Lurlene McDaniel - As Long as We Both Shall Live 2-Book Collection: Till Death Do Us Part; For Better, for Worse, Forever

T he door slowly opened, and the boy from the rec room stood there. Hi, he said with a sunny grin.

Do I know you? she asked.

Mark Gianni. He held out his hand.

She took it cautiously. His grip was warm, his palm rough. He was tall and had curling dark brown hair and intense deep brown eyes. But Kelli had been right. He was thin, almost gaunt. And youre here because ? She allowed the sentence to trail.

Because I want you to know that youre the most beautiful girl Ive ever seen. And I thought I should introduce myself. I mean, we should get to know each other. Since youre the girl I intend to marry.

FROM

B randons request was eloquent and simple and it touched her. April recognized that Brandon wasnt some kid with a hidden agenda. Like her, he was lonely. He also had something buried deep inside his psyche that was painful. She guessed it had to do with the loss of his mother. She wouldnt probe. If he wanted to talk about it, he would.

I would like that very much, she said. She gazed out to the open sea. A sailboat leaned into the wind against the horizon. You know, Ive watched those boats from the first day I arrived, and Id love to go sailing on one. Do you think we could do that sometime?

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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

This edition contains the complete and unabridged texts of the orginal editions. This omnibus was originally published in separate volumes under the titles:
Till Death Do Us Part copyright 1997 by Lurlene McDaniel
For Better, for Worse, Forever copyright 1997
by Lurlene McDaniel

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ISBN: 0-553-57108-7
eBook ISBN: 978-0-307-51353-3

v3.1

CONTENTS

Till Death Do Us Part

This book is lovingly dedicated to
Jennifer Dailey,
a victim of cystic fibrosis,
a lovely flower,
plucked up by the angels
after fourteen years on this earth,
March 12, 1997.
Dear Jennifer, your family and friends
will miss you.
May your walk in heaven be joyous!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 C ORINTHIANS 13:48

(NIV)

T hat guys staring at you again, April.

April Lancaster didnt need Kelli to tell her that the boy on the far side of the hospitals patient rec room was looking at her. She could almost feel his gaze. She had been in the hospital for two days and hed been stealing glances at her every time she ventured out of her room. Ignore him, April whispered to Kelli. I do.

But why? Hes cute. Even if he is too skinny for my taste.

This isnt a social club, Kelli. Its a hospital. I didnt come here to meet guys.

Well, I say why let a good opportunity slip away?

April shook her head. Youre impossible.

Her best friend grinned. Im only trying to cheer you up. Take your mind off this whole thing. And if you meet a cute guy in the bargain, then whats the harm?

April pointedly twisted in the lounge chair so that her back was to the boy. She didnt want to be stared at, and she certainly didnt want to meet some guy who was sick. She figured he had to be sick; why else would he be a patient in this huge New York City medical complex?

Kelli interrupted her thoughts. What is going on with you? Medically, I mean. When can you leave?

The last thing April wanted to do was dwell on the frightening possibilities as to why she was in the hospital. Im only here for testing, she said. Im sure Ill be out by the end of the week.

But by then spring break will be over. We leave tomorrow, and the weatherman said an inch of fresh powder is falling in Vermont as we speak. This might be the last chance for a ski trip this year.

April and her friends had been planning the trip for weeks. It was supposed to be part of her birthday present. And since it was their senior year, it would be their final spring break together as a group. I cant help it, she said gloomily. Even if my doctor releases me earlier, my parents wont let me go.

Why not?

April didnt want to say. Not while there was so much speculation about the origins of her numbing headaches. The headaches had built in intensity for the past several months, causing her to get dizzy, even sick to her stomach. When shed passed out from the pain in school two days earlier, her parents had hustled her out of their Long Island community and into a hospital in the city. The headaches could still be nothing.

Or they could be the other thing. The thing she had decided not to discuss with Kelli. Oh, you know my parents. They fall to pieces if I have a hangnail. Besides, Dad wont let me drive from New York to Vermont by myself.

Kelli chewed her bottom lip. I could wait till youre released. Then you and I could drive up together.

No way. April shook her head. Kelli, I appreciate it, but you go on with the others.

Kelli slumped in her chair, crossed her arms, and pouted. It wont be the same without you there. This is our last spring break together.

April sighed, feeling disappointed too. Maybe we can do something together our first spring break from college next year.

Fat chance. Well all be scattered to the ends of the earth.

Im sorry, April said softly, her eyes filling with tears.

Kelli scooted forward and seized Aprils hands. Dont cry. Im such a jerk for making you feel worse than you already do. Tell you what, well go to the shore this summer when all this is behind you. Youve always liked the beach better than the ski slopes anyway. Ill talk to the others while were away and devise a plan. What do you say?