Page 120 of At the Heart of It
“For what that show stands for, at least in Kate’s mind. The power of love. The power of positive thinking. The power of not giving up on relationships or people.”
He shook his head. “You’re giving her too much credit.”
“And you’re not giving her enough,” Jossy snapped. “You want to know why you’re really so pissed?”
“Not particularly.”
“Because you love her.”
“No.” Jonah shook his head.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Jossy stood up and grabbed the bowl of pretzels. Before Jonah could say anything, she’d upended the entire thing on his head. He sat there, dumbstruck, as twisted bits of pretzel tumbled into his lap.
“You did not just do that,” he said.
“Damn right I did.” She glared down at his crumb-speckled head. “Seriously, people pay for your relationship insights and communication skills? You’re talking like a petulant toddler.”
“Do as I say, not as I do,” he muttered, shaking a trio of pretzels off his sleeve.
Jossy shook her head. “There’s no way you’d be this upset if you hadn’t fallen for her.”
He started to argue, but stopped himself. Did she have a point? Pissed as he was, could he at least acknowledge that much?
“Maybe,” he muttered.
“So you admit it,” Jossy said. “You fell for her.”
“So? It’s a moot point now anyway.”
“Because you’re walking away from the show?”
“That’s right.” Jonah started to rake his hands through his hair again before remembering his head was covered in pretzel dust. He sighed and dropped his useless fists into his lap. “I don’t know.”
“What if I said I wanted you to stick it out?” Jossy said softly. “That I really want that prosthetic leg? That I want you to do whatever it takes to get it for me.”
Jonah felt his heart quiver. He turned and looked at his sister. “Do you?”
She stared at him for such a long time that Jonah thought she might not answer again. “Maybe.”
It was a start. “Then I’ll do whatever it takes to get it for you.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.” He meant it, too. If she wanted him to lie down on hot coals or stick paper clips under his fingernails or?—
“Go back to the show,” she said. “Give Kate a chance.”
He stared at her. “Give her a chance with the show,” he said carefully.
“With the show,” she agreed.
