Page 20 of Someone Like You
This time when she looked at him, her eyes held an ocean of sadness. “It’s okay … Dawson.” One more soft smile, but her words were slower, quieter. “I’ll … see you again.” She moved so she could look at her mom and dad. “Jesus … is all you need, Mama. Daddy.”
Dawson felt her squeeze his hand once more. Then her eyes closed and she fell quiet. Too quiet. He looked at the monitors. The numbers were crashing. He took a step toward the hallway, but changed his mind. Nothing could’ve made him leave her side right now.
Because if she saw Jesus calling her home, then— “London, we’re here.” Dawson remembered the words of Dr. Randall. Her organs are damaged beyond repair. If that were true, then what were these last few beautiful minutes about? It had seemed like a miracle from God, like she was being healed. So how could she be seeing Jesus? And who was this sister she talked about?
Across from him, Louise must’ve realized how dire things had become. She lowered the bed rail and crawled in beside London, cradling her the way she must have when London was a small child.
“Mama’s here, baby girl.” She lay on her side and hugged London close. Larry put his hand on his wife’s shoulder, tears streaming down his face. Louise kissed London’s cheek and forehead. She stroked her daughter’s hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”
London drew a long slow breath and she exhaled.
Dawson waited, watching her chest. But she didn’t inhale. Dawson squeezed her hand. “Breathe, London. Come on.”
But then, like a rest after the final notes in the most beautiful symphony, London’s monitors bottomed out. No alarms, no buzzing or warning sounds. Just the most peaceful quiet.
“No.” Louise held on to her daughter tighter than before and only then did she begin to truly cry. Tears seemed to overflow from her heart and her cry became an audible sobbing, a wailing like nothing Dawson had ever heard.
Because London was gone now, her body forever still.
The miracle wasn’t that London was going to live. That hadn’t been God’s plan. But He had given them a very great gift all the same. And even here in the saddest moment of Dawson’s life he could see it. Grasp it. Appreciate it.
Dawson didn’t know how he was going to take his next breath or how he would ever live without her. But he knew this much. What God had given them here in this room was a very great miracle, indeed. A miracle Dawson would cling to and carry with him until his heart stopped beating. Until he ran across heaven’s fields and through eternity’s evergreens, first into the arms of Jesus … and then into the arms of London Quinn.
The best friend he had ever had.
7
The truth was coming.
Brooke planned to tell Maddie about her adoption over lunch in downtown Bloomington in fifteen minutes. She was about to leave her office, but first she had to enter information from her last appointment into the computer. It had run a little late and now she was rushed.
Maddie deserved for her to be on time.
Patient is two years old and has human parvovirus,Brooke typed into the child’s online file.Two siblings at home are still unaffected. Mom is pregnant and needs a blood test. Recommended mom schedule an appointment with her ob-gyn. Follow-up in one week.
Other details could be added later. Brooke had to go. She closed the file and hurried toward the front desk. On the way, her husband stepped out of a patient’s room. “Meeting Maddie?” He leaned in and kissed Brooke’s lips. The happy sort of kiss that said all was right with the world.
Only it wasn’t.
Brooke didn’t smile. She tried to slow her racing heart, stave off her frustration. “I’m telling her today.” She took a small step back. “Over lunch.”
“Oh.” Peter’s expression darkened. “I … didn’t know.”
Brooke folded her arms. “I didn’t tell you.” Her wordswere barely a whisper. They didn’t usually have personal discussions at work. She raised one eyebrow and her eyes locked with his. “You told me to handle it, Peter. I’m doing that.”
“Okay.” He nodded, slow and deliberate. Like he was trying to figure out her mood. “It’s not like I won’t be part of the discussion eventually.”
She shouldn’t have told him. If he wanted her to handle it, then she would. Even if she didn’t like the idea. And now this conversation was only going to make her late. “Peter …” She kept her tone level. “You said it should just be me.”
“At first.” His tone grew heavy. “Of course I want to talk with her about it later. It’s just … I think she’ll open up better to you. Respond better.” He hesitated. “You know?”
“Not really.” Brooke tried to control herself. Peter should’ve gone with her to this lunch, or they should’ve told Maddie when they were all together. Too late now. “It’s okay.” Brooke walked a few feet. “I’ll tell you how it goes.”
“Brooke!” He caught up to her. “Don’t just walk away.”
“I can’t be late.” She was tired of the conversation. “Just … go see your next patient. I’m not mad.” Her smile felt forced. “I’ve got it.”
Peter didn’t move. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk about it tonight. With Maddie.”
