Read Online Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf - Free Book Online Page B

against his chest.
    Jack released Sarah and went to his uncle. “She loved you,” Hal said, taking Jack’s hands in his own. “You and Amy, just like you were her own. You know that, don’t you?”
    â€œI know,” Jack replied, his voice hoarse with emotion. “She always believed in me. No matter what.”
    Sarah embraced Hal. “Is there anyone I can call for you?”
    â€œI know who to call,” Celia interjected in a way that struck Sarah as oddly aggressive.
    â€œWhat about Amy?” Sarah asked. “Do you think someone should go check on her?”
    â€œI think it’s probably best to just let her be for a while,” Celia answered. “Let her catch her breath.”
    Sarah wrapped her arms around Jack’s waist, and he rested his chin on top of her head. “Did you know Julia had a do-not-resuscitate order?” she asked.
    â€œNo. And Amy must have not known, either. I’ve never seen her act like that before.”
    â€œI should call the girls, let them know what’s going on.”
    â€œNo, not yet.”
    â€œI could make arrangements to have them fly here?” Sarah offered.
    â€œNo,” Jack said quickly.
    Sarah pulled back and looked up at him. “But...”
    â€œSarah,” he said in exasperation. “I said no.”
    Sarah didn’t understand Jack’s reluctance to bring the girls to Penny Gate. They should be here with them. That’s what families did; they were there to support one another when times were difficult.
    The tension between them was broken by the sound of determined footsteps. They shifted their gaze down the long corridor, where a woman in a long white doctor’s coat and a man who appeared to be a security guard were approaching with quick, long strides.
    â€œThis can’t be good,” Jack said in a low voice. “Can you find Amy?”
    Sarah hesitated, glancing at Jack with uncertainty.
    â€œSarah, please just go!”
    She started down the hallway, hurt by Jack’s harsh tone. When she reached the end of the hallway, she turned to see the doctor and security guard confront Jack in the doorway of Julia’s room. He held up his hands in placation, as if trying to calm them.
    The nurses must have alerted security about Amy’s outburst and they were coming to...what? Escort Amy from the building? Detain her until the police came to arrest her? Sarah quickened her pace, though she wasn’t sure what she would say to Amy if she found her. Should she tell her to run, to get out of there as quickly as possible? Or should she try to convince her to come back upstairs to talk things through?
    Once again she bypassed the elevator and raced down the stairs and through the lobby. The automatic doors slid open and Sarah saw Amy shivering on a bench just outside the hospital entrance. A brisk wind had swept the clear skies away and replaced them with dark clouds heavy with rain. Amy had stopped crying and was blankly staring upward, a cigarette pressed to her lips. She had one arm wrapped protectively around her waist, the same way that Jack always did.
    â€œAmy.” Sarah cautiously approached her sister-in-law. “I’m so sorry about Julia. Are you okay?”
    â€œI can’t believe she’s gone.” Amy swiped at her nose with the back of one hand. “I can’t believe she’s really dead.” She pressed the heels of her hands against her bloodshot eyes. “I really freaked out up there. Did I hurt that nurse?”
    â€œJust a few scratches.” