Just The Way You Are(91)

"Sam," Phoebe said, drawing his attention back to her. "I want you one day to give these pearls to the woman you truly love. You'll know when it's right. And you'll know who." She held his gaze with hers for a long minute, then said, "I'm tired now. I think I'd like to rest."

Sam leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you soon." He turned to Megan. "Say good-bye to Grams."

"'Bye, Grams, see you tomorrow."

"'Bye, honey."

Alli smiled down at her grandmother. "I'm not going to ask you why you did that."

"Nor am I, Grams," Tessa said.

"Good." Phoebe looked at them both. "Remember always that you're sisters above all else. Whatever you have now, don't lose it. Promise me that."

"We promise," Alli and Tessa said together.

"Rest now," Alli added. "We're going to finish our kite for the festival today, and on Monday you'll be able to sit on your deck and watch it soar higher than all the rest."

"Not so fast," Tessa interrupted. "I found the kite you and Grandpa used to fly. Would you mind if I entered it in the contest?"

"I would love it," Phoebe said softly. "My darling girls. You mean so much to me and to each other. Just like the pearls, you are so much better together than you are apart. That's what I wanted you to know."

Alli followed Tessa to the doorway, feeling a strange uneasiness. She didn't like all the goodbyes. They felt too final. "I'll be back tonight, Grams. You'll be all right, won't you?"

"Of course I'll be all right." Phoebe paused, sending her a tender look. "I can't die yet, honey. I haven't finished counting the stars, and don't you know that you will never be alone, because there is always love, and love lives forever."

Alli looked at Tessa and saw the instant recognition in her eyes.

"Everything will be all right," Tessa said softly.

"Yes," Alli agreed. "Everything will be fine."

* * *

William sat down next to Phoebe's bed and didn't say anything for several long minutes. He'd been so quiet earlier, she'd hardly noticed he was there. Now she wondered if she'd hurt him yet again.

"The pearls were beautiful on you, Phoebe. I only wish John could have seen them," he said heavily.

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes." He let the silence fall again. "I think I'll go back to Philadelphia next week, after you come home from the hospital."

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"It's not your fault. You've been telling me all along that I couldn't see what was beneath my nose. I finally saw it today. When you looked in the mirror, when you saw the pearls—did you see John in the reflection?"

She saw the pain in his eyes but could only be truthful. "Yes."

"I always thought that our love was the true one. But it wasn't."#p#分页标题#e#

"Our love was young. We weren't fully grown. You were different. I was different. Only you never realized that I changed or even that you changed."

"I thought once John had passed, once time had passed, that you might see your way back to me. But I think I've worn out my welcome."

"Never. You are my dearest friend. And I do love you in a way that has always belonged only to you."

He tipped his head, his voice turning gruff, as he said, "I'll always love you, Phoebe. Do you mind if I sit with you for a while?"

"I would like that. I hate to be alone here."

"And when you fall asleep, I'll go." He looked deep into her eyes. "Because you'll be with him then, won't you?"

"Yes," she said softly. "I'll be with him."

* * *

They were beautiful, Sam thought, watching as Alli and Megan ran with the wind, trying unsuccessfully to get their kite into the air. He would have helped, but it was far more fun to watch them, their hair blowing in the breeze, Alli's a shiny copper penny, Megan's a glorious blond. Their faces were flushed, their voices pitched with excitement, their efforts broken up with laughter.

Every so often they looked to him. But Alli wouldn't ask him for help. She'd stopped asking him for anything. He felt a deep hungry ache in his soul for the way it used to be. Alli wanted a divorce because he couldn't let go of the past. But now he had a feeling that he couldn't let go of her.

"Sam, do you think you could help me with this?" Tessa asked, walking across the thick grass toward him. Jimmy had stopped to photograph Alli and Megan, obviously as caught up in the appeal of the scene as Sam had been.

He smiled at Tessa. At least someone needed his help. Then he looked down at the twenty-year-old kite in her hand and laughed. "Where did you dig that up?"