Where She Belongs by Johnnie Alexander

Author:Johnnie Alexander [Alexander, Johnnie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042040, FIC027270, FIC027020
ISBN: 9781493401741
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

– 24 –

AJ stepped off the elevator carrying two Starbucks travel mugs. When he walked into Jonah’s room, Meghan gave him a brief smile.

“I hope you still drink caramel lattes.”

“You remembered?”

“Hey, I spent a fortune on these things back in the day.” When her face clouded over, he quickly added, “Not that I ever minded.”

“I like the mug.”

“Easier to handle than those disposable cups.”

“Thank you.”

He stood by Jonah’s bed and gingerly caressed the back of the boy’s hand between his bandaged fingers and the intravenous needle. His skin was cool beneath AJ’s fingers.

“Did he have a good night?”

“Nothing’s changed, if that’s what you mean.”

“What about you? How did you sleep?”

“About the same as usual.”

“In other words, not well.” Whoever did in a hospital? At least the room had bench seating along the wall that folded out into a bed.

“Why don’t we trade places tonight? Let me stay here, and you go to the hotel. Get a good night’s sleep.”

“I can’t leave Jonah.”

“I promise I’ll call you if anything happens.”

“What if he wakes up and I’m not here?” She shook her head. “I won’t leave him.”

“I just want you to take care of yourself too, Meghan. To let me take care of you.”

“I know you mean well. But don’t push the father stuff, okay?”

“No pushing.” At least not yet.

Praying she wouldn’t oppose his plan to move Jonah to the children’s hospital, he sipped his coffee. “Has the doctor been here yet?”

“Only the hospitalist.”

“‘Hospitalist’? That’s a new one.”

“He oversees everybody else. Kind of like making sure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing.”

“Sorry I missed him.”

“He’ll be back.” She fidgeted with the lid on her mug. “Would you mind doing something for me?”

“Anything.”

“I have a couple of phone calls to make, and the service seems to be spotty in here. I won’t be gone long.”

“Take as long as you need. I’ll be here.”

“You won’t leave him?”

“Cross my heart.”

She smiled her thanks and swung a large tote onto her shoulder. “There’s a seating area at the end of this corridor. If anyone stops in, come get me.”

He grinned. “That’d be breaking my promise not to leave Jonah.”

“Only exception.”

“Got it.”

After she left, he pulled a chair close to the bed and clasped Jonah’s small hand in his. “Hey there, sport,” he whispered. “We haven’t been officially introduced yet, and I imagine your mom doesn’t want me saying too much. But I want you to know I’m here. And I’m going to do everything I can to help you get better.”

His voice cracked, and his eyes misted. “I’m here for you, Jonah. For you and your mom. And I won’t leave you ever again.”

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.