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"I agree," she said, in an effort to keep the peace "This tih, Beth asked me to contact you"

Her announcee in Ellie’s attitude was immediate

"It’s a small complication"

"What kind of complication? Never ht out"

"Don’t, Ellie Please Keep your original flight Beth is fine and she wants to do this on her own I’ I realize , you, really, to give Beth a chance to spread her wings without either of us standing guard over her I can appreciate how difficult that is, especially now Wait, please, give her so room, and when you do arrive, I pro evened out, and Sunshine could see that her sister was taking her words to heart She hesitated, as if weighing her options

"I’e of a charity luncheon this week Perhaps it would be best if I kept ain she paused, and Sunshine could al on her bottom lip as she considered her options

"You’re sure Beth doesn’t need ht away?"

"Positive"

"I don’t know …" Ellie whispered

Tiun Phillip Beth’s father had becoreatest ally "If you don’t trust ht," Sunshine suggested

"And if I don’t, you’ll call him yourself"

"Yes" Without hesitation

"Have it your way, then," Ellie said stiffly "I love hter and I refuse to let you oryou away frohter Beth specifically asked that you not co to her side now Listen to her, Ellie It’s what she is asking of you Don’t you care about what Beth wants?" Sunshine asked

"My daughter needs me"

"For what?" Sunshine asked "To buy her clothes, to decorate her apartood match for her? Just whose life is this? It doesn’t sound like Beth’s It sounds like yours For the love of heaven, Ellie, don’t you realize you’re sirl?"

"You’re as bad as Phillip"

Nicest coht," Ellie said grudgingly "I’ll keepabout Beth and this accident there is no way anyone is going to keep hter" The words and the way she spoke told Sunshine further arguments would be useless Her sister’sit

"Beth will be out of the hospital soon and well on her way to recovery" She didn’t mention that Beth would be transferred to a rehab facility Sunshine would let her niece explain that

"Thank you, Ellie I know Beth will appreciate your restraint"

Ellie didn’t say anything for a long moment, and when she spoke next her voice was less brusque "Is etting better day by day"

"Thank you," her sister whispered, sadness fusing with her words "I’d like to say it was a pleasure, but alas, it never is with the two of us, is it?"

"No I wish it was different, though" Once again Sunshine extended a hand to Ellie It was up to her sister to reach for it

Her words were met with silence and then "Good-bye, Louise," Ellie said as she cut the connection

One final dig

It saddened her that they couldn’t let go of the past This matter with Peter stood between them as wide as the Grand Canyon And it didn’t look to be shrinking anytime soon