Chapter Two
Hold the mail. Check. Inform her neighbors she’d be out of town. Check. Somehow convince her boss to let her have time off without actually getting fired. Check.
What began as a spur of the moment, spontaneous, and slightly absurd idea made a few weeks ago had finally come to fruition.
She’d only shared her plans with a few people and offered limited details.
Some thought it was exciting, and one in particular was less than thrilled.
But yet, she still offered to drive Addison to the airport.
Speaking of…
Addison peered down at her suitcase, eyeing the overstuffed bag. There was a good possibility she was over the weight limit. Another added expense to this trip was going to severely cut into her budget. She could take some things out. Maybe she didn’t need several pairs of shoes. Yes, I do.
“All packed?”
Addison smiled over at her sister leaning against the doorframe of her room.
Anyone looking at Hannah would think she was just as eager for Addison’s trip.
It was a ruse. Her sister had spent the vast majority of the week trying to convince Addison to rethink going.
They were small, subtle suggestions, but Addison read through them.
And understood. Hannah had voiced her concerns.
Maybe she’d finally relented and come to terms with Addison’s plans.
Not likely. Addison was fully expecting a Hail Mary before she boarded the plane.
She slapped her hand on the suitcase. “Yep.”
Hannah pushed off the wall and rounded the bed, sitting down next to the suitcase.
Addison busied herself with her pocketbook, accounting for everything she needed.
It was always important to double-check.
In Addison’s case, triple check. This was the third time since last night.
She was feigning the epitome of calm and cool in front of her sister.
In reality, she’d had a few freak-outs leading up to today.
How could she not? She was about to meet the sister of her donor.
Who has no idea I’m coming. Her stomach twisted in a knot.
Addison had debated sharing with Cleo. It was the sensible and fair thing to do.
It also allowed the open-door relationship she had with Cleo to be slammed in her face.
If Cleo was opposed to the trip, that would leave Addison with no choice but to respect her wishes.
The room was eerily quiet as she opened her wallet, making sure she had enough cash along with her credit cards and license.
“Is there any way I can talk you out of this? I’m not above bribing.”
And there it is.
Addison chuckled softly, glancing down at her sister. Hannah didn’t share her amusement. Her lips pulled down in a severe frown.
“I’m boarding a plane in three hours, and you’re still trying to convince me not to go?”
Without an ounce of shame, she scooted to the edge of the bed, closer to Addison. “Yes, because I think it’s a mistake.”
Addison blew out a heavy breath but refrained from rolling her eyes. Her sister’s concern didn’t deserve that. The root of this stemmed from Hannah being worried about Addison’s well-being and mental health. It was what a sister should do. It’s what I would do if the roles were reversed.
“Hear me out.” Hannah lifted her brows, waiting.
Where was the harm? After all, Hannah had spent the last week trying to get her to stay.
What was another speech from her big sister?
All the others hadn’t convinced her, and neither would this one.
Addison gave a curt nod, crossed the small room, pushed the suitcase aside, and sat next to her sister.
“Alright, I’m listening.”
Hannah licked her lips, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her chin. She was showing all the characteristics of a well-thought-out, possibly rehearsed, speech. I’d expect nothing less. Addison flattened her lips, keeping her smile at bay.
“I think this is a mistake, and you shouldn’t go.”
Addison’s composure slipped, and she snorted. “Yeah, I got that part loud and clear.”
Hannah knitted her brows. “You’ve met her, Addy, through letters.
Wrote to her, and now you two are even talking.
What more do you need? I’m assuming you’ve expressed your gratitude, right?
So, what’s left?” Hannah paused, and before Addison could offer any rebuttal, her sister cut her off.
“I know you’re strong. You’ve proven that, especially in the last few years. But you’re not invincible, Addy.”
This conversation had taken a turn she hadn’t expected. Where was this coming from?
“What?” Addison hiked her brows, chuckling. “You think I’m going to do something reckless?”
Hannah narrowed her gaze. “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy and making this shit up. It’s been an ongoing pattern with you for the last eight months.” She jerked her head mockingly. “Skydiving?”
Ah hell. Addison was now aware of where this was going. And I don’t like it. Mainly, because she wasn’t prepared to refute her sister’s claim. How could she? It was true. Instead, she opted to wing it.
