"I wouldn't refer to a sister's offspring as strange," Grace pointed out softly.

"You know what I mean!" Pat cried, in her intensity leaning over the table to gaze into her sister's eyes. "It isn't as though we won't do something for them. I don't mean that!" The pink in her cheeks grew darker as she continued. "We can see that they're placed in nice foster homes or something, but to take someone else's half-grown kids into our home with our present lifestyle would be ludicrous!"

Grace gazed down at her cup of partially drunk coffee, unwilling to admit that the same thought had crossed her mind.

"Family is family, Pat," she said at last. "Did I pawn you off on someone else after father died, just because you were going to be an inconvenience to me?"

"That's different!" the girl insisted. "We're sisters."

"And this is our sister's children. Not so different after all. No, much as it might upset our lifestyle, as you call it, it's our duty to see that those kids are raised the way Kathy would want."

That was all that was said on the matter, though Pat's stormy face made it painfully clear that she was not pleased, and when the food came she only picked at it.

When they arrived back at the motel there was a message that they were urgently wanted back at the hospital.

"She's been calling for you, insisting she must see you," Jane Ferguson told Grace. "She's in a good deal of pain, but she wouldn't let us give her anything for fear she wouldn't be rational when you arrive."

"You go ahead, Grace," Pat said, her face blanching. "I don't think I can handle this."

Grace nodded, and left Pat in the hospital waiting room.

"Kathy," Grace said, her voice barely above a whisper as she approached the bed and the slight figure that lay in it.

At once the eyes flew open and a look of relief swept across her sister's tired face.

"Gracie, I'm so glad you've come back! I thought if I could rest a little I might be able to explain things more clearly, but I know now that resting won't help me."

"Kathy, darling, whatever it is, I'll understand. You mustn't upset yourself like this."

"The children," Kathy said, reaching out a thin hand toward her sister. Grace took it and held it tightly in her own. "You see I love them as though I'd given birth to each one, but I didn't. You understand me, Gracie? They were gifts that were given to us. Stan and I, we saw a need and we filled it. Now the need is still there, only I'm not able to do anything about it. Can you, Gracie? Is it in your heart to take on such a task?"

"Hush, Kathy, you mustn't get so worked up," Grace soothed. "Of course if you considered them your children than so shall I."

"They mustn't be separated!" the woman cried. "After all they've been through, that would be too cruel. Promise me you won't let them be separated, Gracie."

"If it's in my power to prevent such a thing. But listen, Kathy, what do you mean, they weren't all yours? Have you and Stan adopted children, is that what you mean?"

"Adopted, taken in, whatever was called for. Stan did so want to prevent others from suffering through the loveless environment he was raised in. It's not enough to just take them in. You've got to love them Gracie. That's what they need most of all. That, and personal acceptance."

"I'll do the best I can, Kathy, that's all I can promise."

The woman's pain-filled eyes probed into Grace's and then nodding she leaned back.

"I've given the nurse the children's address. I didn't want them to come here and see me like this. You understand, don't you, Gracie? I asked Mrs. Dillon, the landlady, to look after them while I'm away. Things haven't been as pleasant as before Stan got sick, but we've gotten by." She mumbled the last as she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes.

Grace motioned to Nurse Ferguson who stood just outside of the doorway, waiting.

After walking in on silent shoes and checking on the woman she turned to Grace.

"Perhaps you'd like to go back to your motel? We'll call you if there's any change."

But Grace shook her head. "I'll stay," she said. "My younger sister may leave if she wishes, but I'll remain with Kathy. I'm going to be by my sister's side for as long as she needs me."

Other browser readable electronic romance books by Rosalie Joyce

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