The Passion of Patrick MacNeill by Virginia Kantra Read Free Book Online Page B

room. "You mentioned your brothers, your mother. Didn't they…?"
    At her compassionate gesture, he withdrew. "Didn't they what? Come down? Yeah. Say how sorry they were? Sure. Help pick up the pieces? Absolutely."
    His blue eyes dared her to continue. Amazingly, she scraped together her thoughts and pressed on. "No, I meant… I'm sure they helped you help Jack. A sense of family is terribly important in survival and recovery. No one can replace Jack's mother, of course, but—"
    Patrick pushed the tray away in a contained, violent motion somehow more frightening for its tight control. "No. No one. What's your point?"
    For once, Kate wasn't sure she had a point. Just this terrible, futile ache to help. "I'm just saying you're lucky to have them. Families play an important role in treatment. With Jack facing more therapy—"
    "Don't worry about Jack's therapy, Dr. Sinclair. He and I can handle it. We don't need outside help. We don't need anybody."
    "Well." Kate drew in a deep breath, pulling her professional demeanor around her like a white lab coat to cover her hurt and confusion. "That's clear." She stood. "Jack should be discharged sometime tomorrow. Dr. Swaim will be in in the morning to examine him and go over his postoperative care with you."
    Patrick stood, too, his big body tense, his fists curled at his sides. Kate thought they must resemble a pair of fighters, circling for advantage with the table in between. "Fine. Thanks. Listen, I appreciate what you did for Jack. If you hadn't come by—"
    "Don't give it another thought," she said coolly. "I certainly won't. Thank you for the coffee."
    She made her exit on trembling legs, her head held high.

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    Chapter 4
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    " B ut it hurts," Jack whimpered.
    His stitches had come out only five days ago, Patrick reminded himself. This was their third physical therapy session since breakfast. No wonder the boy was near tears. Patrick felt pretty damn frayed himself .
    He made an effort to keep his voice matter-of-fact and light. "I know it's uncomfortable, buddy. But you've got to do the exercises for your hand to get better."
    Jack squirmed on his father's lap, his small face flushed with exertion and temper. "It's not getting better. It's worse."
    "It looks worse," Patrick agreed, "because of the operation." They'd been over this many times. "But you've actually got new skin now so you can spread out your fingers and your thumb. It's going to be fine. But you have to use the hand."
    "I can't use it," Jack insisted, his voice rising dangerously. "I can't do anything with it. I can't even draw!"
    Patrick shared his son's frustration. In the days since Jack's operation, he too had felt hampered by the intrusive routine of therapy. He'd taken a week off, tending to the books while Ray ferried cargo and passengers, but his partner couldn't handle all the flights forever. When Shelby had their baby, Ray would be grounded for a couple of days at least.
    He looked down at Jack's mutinous face, pillowed against his arm, and wanted nothing more than to give in, to give up for the day. Together in the weeks and months following the accident, they'd tackled the grueling labor of recovery many times. Only this time it was harder. This time Jack was older. This time the gains, though important and desirable, seemed less critical in the face of Jack's discouragement and pain.
    But it was Patrick's job to soothe and encourage his son. He opened his mouth to say something—anything—when the telephone rang.
    "You're in luck, kid. Take five." Scooting Jack off his lap, Patrick strode into the kitchen to answer the phone, relieved at the interruption and irritated with himself for his relief. He felt better when he recognized the voice of Jack's physical therapist and then worse after she delivered her news.
    She wouldn't see Jack today, she informed him bluntly. She would see him at his regularly scheduled appointment on Wednesday, because she had other patients and Jack should not