A Mother's Heart Read Online Free PDF

of police. I understand you’re claiming to be Sammy Farraday’s father.”
    Sam nodded. “Sam Holt,” he said, offering his hand. The police chief hesitated, then shook it.
    “I don’t suppose you have any proof of your claim?” Fite asked.
    “I didn’t even know Sammy existed until two, no, three days ago…when I got a call from my mother telling me about the video.”
    “How could you not know about the video? It’s been on the national news for almost a week now,” Fite countered.
    “I’m a troubleshooter for an oil company. I work all over the world. For the last eight months, I’ve been in Amman, Jordan.” Then he pulled out the picture his mother had given him. “Here, maybe this will help,” he said, and handed the police chief the photo.
    “If you didn’t know about Sammy, then where did you get a picture of him?” Fite asked.
    “That’s not Sammy Farraday. It’s me,” Sam said.
    “Lord have mercy,” Fite said, handing the photo to the doctor. “Talk about cloning yourself.”
    “I agree there’s quite a resemblance,” Doctor Livingston said. “But you understand our concerns.”
    “Take any tests you need to take. Make any calls you need to make. Here’s a list of phone numbers…my employer, my banker, even my preacher from back home. They’ll all vouch for me. Just please let me see Libby. I’ve been looking for her for over eight years.”
    A nurse standing nearby burst into tears. “Just like in the movies,” she wailed, and then hurried away.
    “I guess a visit would be all right,” the doctor said.
    “I’ll go in with him,” Fite offered.
    Sam glared. “If you tell me not to, I won’t even touch her. I promise. Just let me see her. I need to tell her that I’m sorry. I need to tell her I’ll take care of her and of Sammy. I just need her to know I’m here!”
    Now they were surrounded by onlookers, waiting to see what would happen next.
    Livingston nodded. “Yes, of course, but not for long. She is in ICU and the visiting is strictly limited for reasons I am sure you can understand.”
    Sam sighed. “For whatever time you’ll allow me, I thank you.”
    Moments later, he was walking through a pair of double doors and into a ward. The constant beep of machines monitoring vitals was unnerving.
    “Where is she?” he asked, scanning the ward for a sign of the woman he’d known.
    “That’s her over there,” Dr. Livingston said, pointing to the bed against the wall.
    Sam started walking, but the closer he got, the faster his heart began to beat. By the time he reached the side of her bed, it was hammering.
    “Most of the swelling is gone,” the doctor said. “The bruising is fading, too. There were a couple of places on her face that had to be stitched, but as you can see, the stitches have already been removed and are healing nicely. In time, you won’t be able to see them. She had broken ribs, but they’re healing, as well.”
    “Why hasn’t she woken up?” Sam asked.
    “Her worst injuries were head injuries. Her brain was swollen, although that’s subsided, too. To be honest, we’re not sure why she hasn’t woken up. All signs point to the possibility of that happening at any time. But you also need to understand that, when she does, we have no way of knowing what she’ll remember or if she’ll remember anything. Amnesia is a big possibility.”
    “Lord have mercy,” Sam whispered as he stared at Libby’s face. She looked the same, and yet she was different. Eight years had come and gone, changing the young girl of twenty to a woman of twenty-eight. Then he looked at the doctor. “Can I touch her?”
    The doctor nodded. “Sammy pats her hand when he visits. And he talks to her nonstop the nurses say.”
    That image was more than Sam could bear. “Could I have a couple of minutes alone?”
    Dr. Livingston nodded. “Make it brief. We’re already breaking rules to let you in.”
    Sam nodded and, as the doctor walked away, leaned down and