But when Mom knelt and said hello, little Gabriella gave the softest, shyest little smile.
She clutched a stuffed rabbit.
« Hi, sweetheart, » Mom said, her voice cracking. « Aren’t you the prettiest thing? »
Gabriella hid her face in the rabbit.
Ellie watched her for a long moment, then looked up at all of us with an expression I didn’t recognize.
« There’s something you should know, » she said quietly. « Gabriella has stage 4 cancer. The doctors have given her about a year. Even with treatment. »
Ellie watched her for a long moment.
Dad set his coffee down so slowly I could hear the ceramic touch the wood.
« Ellie, » Mom whispered.
My sister just smiled.
Continue on the next page:
