James seemed to think seriously about her words and then replied, “Maybe it’s fate. Fate threw us together and made me fall in love with you. I don’t know the end of our story, but I’m thankful that fate let us meet.”

Then he added gently, “I’m not forcing you to accept me. You don’t have to accept me because of what I have done for you.”

“I have cancer,” Estelle said. “Maybe I will die at any time.”

“I don’t care. And you can rest assured. I will take care of your ...