The Push: A Sequel to The Pull Read Free Page A

back.”
    “Sean, you don’t have to stay here.”
    “I know it,” Sean replied. “But I want to be here for you. You need someone.”
    I swallowed and placed my hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been so kind to me, Sean. I can’t express to you how appreciative I am.”
    “You don’t have to thank me.”
    I pressed my lips together. “Go on home. I’ll be here for a long time, and I don’t want you waiting on me. My husband’s little brother is flying in. Knowing him, he’ll be here as fast as he can, so please go home and get some rest. I’ll be okay.”
    The older man slowly nodded his head. “Okay, then.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “You take care of yourself and that little one, too, you hear?”
    “Thank you.”
    The nurse popped up beside me again. “If you’re ready, I’ll take you to Mr. Thorne now. I’m going right past his room,” she offered.
    I didn’t know what to expect as I followed the woman through a couple of doors and down a long corridor. I felt like I couldn’t breathe right, my breaths coming fast and short.
    “Here we are,” the nurse said, motioning toward a door. “Go ahead in.”
    For the hurry I’d been in, I walked slowly into the room. There he was, lying pale and still with all kinds of machines hooked up to him, his eyes closed.
    “Oh, Darin,” I whispered, covering his hand with my own. I stood there staring at him for a few moments letting the reality of the situation settle in. Then I reached for a nearby chair and pulled it over to my husband’s side. I tossed the tissue I’d tortured for the last few hours in the waste basket and reached for a new one. “Okay,” I whispered. “Okay,” I repeated a little louder. “We’re okay here, Darin. You’re alive, and you just keep fighting like you have been, you hear me?”
    I felt better sitting here seeing him, hearing the heart monitor keeping track of his beats. He was in a good hospital. The doctor seemed sure of what he was talking about. There was nothing to be afraid about anymore. We had been through too much to have it all stop here with this—a heart attack. No, I refused to let this get me down anymore. If I’d fought through that coma, Darin could fight his way back to me through this, too. He was stronger than me after all, and not only did he have me to come back to, but our son as well. At the thought of our child, I felt a little nudge in the middle of my belly. I smiled. I wasn’t alone. I had this baby, a piece of Darin I was carrying around inside of me.
    A nurse entered the room and checked on Darin’s vitals. She turned and made eye contact with me. “He’s in good hands. We’ll take care of him.”
    I nodded and returned the smile. “Thank you. I know you will. How’s he doing now?”
    “He’s hanging in there.”
    Was that code for he may not live much longer?
    “You’re his wife?”
    I nodded.
    The nurse pointed to the chair in the corner of the room. “That folds out into a bed. Might not be the most comfortable thing, but I can get you a pillow and blanket if you want.”
    “Yeah, thanks.”
    “You look like you could use some rest,” the nurse added before leaving the room.
    Thanks for stating the obvious. I leaned over and put my head down against Darin’s arm. I closed my eyes and listened to the rhythm of the machines, the rhythm of his heart, which did seem agonizingly slow.
    These obstacles in life were overwhelming. Never did I think when I first married Darin that all these things would happen to us. I sighed. Then again, I did feel fortunate. It could be Violet sitting here pregnant with Darin’s baby instead of me. He had chosen me, and I’d chosen him, and for now, that’s all we needed to be complete. Fate would find a way to do the rest.
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    Shane
     
    I got out of the taxi and looked up at the old