The Man of my Dreams by Gladys Quintal Read Free Book Online Page B

been with me through every tragedy in my life, since I was 17. How could I live without you now?
    I've been around longer than that, he said. We're linked you and I, and I don't know how to break the chain that connects us. But I must try, or I fear you'll be destroyed by what you find.
    He turned to walk away, but I grabbed him and flung myself against him. I didn't understand. He obviously loved me, so why did he have to leave? Why couldn’t he just tell me? He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, kissing my hair. I could hear his heart beating and lifted my head to look into his eyes. I think at that moment I knew I would forgive him anything if only he would kiss me. As if reading my thoughts again he bent his head and kissed me softly on the lips.
    I will always love you, he said. It's a matter of being cruel to be kind, so to speak. There are things about me you cannot know. I'm destined to be alone for ever.
    He moved his hand to my stomach and smiled.
    I've given you a gift my love. Please do not blame this child for what his father has become. Do not let the sins of the father fall onto his son. For he is innocent like you.
    The alarm in my queasy belly went off. Great timing, as usual. I got out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. What did he mean? How could he possibly be this baby’s father? It made me a darn sight happier to think of him as the father than Paul! Quick shower, breakfast and then off to work. How I was going to concentrate at work today was beyond me!

Chapter 10
    Rude Awakenings
     
    I was still feeling a little queasy but found that ginger and vitamin B6 eased it a little. I arrived at work five minutes late and got a scowl from the Ward Sister. Apologising, I quickly put my bag in the smoko room and headed back to the Nurse's Station.
    “How are you today?” Maria looked at me with real concern in her face. “Try not to overdo things, okay?”
    I smiled.
    “I'll be fine, don’t worry."
    “Okay," she said, still looking as if she didn’t quite believe me. “Jenny is going home today."
    I wanted to see her before she left. Something about Jenny’s story seemed so familiar and I thought maybe if I talked to her some more it might shed some light on why. I assigned myself to be her "checking out" person and headed off to see her.
    She was happy to be going home.
    “How are you today?” I asked. “Have you organised someone to pick you up later?”
    She smiled and nodded. “My mum will be here after lunch. I feel so happy to be alive, you know, and it's all thanks to the Ghost. I honestly hope the police never figure out where he came from.”
    I agreed. The Ghost was doing a good job at cleaning up the streets. Jenny seemed so happy now, especially knowing the man who had attacked her was dead and no longer a threat.
    “I owe him my life, not to mention stopping that man from . . . ” She stopped and looked at me.
    There was no need to say the words. As women, we both knew the fear of being raped.
    “For some reason, Jenny, I have a feeling of de javu when you tell your story. I'm not sure why, but I have this niggling deep down that I've heard or seen something to do with this guy.”
    “Maybe he saved you in another life?” she said. She wasn’t smiling and stared at me, quite serious.
    “Maybe,” I said.
    I got all the paperwork sorted and said goodbye, giving Jenny a hug and wishing her luck before I left.
    I was very curious about her case. Why I felt so connected to it, I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the fact that I'd survived a crash and, like Jenny, ended up at this hospital with no explanation of how I got here. Did the Ghost have something to do with saving me from the car accident that killed my parents? Now I was getting curious.
    I went to the file room and found Jenny’s records. I read her statements about the attack and her account of blacking out and waking up at the hospital, so similar to my own experiences. I couldn’t remember the car accident