The Amish Heirloom Collection by Amy Clipston

Author:Amy Clipston [Clipston, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2017-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

MIKE STOOD BY THE WALL-LENGTH HOSPITAL WINDOWS IN the ICU waiting room and stared out at the setting sun. Although he preferred to stay with Dat, the nurse had told Mike he had to leave so they could run tests and administer medicine.

It had been a long and grueling day. He’d brought John to the hospital this morning to see Dat, but he didn’t tell John it was to say good-bye. Instead, he explained that it would help Dat if he heard their voices while he was sleeping. John talked to Dat as if they were sharing a meal. The enthusiasm in John’s voice had broken Mike’s heart.

After John visited with Dat, Mike asked Janie to take John home, away from the anxiety and sadness that hung over the family like a dark cloud. Then he spent the day sitting with his father, hoping for a sign that he was going to wake up. Although the doctor insisted things weren’t going to get any better, Mike couldn’t agree to turning off the ventilator. He couldn’t give up hope for a miracle. Not yet.

Urgent voices and footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Mike tried to tune them out. He leaned his forehead against the cool glass and closed his eyes. Even though he hadn’t slept much since Friday night, his body continued to buzz with adrenaline. He felt as if he were walking through a horrible dream and couldn’t wake up.

“Mike.” Sam appeared at Mike’s shoulder. “How are you?”

Mike opened his eyes and stood up straight. “I’m not sure how to answer that question.” He rubbed his eyes. “I guess I’m numb.”

Sam’s frown deepened. “I think you need to go home and get some sleep.”

Mike gritted his teeth as frustration coursed through him. “I really wish everyone would stop saying that to me. I need to be here. If I’m at home, then I’ll want to be here.”

“Fine.” Sam blew out a sigh. “Then let me buy you something to eat. You have to be hungry. When was the last time you ate?”

Mike rubbed his chin where stubble had appeared. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten a full meal or the last time he’d shaved. He was certain he looked like a derelict. “I had a few bites of oatmeal this morning.”

“My point exactly.” Sam made a sweeping gesture toward the hallway. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

Mike glanced over to where Aenti Sylvia, Onkel Tim, Mandy, and Marie sat staring absently at the evening news coming from the television above them.

“They’ll let us know if we need to come back.” Sam grabbed Mike’s arm and began to nudge him toward the doorway.

As they stepped into the hallway, Mike heard a commotion and loud voices sounding from the other end of the hallway. A loud noise like a blaring alarm sounded.

Someone hollered, “Clear!”

He heard more noise and voices, and then the commotion suddenly stopped.

The floor dropped out from under Mike as icy chills slithered up his spine. He bolted for his father’s room.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.