About two months later, Elise received a phone call. She was leaving work, so she didn’t bother looking at the display before answering, too busy loading her stuff into her car, “Hello?”

“Elise, this is your father.”

As if she didn’t know her own dad’s voice, no matter how long it had been since she talked to him.

“Dad?”

He cleared his throat. “I would like you to come to lunch this coming Sunday after church.”

Elise didn’t miss the fact that he had said, I, and not, Your mother and I.

“Sure, Dad. I’ll be there. Is Kristen coming?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t called her yet.”

Elise closed her eyes, so grateful that he wasn’t going to ignore his other daughter. She opened her eyes and realized she was still standing outside her car with the door open.

“Is Mom okay with this?” she asked as she got behind the wheel.

“She will be.”

Great.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s my house, and I’m inviting you.”

For someone who lived by the Bible, her mom really did usually wear the pants in the relationship.

“Thanks, Dad. What time should I be there?”

“Noon, sharp.”

“See you then.” Elise ended the call and rang Luke right away.

Sunday rolled around, and Kristen picked up Elise before they drove off to their parents’. They’d decided it would be better for them to show up together, as a united front.

“What do you think’s going to happen today?” Kristen said.

“I have no idea,” Elise said.

The two of them had had variations of this same conversation many times this week.

“The anticipation is killing me. I could barely eat breakfast this morning,” Elise said.

“Oh, I know. Me either. And I have a feeling we’re not going to eat lunch either.”

Elise snickered. “You’re probably right. But maybe we’ll feel better when it’s all over. What’s the worst that could happen? I’m sure we’re already out of the will.”

Kristen laughed. “Agreed. Let’s go do our own thing if it ends badly.”

“It’s a deal.”

“Did Dad even tell you happy birthday?”

“Nope.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah.”

Neither of her parents had made contact with her on her birthday. Elise was trying not to let it bother her, but it still hurt after two months.

When they got to their parents’ house, their dad let them in. He looked good, and Elise was itching for some news on his cancer. She might be mad at her parents, but they were still her parents, and she loved them.

Their father led them into the living room where their mother was already waiting. She sat on the sofa, hands clasped, and was so tense that she looked like she might break if someone touched her.

“Sit, girls,” their father said as he sat next to his wife.

Elise and Kristen each took an armchair across from them. They exchanged a look.

Elise said what both of them were thinking, “What’s going on?”

Their mom started crying, and their father patted her arm.

“Girls, the cancer’s spread.”

Elise jumped to her feet. “What? But I thought they were getting it.”

“Peanut, please sit.”

Elise did somewhat reluctantly.

“We all thought I was doing well, but my latest scan showed the cancer has gotten worse.”

Their mother pulled out a handkerchief and covered her face as she cried harder.

“Oh, Daddy,” Kristen said.

“How-how much time do you have?” Elise asked.

“Six months to a year.”

With that news, the three women in her father’s life were crying in the living room.

Elise and Kristen rushed over and gave both their parents a hug. Elise saw her mom hesitate for just a moment before she hugged her tight.

When they had gotten the majority of their tears out, their father announced that it was time to eat.

“Dad, how do you expect us to eat at a time like this?” Elise asked.

“Because I’m a dying man, and it’s what I want. Every Sunday from now on. And you can bring your Luke, and you can bring”—he fluttered his hand around as he looked at Kristen, as if trying to find the word—“your girlfriend.”

“Actually, she’s my fiancée,” Kristen said.

Elise squealed. “Yay, I’m so excited for you,” she said, giving her sister a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kristen laughed and hugged her back. “Thank you. It just happened last night. I wanted to tell you in person.”

The two sisters pulled apart and looked at their parents.

Her father cleared his throat. “We’re happy for you, too.”

Kristen looked skeptical. “Why the change of heart?”

“Because I’m not going to live forever, and I don’t want to miss out on anything by being a stubborn fool.” He grabbed his wife’s hand. “And I don’t want your mother to be alone after I’m gone.”

“Oh, Ward,” she said.

“Mom won’t be alone,” Elise said. “We’ll be here for her.”

