Page 89 (1/2)

"What?"

"Please believe me when I say I love you I really do, and I know I never really showed it, but there was a reason I was so jealous of you for so long Because you were all the things I wanted to be: sweet, loving, selfless, and just perfect I take back what I said about you being lucky You’re not lucky to have Abel, sissy He’s lucky to have you"

Nellie didn’t even try to hold them back anymore Her tears ran freely down her face "I believe you, Courtney, and I love you too I never stopped loving you even after everything happened"

They cried together and spoke a little longer before her sister said Nellie needed to rest Nellie had just gotten off the phone with Courtney when she heard the front door open and heard Abel walking quietly toward the bedroom As much as she wiped her tears away, she knew she was a mess

Abel peeked in, and his face was i?"

He rushed to her side and took her hand, wiping her tears with his fingertips, searching her eyes

"Nothing’s wrong," she assured hiot off the phone with ot out of rehab today"

His worried expression turned to stone "What did she say to you?"

She s what heI didn’t even know I’ve been waiting to hear froood call" She sniffed "I promise"

He stared at her for a"I found a house" He didn’t say anything else for afor her to react When she didn’t, he continued "As soon as you’re feeling better, I’ll take you to see it"

She pulled away to look at hi a house, but they hadn’t said it was a sure thing He stared at her, and she could tell he aiting for his reaction, so she s to move in here already, especially since he knowsin next month The house is in move-in condition, so if you like it, I’ll pay cash and escroill take a lot less tih"

That h "Your mom’s not so bad"

"She can be, and just wait ’til this baby’s here She’s really gonna want to take over I need to get you out of here pronto"

He leaned his forehead against hers as her eyes brightened "Can we go see it now?

Abel pulled away then seemed to mentally take inventory of her body from top to bottohed "Walking through a house? I think I can e" Truth was she’d been cooped up in the house all week, and she was ready for some fresh air Abel still stared at her, a bit unsure "I’ll be fine," she assured his off the side of the bed