Sisters

Sisters
Nancy Robards Thompson

Two halves of a wholeOnce, long ago, Skye and Summer had looked so much alike that no one could tell the twin sisters apart. Now there was barely a trace of a resemblance. Once, the two of them had been huddled together against a world that neither one of them could deal with alone. Now they hadn't seen each other for years.But it was time for them to get together once more–for Skye Woods and Summer Russo were on the road again. And this time they're in search of their other sister, Jane–the piece of the puzzle that, once inserted, might finally just make their family whole.Not normal, mind you. But whole…

“You can’t leave. You just got here.”

Oh, yeah? Watch me. I long to say the words, but my throat feels like it’s closing up.

“How can you do this, Summer?” Skye glares at me, her chin jutting forward. “I cannot believe you’re leaving….” She puts her hands on her temples, like the drama queen she is. “No, wait, yes, I can. It’s just like you to hightail it when things are tough.”

Oh. I’m tempted to slug her. My mouth is so dry, but I manage to choke out, “Now you wait just a minute.”

Skye throws up her hands. “Go your merry way and leave it all to me. You are undoubtedly the most selfish woman I’ve ever known.”

All I can think of as I watch her walk away is No one knows you like a sister.

Unless your sister doesn’t know you at all.

Nancy Robards Thompson

Award-winning author Nancy Robards Thompson is a sister, wife and mother who has lived the majority of her life south of the Mason-Dixon line. As the oldest sibling, she reveled in her ability to make her brother laugh at inappropriate moments and soon learned she could get away with it by proclaiming, “What? I wasn’t doing anything.” It’s no wonder that upon graduating from college with a degree in journalism, she discovered that reporting “just the facts” bored her silly. Since hanging up her press pass to write novels full-time, critics have deemed her books “…funny, smart and observant.” She loves chocolate, champagne, cats and art (though not necessarily in that order). When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking and doing yoga.

Sisters

Nancy Robards Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

From the Author

Dear Reader,

Before I started writing fiction full-time, I worked as a reporter for a Central Florida business newspaper. While there, I wrote a story about a local chef who’d organized a food bank that served the area’s homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Talking to him was a real eye-opener. He pointed out that in many cases people don’t choose homelessness because they’re lazy, that often mental illness plays a large role in the downward spiral that lands someone on the streets.

In my book Sisters, which is adapted from my manuscript that won the 2002 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award, a mother and her twin daughters set out on a road trip to find the youngest sister, who ran away from home when she was sixteen and chose to live on the streets despite numerous offers of family help. In the process, they confess secrets that heal wounds that have kept them apart for years and discover how compassion and understanding can lead to a richer purpose in life.

I hope you are inspired by their journey and that life brings you many blessings.

Warmly,

Nancy Robards Thompson

This book is dedicated to my wonderful brother,

Jay Robards, whose gentle ways and compassionate heart

set an example we should all live by. Thanks for helping me

with the details of homelessness and shelters.

Jay, your work changes lives. I am so proud of you.

Thanks to Gail Chasan and Tara Gavin for seeing

the vision in my work; and to Michelle Grajkowski for your

sage advice and unwavering support.

Thanks to my father, Jim Robards, for mapping

out the route from Florida to Missouri.

Thanks to Robin Trimble and Susan Pettegrew for educating me on the ups and downs of bipolar disorder.

Thanks to Pamela LaBud for teaching me

about coma recovery.

Deepest appreciation to Brock and Sarah McClane

for input on fractures.

Love and thanks to Teresa Brown, Kathy Garbera,

Elizabeth Grainger, Catherine Kean and

Mary Louise Wells for reading chapters at a moment’s notice,

for helping me when I’ve plotted myself into a corner

and for your constant friendship.

As always, deepest love to Michael and Jennifer.

You make my life complete.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6