Reassurance (#sytycw15) (#loveInspiredRomance)

Part Eighteen

October 2nd, 1998

"Are you sure you're alright Claire?" Isla asked Claire once more. She had wanted to be sure before leaving for a two day vacation with John.

"I said I'm fine, Isla. Don't hold onto me that tightly, you're suffocating me with worry." Claire coughed out. She really had been getting somewhat better, but she was still barely making progress.

There was a hint of desperation in Claire's voice as if she wanted Isla out. Not bearing the thought of her standing there and watching her grow weak.

"Claire I really don't feel too good about this." Isla said softly stroking her hair. If Claire could roll her eyes she would, but only decided to cough instead.

Isla felt a bad feeling crawling up her toes to her spine. She didn't want to leave Claire in this state but Claire wouldn't rest until she did. Why didn't Claire want her there?

"Isla, I'm telling you, you either leave right now or you stay here and listen to me complain until you leave, I-it's your choice." Claire said without opening her eyes.

"Adel is coming today, tell her to take you to the hospital," Isla said after a moment of silence, sighing.

"Yes, I know." Claire said irritated that she wasn't gone yet.

Isla turned to leave but quickly ran back to Claire to send her a hug. "I love you Claire-bear. Don't you forget that. Get well,"

"I-I love you too Is, don't w-worry about me... Ill be fine. And no matter what, We'll always be together." Claire said hugging Isla with so much force she could utter and a little longer than normally.

"Claire, you're crying!" Isla wiped away the shed tears of Claire before looking at her with the same worry.

"Claire is there something you want to tell me?" Isla asked.

"No, please, just leave. It's just because of my asthma. The doctor aid it was a normal symptom." Claire said brushing it off.

"Claire, you mean the world to me and I want you to know you can tell me anything, do you think Adel won't take you to the hospital? You think you're dying?" Isla smiled at Claire, while Claire said nothing.

"I-I... No," Claire said finally closing her eyes tightly.

"Okay, whatever you say. But if I leave you have to promise me something."

Claire cracked an eye open, listening.

"You have to rest, eat and listen... and most of all... you have to promise me that when I come back, you should be as well as ever." Isla said staring deeply into Claire's eyes.

"I'll try-" Claire was cut off by Isla. Isla didn't want to hear that she would try, she wanted to hear a confirmed answer from her.

"No, I want to hear you say, yes." Isla declared.

Claire looked at Isla before silently agreeing,

"Good, now get some rest and take it easy till Adel come back. If she asks anything, tell her where I am, I'm not lying anymore." Isla said truthfully.

"Okay. have a safe trip." Claire screamed before coughing. "Don't break any of your promises already, Claire-Bear!" Isla scowled jokingly before kissing her goodbye and taking off.

"Is she alright?" John asked once Isla stepped outside, breathing in the country air.

"Uh, yeah. She couldn't wait until I left. Ain't that strange?" Isla asked hoping into John's car.

"Yeah, you sure you don't want to stay?" John asked once in the car.

"If I stayed, she'd throw a tantrum at me." Isla laughed at the thought. I t was true, Claire would always get what she wanted through Isla, she spoiled Claire rotten.

"Okay then, all ready?" John asked as he reversed the car out of it's parking spot. While passing the house, Isla looked up at Claire's room. She could have sworn she saw Claire looking through the window.

***

"Is there anything you two would like?" A kind woman approached them while they sat in John's private jet.

"Can I get a ham sandwich?" The woman wrote down John's orders before turning kindly at Isla. "Anything for you, Ma'am?"

"A glass of water would be nice, thank you." Isla said before looking back at the magazine she had been reading. "Isla, you need to eat." John said before turning to the lady who had been waiting patiently. "Make that two sandwiches, Georgiana." John said to her before she nodded walking off towards the back of the plane.

"I'm not that hungry, John." Isla said getting up.

"Yes you are, I can tell." He said glancing up at her before looking back down to his phone.

"Hey, do you mind if I get some sleep? I haven't had any the past couple of day with Claire and all." Isla asked John, stretching.

"Uh, yeah. Just go all the way to the back, it's the double doors." He said, instructing her. "Thanks, John." Isla said waving before heading to the bed. "I'll leave your sandwich in the room." John said before Isla was out of hearing range.

***

With the feeling of cold feet touching her legs, Isla shot out of bed, shrieking at the feeling. John had jumped out of bed, falling flat on his face before groaning.

"What are you doing here?" She asked grabbing the sheets to cover nothing in particular. "Well, I was tired too." He said before getting up. "Why are your feet so cold?" She asked, moving over.

"This room is pretty cold, I guess. I don't know." He stated before jumping back in the bed, hiding his face under the pillows.

"John, we're going to be landing in twenty minutes." She said excitedly.

John groaned in reply before stealing the comforters away from Isla and making himself comfortable. Isla rolled her eyes before spotting her ham sandwich on the table. She reached over for it, quickly diving in.

she really was hungry after all.

Smiling happily, Isla jumped up and prepared herself for landing. Today, she would rekindle her relationship with all John's family members.

***

#SYTYCW15