Alex woke a little while later and turned to see Nikki still sitting in the chair beside the bed. "You could’ve just told me I was boring you."
Before she could object she saw the gleam in Nikki’s eye and the slight upturn at the corner of her mouth. "I thought it would be rude, and I wouldn’t want to be rude."
Nikki’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh and falling asleep isn’t rude?"
Alex fought to keep a straight face. "Of course not. Not when it can be completely blamed on the exhaustion brought on by the stress of the day, both emotional and physical." She looked at Nikki with her best puppy dog eyes and gave her a big blink. When the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, Nikki began to laugh. Alex was startled at how much the laugh changed the woman before her. The stress fell away revealing her true beauty. She immediately wanted to make her laugh again. Just then her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and quickly answered. "Hello."
"Hello Alex, this is Dani. Is…is that my sister?" Dani asked as she heard Nikki laughing.
"Yes, it is." She couldn’t help but smile as she watched Nikki wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.
"I haven’t heard her laugh like that in a long time. You’re good for her. She needs a friend like you." Alex didn’t know what to say and the silence hung heavy for a moment. "I was just calling to see if you were ready for some company."
"Yeah, that would be great." She looked over at Nikki and saw her curious expression. "I hate to ask, but would you mind doing me a favor?"
"Hey no problem, Alex. What do you need?"
"Any chance you can stop and pick up a T-shirt or two, and either some shorts or pajama bottoms?" she asked. "I don’t have anything here to wear, and they want me to start physical therapy tomorrow. I’ll pay you back. I just can’t stand this damn gown any longer."
Dani laughed. "Don’t worry about it. We’ll find something for you. If you’re doing therapy, you’re going to need more than just T-shirts aren’t you? You’ve been well covered every time I’ve seen you, so I don’t know for sure, but I’ve gotten the impression you are not exactly flat as a board."
"You’re right, I’m quite the opposite actually." They briefly discussed sizes and styles while Nikki stared out the window. "Thanks, Dani." She hung up the phone and looked at Nikki. "That was Dani. They’re going to get me something else to wear, but they should be here fairly soon. Will you please stay?"
Nikki frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't I?"
"It’s just that I’m…you seem…it’s…" Alex stammered.
Nikki smiled. "Just spit it out already."
Alex looked away. "I’m probably misreading things." She looked back at Nikki who looked at her expectantly. She sighed, opened her mouth, and then quickly closed it again. She watched as Nikki raised one eyebrow, and waited quietly for her to continue. "It’s just that you seem a little uncomfortable around your sister. That’s all."
"I didn’t realize I was that transparent." Nikki stood and walked over to the window, staring out into the clear blue sky. "Does Dani know? Has she said something to you?" She looked back at Alex, fearful of the answer.
"I don’t know if she’s aware of it or not, but she hasn’t said anything to me. Then again it's not like we've really had any time to talk." She held her hand out to her. "Care to tell me about it?" she asked.
Nikki shrugged then walked towards the bed. "I had a rough time a while back. Dani and Rachel really helped me out. They took me in when I moved to town, and I’ve been living with them ever since." She sat down heavily in the visitor’s chair. "I’m sure I’ve overstayed my welcome, it’s just been difficult finding the time to get out and find my own place." When she looked up, Alex could see the pain in her eyes. "We lived apart for years, and there was always a part of me missing. While the circumstances of our reunion were unpleasant, I was just so happy to be near her again. Twins have a bond that most people will never understand."
They sat quietly for a moment before Alex finally spoke up. "Let me make sure I understand. You found that missing piece of yourself when you moved here near your sister, correct?" She watched Nikki nod then took a deep breath and said, "So tell me why you're pushing her away." She saw the disbelief on her face as she began to deny the accusation. "You are, Nikki. You're pushing her away and hurting you both in the process. Has she told you it’s time to find your own place?"
"No, she hasn’t."
"Then stop using that as an excuse." Alex watched as Nikki thought about what she’d said. "Enjoy what you have. Not everyone's as lucky as you are." They sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?" Nikki finally asked.
Alex shook off the memories. "Just thinking about buzzing Megan to come help get me into that chair." She pointed over to the wheelchair near the restroom.
Nikki stood and looked down at her, searching her face for a clue as to the true nature of her thoughts. Giving up she said, "How about I do that? I don’t mind." When Alex agreed, she pulled the chair close then leaned over the bed. "Put your arms around my neck." She quickly scooped her into her arms and turned to gently place her into the chair. "How’s that?" she asked.
Alex was surprised at how easily Nikki picked her up. "That’s perfect, thank you." Nikki smiled as she maneuvered the wheelchair closer before sitting back down. She
