Breath of Life by Sara Marion Read Free Book Online

stationed in the wing where she knew Jack would be. The receptionist was someone she didn’t recognize.
    “I’m looking for Jack Mercier,” Paxton said softly.
    She quickly typed his name into the system. She never looked at Paxton. “435-02, it’s down the hall and to the right.” She finally looked up and put on a fake smile.
    “Thank you,” Paxton replied as she pulled away from the desk and headed down the hall.
    She felt herself getting nervous. She rubbed her hands together as she came closer to his room. She wasn’t sure why she was here. She wanted nothing to do with Jack but at the same time she needed him. Her feelings wavered and she was torn between them. Her mind kept flashing to the last moments with Jack, where he had left her crumpled on the floor, emotionally broken.
    She peered through the sliding glass door. Jack was asleep. She stood there watching him. A nurse fluttered by. “Excuse me, can I help you?”
    Paxton looked at her recognizing the face.  The nurse seemed to recognize her as well. “Paxton?”
    “Hey Susie.”
    “What are you … how…?” Paxton knew Susie didn’t expect to see her at Jack’s bedside. Susie reached out and gave her a quick hug.
    “I was released today. They told me about Jack. He wants me to do the surgery but I can’t,” Paxton said staring back at Jack lying there in the room.
    “I was actually getting ready to take him up to surgery. Jonathan reasoned with him earlier.”
    “Who’s doing the surgery?”
    “Steve.”
    “Good. I trust him.” Paxton remembered how good Steve was in the O.R. He was her right-hand man when she was in surgery. She trusted him with any patient of hers.
    “I have to take him now. Would you like to wait in his room?”
    “Yes.”
    Paxton followed Susie into the room. She went over and sat in the uncomfortable blue recliner set in the room. She saw another nurse come in to help Susie wheel Jack off to surgery. As they were leaving the room with him, she wrapped her arms around her legs and looked at the voided space. She still didn’t know what she was doing here. Jack was the last thing she needed right now. What did she owe Jack? Everything and nothing at the same time , she answered herself. She knew Jack left because of her, but his ferocity was inexcusable. She rested her head on her knees. She rocked back and forth. She started taking deep, three part breaths.  She decided to focus on her breathing to calm her nerves and think of what her next move was.
    Paxton must have fallen asleep because she was awoken by a slight touch and a quiet voice saying her name.
    “Paxton, wake up,” the low voice said. Paxton’s eyes fluttered open. It took a moment to focus on the face in front of her.
    “Jonathan,” she quickly sat up and messing with her hair. She looked back up and saw Jack was back in the room and someone had laid a blanket over her.
    “Susie thought you should rest. I came to tell you about Jack’s surgery as Steve had another surgery to do. It’s good to see you Pax. I’ve missed you so much.”
    “How bad is he hurt?” Her voice was scratchy. She cleared her throat. She avoided his comment about missing her. She just wanted to know if Jack will be okay. She could see the hurt on Jonathan’s face when she refused to say how much she missed him as well.
    “His leg has been set, few pins and screws but he’ll recover. His internal bleeding was from a lacerated spleen. Steve was able to patch that up as well. He should be fine. He will need some help though because of his leg. He will be in a wheel chair until they come out. Crutches only when necessary.”
    “I see. Has his family been called?”
    “No, he has you listed as his only next of kin.”
    Paxton looked over to Jack. She was still perplexed as to why he didn’t list his parents.
    “He still loves you, you know? I had to talk him into this surgery.”
    “He doesn’t, Jonathan. You know very well what happened between us and how angry