Read Online Love Comes Home by Terri Reed - Free Book Online

An old Victorian house, the dog, the picket fence. Those were the things they’d wanted.
    Only, as a doctor she didn’t fit into his cookie-cutter world and she couldn’t do what needed to be done from this hospital. The place where her mother had died.
    Rachel noticed the ticking muscle along Josh’s strong jaw. “I’m sorry. If you’d rather not talk about Andrea, I understand.”
    â€œDo you?”
    The intensity in his voice made her wince. He was still grieving for his wife but she didn’t know what to say or do to help him. The usual words of condolence she’d deliver to a family member of a patient didn’t seem appropriate here. This was Josh.
    â€œDr. Maguire, Josh.” Dr. Kessler approached the table.
    â€œDoctor,” Josh said.
    Rachel rose, gripping the edge of the table, panic pounding in her veins. “Mom G.?”
    Dr. Kessler held up a reassuring hand. “I’m on my way to see her. Just stopped in to grab a coffee.”
    She released her white-knuckled grip and sat down again. Josh reached across and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Comforted by his gesture, she gave him a grateful smile before slipping her hand away. His touch was too warm, too welcome. She couldn’t allow herself the luxury of wanting his touch because wanting something she couldn’t have was not her style.
    â€œDr. Maguire, our E.R. attending was very excited to learn you were here. I hope you’ll take a moment and stop by the E.R. to introduce yourself.”
    Fat chance. She wasn’t going anywhere near that E.R. Too many of her nightmares involved that place. Careful to keep her thoughts from showing, she smiled. “If I have time.”
    Behind his wire-rimmed glasses, Dr. Kessler’s eyes showed disappointment. “I’ll check on Olivia now.”
    Rachel watched the doctor leave. “What do you think of him?”
    â€œHe’s a good doctor.”
    Josh’s tone rang with certainty and she accepted his pronouncement.
    She finished the last of her salad, then picked up her tray and stood. “I’m going back upstairs now.”
    Josh rose, taking her tray from her. “I’ve got it.” He took their trays and deposited them in the dirty dish bin before coming back to stand beside her. “Wecould go down to the emergency room. We haven’t been gone very long.”
    Slipping her jacket back over her silk, short-sleeve top, Rachel shook her head. “I’m not here to work.”
    He arched a brow. “Too small-town for you?”
    â€œNo. I wouldn’t be able to stay focused.”
    â€œRight. Focused.”
    The beeper attached to Rachel’s waistband sent a shrill alarm ringing through the cafeteria. Her heart slammed against her chest. Mom G. Rachel couldn’t make her feet move; panic gripped her, clogging her throat. Josh moved to her side, his big, warm hand cradling her elbow. “Josh, Mom G….”
    â€œLet’s go.” The urgency in his tone clutched at her throat. She gratefully leaned on him as he propelled her out of the cafeteria and through the hospital.
    Rachel and Josh stepped off the elevator and onto the fifth floor and sprinted down the corridor to Mom G.’s room. They skidded to a halt as a nurse emerged out the door.
    â€œIs she…?” Rachel couldn’t say the words.
    The nurse smiled at her kindly. “She’s waiting for you.”
    â€œOh, thank you, God,” Rachel breathed out. She swept past the nurse and into the room, aware that Josh followed closely behind.
    Dr. Kessler stood at the foot of the bed, writing on the chart. He turned as Rachel approached. There was relief in his sympathetic eyes. “Her vitals are erratic. She’s slipping away fast. It’ll be only a matter of hours.”
    A heaviness settled on Rachel as she moved to the side of the bed and took Mom G.’s hand.
    Mom G. stirred and