A Heartbeat Away Read Online Free PDF Page A

clinician.
    From the bed, she decided to see him as his patients did. Professional. Cool. He wasn’t rough on the eyes either, his brown hair just beginning to curl and touch the top of his white coat. From her position, he looked tall. This one was strong, strong enough to bear the stories of hundreds of cancer victims. He wasn’t exactly warm. In fact, in his demeanor, he’d been detached. Even in their most intimate moments, he’d remained a safe pick, never probing. Never caring?
    â€œI didn’t come while you were in the ICU. Knew you’d be needing your private time.”
    How efficient. Like me?
    He inspected the flowers, lifting open a little card. Checking for competition, Jarrod?
    â€œHow are you?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s weird.” She laid her hand across her breast. “This heart was someone else’s. I find myself thinking about her.”
    He let it pass. “Your nurse told me you’ve been up walking.”
    She nodded. “Every day a little more.” She motioned to him. “Hold my hand.”
    He squinted at her. They’d never been much for this sort of tenderness. He sat on her bed and took her hand. His was warm. She curled her fingers into his and took a deep breath.
    He tried to fill the silence with words. “When will they let you out?”
    â€œShh. Just be quiet and hold my hand.”
    â€œListen, I—”
    â€œShh. We can communicate without talking.”
    He stood up and pulled away. “Where’d that come from?”
    She smiled. “Don’t know.” She paused. “Not sure I care. I know it’s different for me, but I think I’m okay with a little change.”
    He wrinkled his nose. “A little?” He smoothed the lapels on his starched white coat. “Look—I’m on rounds. My team is in the hall.”
    â€œBoy, aren’t you the efficient one, combining a visit to your old girl and rounding at the same time?”
    â€œTori, it’s not like that.”
    â€œIsn’t it?” She sighed. “Go on.”
    He looked at her, backing away. It was a look of wonder. Surprise perhaps, the look you give to a child who just quoted Einstein. “Good to see you, Tori. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
    She nodded, but inside felt her heart leap to follow him. She wanted more than the polite conversation of strangers. She wanted to tell him things she’d never shared. She knew it was new territory, but she wanted to share her feelings . She wanted him to know about the nightmares, her fears, and about the number.
    She’d felt something else when he held her hand. She’d been giving him strength, a tender touch of unspoken communication. Love.

4
    â€œWow, you were incredible out there. Where’d you learn to play like that?”
    Christian Mitchell looked up into the prettiest green eyes and smiled back. “Africa. I played a lot of street ball growing up.”
    The girl pushed blonde bangs away from her face and held out her hand. “I’m Emily. Emily Greene.”
    He nodded. Everyone knew Emily.
    â€œI heard your family was from Africa. Your dad was a doctor or something, right?”
    â€œSomething,” he said, echoing her words. “A surgeon.”
    â€œYou live on the Cassady farm, right?”
    He nodded, unsure why this popular beauty would want to talk to him.
    â€œThey’re letting us stay there while my parents are on furlough.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Furlough?”
    He didn’t want to use the m word with her. As soon as he said “missionary,” most of his new acquaintances found a reason to move on. “My parents work for a service agency in Africa. When we get time off in America, they call it furlough.”
    â€œNice.” She wiped her brow. “I’m a mess. We just finished volleyball practice.”
    She looked anything but a mess to Christian. He wasn’t sure