Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo Read Free Book Online Page A

clasped hands.
    “Gabe, help me. What should I do?” She gulped and tried to force her trembling lips into a smile. “You said we’d be together forever. You said—” The breath flew from her lungs. “You said—”
    Jenny broke down and wailed, deep, gut-wrenching sobs.
     
    * * *
     
    The next morning, people came and went from Gabe’s room, but none offered Jenny a miracle. Jenny called Alex and Ted’s mother, Judith, about the accident and Gabe’s condition. To her relief, Judith offered to tell the children and Gabe’s uncle, George. Jenny hadn’t the energy or emotional fortitude to deal with his uncle.
    Gabe had gone to live with his uncle George and aunt Adele when he was only eight years old. His parents had worked for the Peace Corps and both died of amoebic dysentery in a little village in Columbia. George had had no children of his own; perhaps that’s why he was so obsessively close to Gabe.
    Though George was always polite to Jenny, she got the feeling he didn’t really like her. He displayed no outright hostility, but Jenny sensed an underlying chill and tolerance from Gabe’s uncle that hadn’t lessened over the years of their marriage. She refused to let her feelings get hurt, figuring that her patience and kindness would wear George down. Besides, Gabe’s love more than made up for his uncle’s indifference.
    Jenny lifted Gabe’s hand. She stretched his long fingers out and moved her thumb over his palm. Surgeon’s hands. Warm hands. Could he really be dead?
    Gabe’s face remained unlined and peaceful. If his brain had stopped, had his spirit already departed while the machine kept his body warm? Was Gabe somewhere in this room, hovering above, trying to come to grips with death himself, like people from near death experiences claimed? Was he confused? Scared? Jenny hoped not. Senses straining, she tried to feel something ghostly. Any subtle indication that Gabe’s existence had really changed so dramatically beyond the calm sleep that seemed to have claimed him.
    God, please don’t take him from me. If this is my punishment for Michael or for wanting a baby, it’s not fair. Don’t punish Gabe because of me. It should have been me .
    “Mrs. Harrison?”
    Jenny looked up into the chocolate-colored eyes of a tall, thin, dark-haired woman clutching a clipboard to her chest. But for the short, dark hair feathered away from her face and the pointy, pinched nose supporting wire-rimmed glasses, she very much resembled Popeye’s Olive Oyl.
    “I’m Amy Bromley from Save a Life. The hospital thought I might be of some help to you.”
    “Why? Can you save my husband?” Jenny raised her chin, challenging.
    Amy looked at Gabe, then back at her. “Not the way you’re hoping.”
    She turned away. Didn’t think so .
    Amy moved to the other side of Gabe’s bed, back into Jenny’s field of vision. “I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m here to present you with an opportunity to have your husband live on through other people as an organ donor. Have you and your husband ever discussed this possibility?”
    Feeling ashamed at taking her frustrations out on the woman, Jenny shook her head. “The subject never came up.” She paused. “Gabe’s a doctor. A colleague of his was here last night and broached the idea of organ donation. I practically took the man’s head off.”
    “I understand.”
    Really? How could she understand? Jenny tried to shake off her annoyance at the woman’s agreeability. “When he suggested I consider donating Gabe’s organs, all I could think was, he’d have to be dead to do that. And I wasn’t convinced he was gone. I mean intellectually I know. I’ve seen the test results, I’ve talked to the experts, but it doesn’t feel so in here.” She tapped a hand over her heart.
    “That does make it more difficult,” Amy agreed. “But the hospital has quite specific criteria in determining brain death. A lot of families take great comfort from knowing that