Healing Tides by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer [Richer, Lois]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-11-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Two-twenty a.m.

The hours GloryAnn had spent in Honolulu with Jared yesterday seemed a distant memory as she sat by Sister Phil’s bedside monitoring the slow rasping respiration. When the gnarled fingers lying in hers suddenly gripped, she began praying.

Sister Phil was not due for medication for another three hours. To increase it this early was not an option.

“Tell me what you and Jared did?”

Glory obliged by painting word pictures of the day, hoping to take the older woman’s attention off her suffering.

“So in the end you never did get to wear your new dress.” Sister Phil’s sweet smile flickered to life. “Oh, well. You can wear it next time Jared takes you out.”

“I don’t think that will happen, Sister. I’m here to work.” It was ridiculous how much she wanted another afternoon with him.

“He’s a fine man, Glory. His heart is so big.”

“I know.”

“He thinks locking himself up here will make it easier to deal with his loss. But true healing only comes when you let go of the pain, reach beyond it to give of yourself.”

Silence stretched. Glory leaned back, let her eyes droop closed.

“You could help him see past his anger, GloryAnn.”

“No. I came to learn his grafting technique so I could practice it when I return home. Only, he won’t do it anymore. Not since that little boy died.”

“He blames himself.” Sister accepted a sip of water then lay back against the pillow, her frail body too weary to hold her up. “He’s lost so much.”

Emotions had twisted Glory’s heart ever since Jared had dropped her off at her cottage. Now they came pouring out.

“When he’s not pushing himself to exhaustion, he’s really fun. He loves the children, though he tries not to let them get behind his barriers. He works harder than anyone to make sure they get every opportunity they need, receive the best care he can give.”

“But?”

“But I can’t allow any personal feelings because in five months I’ll leave here, return to the Arctic, as I promised I would. That’s the calling God placed on my heart, why I have to focus on my patients.”

Sister Phil fought her way through a coughing fit, proof that her lungs were not functioning optimally. “What else?”

“Rest,” Glory ordered, worried by the pallor of her skin.

“No. Tell me—the rest.”

“Bennie. He has no family but—I feel like I’m his family. Like he’s my son. Isn’t that silly?” Tears tumbled over her cheeks. Glory ignored them. “I tried to stay away, to be strictly professional when I’m with him, but I can’t do it.”

Glory pulled her bag near, tugged out the things she’d bought.

“Look. We were in the market yesterday and all I could think was, ‘Bennie would love this. Wouldn’t Bennie get a kick out of playing with this?’” She shook her head. “I was going to give them to him tonight. I actually considered waking him just to see his eyes light up. Isn’t that crazy?”

“That’s love.”

“Of course I love him. But I can’t adopt Bennie. Even if I had time to care for him, I’m leaving.

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