Addison shrugged. “Lots of people skydive.”
Hannah shook her head incessantly and scooted closer, bumping her knee against Addison’s. “Not those who are deathly afraid of heights. Just like people who cry at the sight of needles don’t get tattoos.”
Most don’t.
Addison was slowly getting backed into a corner and was desperate for some space. She stood, walked over to her dresser, then turned to face Hannah, tucking her hands behind her back. “I’ve evolved. Overcame my fears. That’s a good thing, Hannah.”
Hannah scoffed. “Yeah, it is. When you do it for yourself. But when you do it for someone else, that puts those acts in a different category.”
The idea of getting a tattoo had never crossed her mind in all of her thirty years on earth.
She appreciated the symbolism, enjoyed looking at her friends’ latest addition to their body art, but it wasn’t something she wanted for herself.
Addison had intended on remaining a blank canvas for life.
And jumping out of a plane? She could barely watch videos of other people doing it without getting anxious.
Who the hell voluntarily jumps out with just a little parachute and a prayer?
Me.
“Those are things he wanted to do. Not you!”
This was the elephant in the room. Addison had never spoken about what she was doing.
She hadn’t told a soul about Cleo’s letter and her own questions.
It was by chance her sister saw it hanging on her fridge and asked about it.
At the time, Addison had played it off as simple curiosity.
Knox died at thirty-two. She was sure there were things he’d wanted to do and never got the chance.
When she’d initially asked Cleo, she’d posed it as a hypothetical.
There were only six things on the list. As of now, she’d completed all but two.
“You have his heart, Addy.” Hannah clasped her hands on her lap. “But you’re in no way obligated to live his life.”
Aren’t I, though? She had a second chance at life, but it came at a heavy price—his death. Was it unreasonable to live a little for him? Addison was eternally grateful for what he’d given her, and if she could fulfill his heart’s desires—even if his heart now lived in her chest—shouldn’t she?
“I owe him.”
Hannah shook her head. “No, you don’t.”
Addison was growing increasingly angry. She understood what her sister was saying. But there was a lack of understanding on Hannah’s part. She had no idea what it was like for Addison. The emotions, the guilt that weighed her down. She pressed a hand over her heart. Our heart.
“He gave me his heart.”
Hannah shot up from the bed. “He didn’t give you anything. He died, and you were a match. Luck, fate? Whatever you want to call it. He didn’t lay down his life for yours. Stop trying to repay him.” She arched her brow. “And his sister.”
Having a full blowout fight with her sister hours before her flight was not what she’d planned. And I won’t allow it.
“I’m not trying to repay him. Or Cleo. Because I can’t. No matter what I do, it would never be enough, Hannah. How do you even start to repay someone who gave you their heart?”
“It’s your heart now.”
“No, it’s not!” She snapped and pointed to her chest. “It will always be his.”
Hannah dropped her gaze to the floor. The tension was beyond thick in her small bedroom. They were never going to agree on this. But she couldn’t leave with this much animosity between them. She once again reminded herself of where this was coming from. Hannah was worried about her little sister.
“Hannah.” Addison waited for her sister to glance up. “You said yourself those are things, the tattoo and skydiving? They were things he wanted to do, right?”
“Yes,” she muttered.
“And you’re right. But this?” She waved her hand toward the suitcase.
“This is something I want to do. You may not agree with the decision, but you don’t get a say, Hannah.
Not with this. I’m going.” Addison inhaled a breath.
“We can stand here and go back and forth for the next fifteen minutes before I leave, but nothing you say is going to change how I feel or what I’m doing. ”
Hannah stepped forward and parted her lips, huffing. Addison waited for the next round. Her sister shook her head and once again, opened her mouth to speak. She had more to say, but in a surprising move she clamped her lips, glanced across the room, and muttered, “Okay.”
Finally. Addison grabbed her suitcase from the bed and rolled it out into the living room next to her carryon bag.
She hiked her pocketbook over her shoulder and grabbed her jacket from the hook.
She’d checked the weather. It was still slightly chilly in Iowa.
Her new destination would be a little warmer.
She heard Hannah’s light footsteps emerging from the bedroom.
“Is Cleo picking you up from the airport?”