asked hopefully.
    â€œNee.”
    â€œCome on, Lukas. Don’t you think it’s time we stopped pretending that he and I aren’t seeing each other?”
    Looking more uncomfortable, he nodded. “ Jah . I do think we should stop pretending. It’s past time.”
    â€œIf you agree with me, why do you look so put out? You know Simon is a good man.”
    â€œAmelia, I’m sorry, but I think it’s time you stopped seeing him.”
    â€œIt’s too late for you to decide that. We already are.” Completely annoyed, she said, “Lukas, for the record, I think you are being ridiculous. I’m tired of you acting like he is good enough to work at your company but not good enough to court me.”
    â€œI’m not acting like anything. It’s the truth. He ain’t good enough for you.”
    â€œI think he is.” Aware that her hands were trembling with restrained emotion, she added, “Since it’s my life that we’re discussing and not yours, you need to learn to accept him.”
    Her handsome older brother looked at the chair beside her, then took a step back and leaned against the wall.