Trust And Hope

Chapter 15

"Hey," I said, sitting down next to Richelle on the couch.

Gabby sat opposite her, reading exercises off of her physical therapy pages. 

"Hi," Richelle said, gritting her teeth as she tried to raise her leg. She got about an inch or two off the ground before letting it plop back down on the couch.

"What're you doing?" I asked.

"Physical therapy," Richelle said. "It sucks."

"Oof," I snorted.

"Sadie," Mom said seriously. "Now."

"Oop," Richelle mouthed with a 'you're in trouble' look that big sisters always have mastered for condescending younger siblings.

"You're so dead," Gabby mouthed, smirking.

I made a face at both of them and followed Mom out to the car.

We went to pack a bag and grab a booster seat for Charlotte, then I made Gabby find one of her old toys for us. Mom made Richelle come with us just to get her out of the house. So at the end of the day, Mom pulled into the church.

"Richelle, go in with her," Mom said.

"I don't wanna go in with her," Richelle complained.

"Do it, Richelle," Mom said. "I know it hurts, but you need to move a little bit today."

"I did the stupid physical therapy stuff earlier," Richelle protested.

"That's not enough and you know it," Mom said. "Get out and go with your sister. You have five seconds before you're grounded."

"Fine," Richelle growled. "Whatever." For someone who could be so funny and sweet, the girl had a bad teenage attitude.

"Can you come with me to find her?" I asked, opening the door.

Richelle hobbled in after me. "Do I have a choice?"

"Yes," I said. "But I'd really like you to. You know a lot of what Charlotte's going through."

Richelle paused and looked at me for a second. "What do you mean?"

I looked at her mysteriously. "You'll see."

Richelle sighed. "Of course."

I could hear her crutches tapping on the wood floor behind me as I searched for Charlotte.

I could feel my sister shifting uncomfortably beside me as I told Charlotte about the sleepover. She hadn't been in public since she lost her leg, and perhaps a room full of kids who aren't scared to point it out wasn't the best debut.

Charlotte watched me intensely with those bright blue eyes. "It's because Cici's getting sicker, isn't it?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes. Your parents are staying with her overnight."

Charlotte nodded knowingly. "I knew it."

"Sicker?" Richelle mouthed to me.

I didn't respond. I could explain it all to my sister later.

"I had this feeling," Charlotte said. "That she was... I don't know, not as good as before, you know? Did my parents say what happened? Did the cancer spread or something?"

My breath caught in my throat. There was the word. I glanced up at Richelle, who inhaled sharply. I let out a slow breath. "No," I said. "Cici's been having chemotherapy, right?"

"Yeah," Charlotte said.

"Well, she doesn't have white blood cells left to fight off an infection," I said.