Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

clenched in anger, never raised in frustration. Always loving, always comforting. She rubbed her left hand and raised it to her lips kissing it gently.
    “Remember what I said to you earlier, Aoife. This is your time.”
    Aoife nodded at her, her forehead creased in a frown. Rory knelt down beside the wheelchair.
    “Are you frightened, Aoife?”
    His heart broke when she nodded quickly.
    “Look at me, Aoife. Don’t be afraid. We’ll be here for you the minute you wake up. We’ll be thinking of you and sending every good intention, when you’re awake and feel better I’ll bring you a cupcake. A homemade one.”  
    Aoife laughed. “I’m not twelve years old anymore, Ror.”
    “Ah, I know.”
    “Will you make one with chocolate frosting?” she asked grinning.
    “Sure what else would I make it with? It has to be chocolate you know, or else it’s not a real cupcake.”
    She giggled at him and he kissed her softly on each cheek. Rory was the most gentle of them all. He hid it well, only allowing those closest to him to see his vulnerability. Oh he was cut-throat in business, she had witnessed that many times. He was competitive and a natural born winner who didn’t suffer failure or fools gladly. But his soul was pure and good, he was a protector through and through and she loved him fiercely. He released her hand and stepped back to allow the nurse access to the wheelchair. The transplant co-ordinator smiled at them.
    “Okay O’Malleys, it’s time to go. Aoife, we’ll take you up to the observation ward first and get you ready to go to theatre. Your family can wait in room three; we’ll be done in a few hours. A nurse will keep you posted on Aoife’s progress."
    Granny O’Malley spoke up suddenly.
    “Wait! Just one second, please. Everyone hold hands for a little prayer.” Annie and Rian started to groan and grumble and both were thrown a look that immediately silenced them.
    “Heathens too. Come on, Annie and Rian.”
    Annie and Rian gave each other a grin, but acquiesced all the same.
    They formed a small circle around Aoife and held each other’s hands tightly.
    “Go ahead mammy,” Gearóid O’Malley said to the older woman, his face pained and drawn.
    “Lord, we ask you to protect our Aoife this evening and hold her in the palm of your hand. Bless her and keep her safe from harm. We need her here with us and ask that you make her well again. Your creation is perfection and we love and serve you alone.
    We also pray for the soul of the person who so selflessly gave of him or herself. They shall forever be a part of our family. We will think of them often and praise their generosity. You have seen fit to take them from this earthly plain and we ask you to hold them close to you. To give peace to their family and friends. Thank you. Amen.”
    A chorus of Amen followed and the family held each other closely as Aoife was led away.
    Rory waited until she was through the double doors before he let out his breath. He turned his face towards his dad and smiled. April twenty third, a day they would never forget.

    Cass let out a breath as she left the hospital, her face upturned to the spring sunshine. She looked around at the cars, moving in streams up and down the main road. Life continued as if nothing momentous had just happened. Surely there should be some sign, some indication that this beautiful soul had left the earth. She felt like screaming at the sun for shining, at the world for turning, at herself for living. Everything was joyless and empty now. April twenty third, a day they would never forget.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    (Cass)
    Three years later
    Three things hardest to understand;
    The mind of a woman,
    the work of bees,
    the coming and going of the tide.
    Irish proverb.
    C ass stretched her arms over her head and yawned loudly into the mirror. Her large breasts rose up about three inches.
    “See, see! That’s where you should be