“That’s right,” Kristen said.

For the first time, their mom looked at them with a tentative smile.

Could their mom be ashamed of how she had treated them and that was why she hadn’t looked at them until now? Because she thought her daughters were mad at her?

“I made your favorite, girls. Chicken and dumplings,” their mom said.

“Oh my, that sounds delicious,” Elise said.

“I can’t wait to eat,” added Kristen.

“Let’s go to the kitchen then,” their father said.

The four of them sat down at the table where Elise and Kristen had grown up and held hands to pray.

Elise spit out her toothpaste. “And then, Luke, my mother apologized. To both of us.” She rinsed her toothbrush in the sink and put it in the toothbrush holder. “I apologized for some of the things I said, and then they told me they were sorry they missed my birthday. I think I’m still in shock,” she finished as she walked out of the bathroom. “The best part was, I don’t think they even noticed my nose.”

Luke chuckled. “That’s amazing, babe. I’m so happy for you guys. You both deserve it,” he said from his spot on the bed. He was wearing boxers and a T-shirt and was reading a medical journal.

The first time she’d seen him doing that, she’d told him that he didn’t have to impress her with his smarts anymore. He’d replied that he actually found them interesting.

She remembered back to the night she and Luke had first slept together and how she liked brains in a man. She still did. But a medical journal? Bo-ring.

Elise changed into her pajamas and lay down on her side of the bed. She and Luke had been together long enough now for her to have a side, which made her smile inside. She rolled onto her stomach as Luke set his reading material down.

“I’m sorry about your father though,” Luke said as he slipped down on the bed beside her.

“Me, too. I’m sad about the things he’s going to miss. My wedding day. He won’t get to walk me down the aisle. He’ll never get to meet my kids.” She scrunched her pillow up under her head, so she’d have something else to do besides cry.

“Well, how about we take care of one of those things? And we can try really hard to start working on the second.”

Elise laid her head back down. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s get married. He can walk you down the aisle and be at your wedding. And then we can try for the baby-making. Unfortunately, I can’t speed up that process.”

Elise got up on her forearms. “Are you serious?” She held her breath as she waited for him to answer.

“Yeah, babe. Sorry, science has come a long way, but babies still take nine months. Ten, if you’re counting weeks.”

Elise pursed her lips and playfully pushed him. “You are such a tease.”

Luke caught her arm and pulled her over him. “Yes, I’m serious. I was going to ask you anyway—although a little more romantically—but I think we should do it.”

Elise kissed Luke, and they rolled around on the bed as the kiss turned hot.

Just when she was about to take off their clothes, Luke drew away. “Does that mean yes?”

Oh, yeah. She’d forgotten to answer because she was so in love with this man that she’d skipped to the celebrating.

“That’s a hell yes.”

Luke laughed. “Good. Now, I have something for you.”

There was no way he’d bought a ring yet. He’d had no idea her father had gotten sicker.

“Okay,” she said.

“Prop the pillows up and lie back.”

Elise did as he’d asked while Luke grabbed the TV and DVD remotes. She had no idea what he was up to.

“You didn’t tape us having sex, and now, you’re showing me the video, did you?”

Luke cough-laughed. “No, but now, you’ve given me an idea.”

“I don’t know if I’d like watching myself, but I would definitely love watching you.”

Luke just looked at her with amazement.

“What?”

“How’d I get so lucky?”

“It’s because you think like that. That’s why we’re blessed. Don’t ever change.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Luke settled back, and Elise curled up next to him.

“Are you ready, Lise?” He made it sound so serious.

Elise giggled. “Yep.”

Luke hit play on the DVD remote, so the movie already started playing before he turned on the TV.

And the tears came back as Elise saw the opening credits of Love Actually. Luke really had been thinking about marriage before she told him about her father because he’d once told her that he’d only watch this movie with his future wife.

Elise sniffled.

Luke asked, “You okay, babe?”

She kissed his neck. “Yes. I just love you so much.”

“I love you, too. Now, let’s watch this movie, and as we go, you can explain to me why it’s your favorite.”

And they did.

The best part? Luke loved it, too.