Part 38 (1/2)
Jackie watched as Meg cried.
”And I'm your sister Jackie.” Jackie shared a group hug with Christina and Meg.
”I tried to find you,” Christina told Meg in the car, ”but I ran into stone walls wherever I went. I finally gave up after a few years. When you called, I admit, I was shocked.”
Jackie glanced into the rear view mirror and saw Meg smile. She continued driving down the freeway to Was.h.i.+ngton Place, the gubernatorial mansion Meg would be soon vacating.
”Your parents did a wonderful job raising you,” Meg said.
”You would've loved my parents,” Christina squeezed her hand. ”They had been married fifteen years when they adopted me. They used to tell me I was their gift from G.o.d.”
”What happened to them?” Jackie asked.
”Mom died of cancer about five years ago and Dad was so devastated, he soon followed. I think he wanted to die.” Christina tilted her head. ”Have you ever loved anyone so much you wanted to die if they died?”
”I don't know,” Meg replied. ”Maybe.”
Christina sighed. ”I don't know either. I love my husband Scott.” She gave a small laugh. ”I started dating him when I was fourteen. Honestly, I'm not sure I feel toward him the way my folks felt about each other. Sometimes I think I'm missing out on something. But maybe I will after thirty years of marriage.”
”Your parents were a good example.”
Christina sighed before speaking. ”So my step-father is the governor of Hawaii? I thought I'd be met by a chauffeured limousine.” She laughed again. ”To tell you the truth, I was kind of looking forward to it. I've never been in one.”
”You will before this trip is over,” Meg promised. ”Jackie and I wanted to be alone with you. Even Sean was kind enough to respect my wishes. He's very anxious to meet you, by the way.”
”What's he like?” Christina asked.
”Handsome, charming, and successful,” Jackie replied from the front seat. ”What else did you expect?”
”And he's married to my aunt, your sister?” Jackie asked Meg.
”Yes. I know it sounds kind of kinky, but we were together before he started dating Katherine.”
Jackie glanced at the mirror in time to see her half-sister's eyes widened. ”I thought Honolulu was a big city? It sounds just as complicated and entangled as any small town. Of course, Durango has become a big small town.”
”What's it like living there?” Meg asked.
”Its home for me; I was raised there.” Christina shrugged. ”It's a mountain town. Scott and I raise Paints and Arabs. We'd love to have you over there. My folks were third-generation ranchers. About twelve years ago they decided it was too much for them and handed it over to us. At the time, Scott was a lawyer in Denver and we decided we had enough of the city and moved. It's a real working ranch and although it's a lot of work, we love it.”
”What about your children?” Jackie asked.
”Tyler and Amber are in high school. It's a great place to raise kids. By the way, they're being tested as we speak. They volunteered before I asked them. They're great kids, we're really lucky,” Christina replied. ”They really want to meet you, but I wanted to spend some time alone with you first.”
”Wanted to make sure I was okay?” Meg smiled.
Christina grinned. ”Something like that.”
”I can't wait to meet my grandchildren.” Meg sighed. ”And I'd love to see your ranch. I've never been to Colorado and I've never been on a working ranch.”
”You're in for a surprise,” Christina told her. ”We'll make a real cowgirl out of you yet.”
Looking at Christina was like looking at a young Meg.
Sean was thrilled when Christina hugged everyone at the party in her honor, including Katherine, Patrick, and Sheryl. Christina was so expansive and relaxed, she was a pleasure to be around. She had no pretensions about her; she was who she was. She had Bridgett's effusive personality.
After embracing the entire family, Christina beamed at them with tears in her eyes and said, ”I've always wanted a family as I was an only child of two only children. I can't believe how lucky I am. I not only have a family, I have a clan!”
Everyone laughed.
”Now that you're in Hawaii,” Danny told her, ”you better learn the Hawaiian word for family.”
”Okay,” Christina said with a sweet sigh. ”What's the word for family?”
”Ohana,” Sean said with a smile. ”This is our ohana.”
Chapter Fifty.
Honolulu: 1979 The bone marrow transplant was successful. Sean sat next to Ashley's bed six weeks later and held her hand. She smiled.
Sean lifted her hand to his lips. The first crucial six weeks after the transplant was finally over. During that time Ashley had lived in a bubble, unable to have human contact of any kind. After the transplant, the doctors explained, she would have no resistance to infection. Because of it, she had to be kept in a sterile environment until she built up her resistance.
”Thank you Grandpa,” she said to him. ”I love you.”
Tears came to Sean's eyes. ”I love you too.”
”I'm sorry, but I'm kind of tired.”
”Don't apologize. You just get some rest.” Sean got up to leave.
”Please stay here,” Ashley begged. ”I can't talk right now, but I don't want to be alone.”
”Someone will be here at all times. We're all taking turns.” Sean returned to his chair.
”Thanks Grandpa.” Ashley's voice trailed away. ”Grandpa?”
”Yes?”
”Thank Tyler for me. He saved my life.”
”He knows. I'm so proud of both of you.”
Ashley closed her eyes, a little smile on her face. She looked vulnerable and pretty lying on the white cotton sheets. Her hair had started to grow out; it looked like an aureole around her face.
”How is she?” Mary asked as she walked into the room a few hours later.