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“Shhh!” Beth hissed, then ushered her sister inside. “That happened, like, once. I just think the almond milk tastes better.”
“Mm-hmm,” Delaney replied, striding past Beth and into the house.
Beth screwed the lid back on to her tumbler and followed her sister back in, hoping she’d still have time alone with Midnight once Delaney got on her way.
“While the coffee is much appreciated, you still haven’t explained why you’re here so early on a Saturday morning.”
Delaney stood at the breakfast bar portion of the counter, sipping from her own tumbler.
“Sam took Nolan to his Saturday morning coffee thing with the boys at Trudy’s bookstore, and I figured you needed a ride to your appointment if Eli was joining them.”
Beth’s brows drew together. “Eli’s where?” She glanced toward the front door where the clinic and Eli’s home lay beyond. “And what appointment?”
Her stomach was in knots before Delaney responded.
Her sister waved her off. “Something about getting Eli to join their little boys’ club. Honestly, I have no idea what they do other than drink coffee and knit these atrocious scarves, but Sam hasn’t missed a Saturday since Nolan was born. And the appointment”—Delaney bopped her sister on the nose with the tip of her index finger—“is the one you tried to cancel. You know…the one where you get to ditch that air cast for an actual shoe. Ring any bells?”
Beth’s mouth fell open, and her cheeks burned with heat. “How did you… I mean, I did cancel. I left a voicemail, so I don’t understand…”
Delaney sighed. She unclasped Beth’s hands from her tumbler and held them gently in her own. “The orthopedist’s office responded to your voicemail by calling back to confirm the cancellation. Looks like they called your emergency contact instead of you. So of course I told them it was a mistake and that we’d be there at eight sharp!”
Beth’s jaw clenched as anger began to replace her surprise. “That wasn’t your decision to make, Lanes.”
Delaney squeezed her sister’s hands. “It’s okay to be scared, Bethy. But you don’t have to be scared alone.”
Beth yanked her hands out of Delaney’s. “I’m not scared. I’m…I’m still in pain, so that obviously means I should wear the boot for a little while longer.”
She wanted to storm away, but where could she go other than the one bedroom or back out the front door again? Delaney had no right to make this decision for her. It was Beth’s injury, Beth’s medical care, and Beth’s choice to wait—or put it off indefinitely.
Beth crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at the now-familiar accessory that had been a part of her life since her surgery eight weeks ago.
“Bethy…” Delaney said gently. “I spoke to the doctor. You could do more damage if you keep the cast on longer than necessary. Your range of motion might be drastically reduced if you don’t start the next phase of physical therapy. And walking—”
“I know!” Beth blurted, heart hammering and the threat of tears stinging her eyes. “You don’t think I know all that?” She blew out a shaky breath. “Me and my big words. I’m going to make a full recovery. I’m going to get a second chance at that audition. I’m going to do all the things I did before despite doctors and therapists and their stupid professional opinions and—”
“Opinions!” Delaney interrupted. “Opinions, Bethy. No one knows anything for sure, so the best they can do is make the most educated guess. But if you don’t even try to do all those things you said you can do?” She shrugged. “That has nothing to do with the doctors and everything to do with you. So shut down this damned pity party, and show those silly doctors and therapists who best knows you and what you’re capable of.”
Beth pressed her lips together and nodded. “I know me best,” she told her sister, albeit with a trembling voice.
Delaney rolled her eyes. “You expect me to believe that?”
Beth threw her hands in the air. “You never believed me in the first place. You’ve always been on the doctor’s side.”
Her sister shrugged. “It’s just another stupid opinion. Make me believe otherwise.”
“I know me best,” Beth repeated, only slightly louder and with her arms crossed over her chest.
Delaney scoffed and pressed her hands to her hips. “I’m not gullible enough to believe that.”
“I know me best!” Beth raised her voice.
“What?” her sister asked, holding a hand to her ear.
“I know me best!” Beth shouted this time, changing her emphasis to the last word. “I know me best! I know me best! I know me best! Okay? Are you happy now?”
Beth’s chest heaved, but the unbearable pressure of what if began to lessen, if only for the time being.
“Do you feel better?” Delaney raised her brows.
