Destiny's Wish Read Online Free PDF

the middle of the crummy motel room feeling more alone than ever before. She missed and longed for his touch, those soft caresses. It made her feel like she wasn’t the only one in this whole uphill battle against cancer.
    She wanted to curse her body for reacting to his touch; it was a betrayal in the most intimate way. With a deep breath she grabbed a box and headed to the car. She needed to get the stuff out of the room so she could get back to the hospital. It would put distance between them at least until tomorrow. Hopefully once she was at the house, he’d be working, she’d be looking for a rental, and when they were forced together Greta and Destiny would act as a buffer. No more intimate moments.
    “I can get these. Why don’t you check for anything that’s not packed?” He took the box from her and loaded it onto the back seat.
    “Who do you think loaded them into the car in the first place?”
    “I have no doubt you can do it. I only suggested that you didn’t have to.” He shut the car door. “You know me, I’m a true southern gentleman. I don’t like to see woman carrying heavy things. I open doors, pull out chairs, the whole nine yards.”
    She remembered that about him. The sweet way he made sure others were comfortable and how he would go out of his way to help. There had always been something about Brian that made her hope he would find the right woman, because he’d make a wonderful husband and father. Why he hadn’t been snatched up years ago, she didn’t know.

    The hour was late and the hospital was as peaceful as it could get. Nora sat with her legs curled up under her, next to her daughter’s bed, holding the last picture taken just hours before Jim deployed for the last time. Technically it was a picture of the three of them because she had been pregnant but hadn’t known it. The only one of its kind. Her thoughts turned to what her husband would have said if he knew she had almost kissed Brian.
    “You’d have a fit.” She ran her thumb over the picture. Only because if he was still alive I’d still be married.
    Now she was alone, a widow. He wasn’t there and it was time to move on. That didn’t mean she was moving on with Brian, or any other man right now, but her body was making it clear it had demands as well. She was focused on being a mother, but she had her own needs as well. She wasn’t sure when, but eventually she’d have to embrace the woman within that she had smothered when she lost her husband.
    When she decided it was time, it couldn’t be with Brian. He had been Jim’s best friend, and to her, he was off-limits. They could be friends, but she couldn’t let things go any further. Not only because of Jim, but also for the sake of her daughter. Stay focused.
    “Mommy…” Destiny rolled over onto her side.
    “What is it, sweetie? Is your stomach upset again?” She set the picture back on the bedside table and leaned forward.
    “Where did you go?”
    “I went to get the stuff from the hotel. Tomorrow we’re going to blow this joint and then on Friday we’re going to go swimming.” She touched the back of her hand to her daughter’s forehead just to make sure there was no fever.
    “Really?” Destiny pulled her teddy bear closer to her chest.
    “Yep. We’re going to stay with an old friend of mine. He’s a doctor here and he has a pool in his house. Won’t it be nice to get out of here?”
    “Can we have pizza then?” The little girl’s eyes glistened.
    “Sure we can, anything you want.” She tucked the blanket around Destiny. “Now get some sleep.”
    “Mommy, what about my sickness? Am I all better?”
    “Not yet, sweetie.” It pained her to say it but she wouldn’t lie to her daughter. “Doctor Mathews is going to make you all better. One more day here while they run a few more tests and then we break free.”
    “Then I’ll be all better?”
    “Then next week you’ll start getting medicine to make you feel better.” She pushed