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put a little weight back on my horse, discovering a magic potion to keep the rest of the leaves from falling off my dwarf citrus tree, and—” she sighed—“getting my sister solidly on her feet after all the problems she’s gone through these past months.”
    Leigh saw the empathy in her friend’s eyes and reminded herself that anything she said would remain confidential—chaplain or not. It was the kind of person Riley was. “The drinking was only a symptom. Getting her into a counseling program and convincing her to start the mood-stabilizing medication is what’s really made a difference. I’m so grateful that the hospital granted a leave of absence. Between inpatient and outpatient treatment, it was over four months, and I wasn’t sure they’d hold her job in the lab, but—”
    Riley nudged Leigh. “There she is.”
    Leigh shaded her eyes and looked. It was Caroline. Hard to miss in the bright purple scrubs assigned to the phlebotomists. And because she was—had been since the day she was born—so astoundingly beautiful. As tall, willowy, and angular as Leigh was petite and curvy; broad forehead, wide-set gray eyes, and cheekbones that belonged on a New York fashion runway. Exactly what their mother had pushed for so ruthlessly. Caro had been as troubled as she was beautiful for as long as Leigh could remember. It worsened in the months that Leigh was living in Pacific Point.
    “I’m glad you don’t have to make that commute anymore, and that you’re both back at your house,” Riley added. “It’s good you came home to help her, Leigh.”
    “Nick came and got me.” Her chest constricted at the memory of Nick in the chapel at Pacific Mercy Hospital. She’d thought he’d come to talk her out of the divorce and had been ready to tell him to go away, to stop trying to change her mind. And then he’d explained about her twenty-three-year-old half sister. The DUI, her night in jail. He’d taken her home to the house— “our house” —and had one of her nurse friends stay with her. His plan was to get her into a respected treatment facility in Sausalito and finally have an evaluation for her increasing bouts of depression and mood swings. He’d been deeply concerned. And completely right. She’s better because of him, not me.
    “Nick’s always thought of her as his sister. Always stuck by her. And . . .” Leigh’s eyes moved back to where Caro stood, leaning against the brick wall of the hospital. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “He still is.”
    Nick walked out of the ER doors and joined her sister.
    +++
    “Hi.” Nick stopped a few feet from where Caroline leaned against the building. The last time he’d seen his sister-in-law, she’d been in pretty bad shape emotionally. Not that he would have expected much else after she’d spent the night in jail for hitting a parked car while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene. And then being released into the custody of the brother-in-law who’d betrayed her sister. He’d talked to her a few times on the phone during her stay in Sausalito. Knew that Leigh was trying to get her interested in going back to college, maybe even pursuing a nursing career, but . . . “Long time, no see,” he said tentatively.
    “Yes, well—” Caroline met his gaze—“not my fault you’re living somewhere else.”
    He hid his flinch. Nice shot, little sister. There was no bulletproof vest for this situation. He hadn’t known what to expect from her—she’d always been capricious, moody—but what he saw now, despite the medication, looked like hurt wrapped in anger. Not that he didn’t deserve it.
    “No, it isn’t your fault. It’s mine.” He studied her face for a moment, thin as always, small shadows under her dove gray eyes. She’d been through a lot, he could tell, and it took all he had not to put his arms around her, tell her if she needed anything, he’d be there for her. But hugging his sister-in-law wasn’t an option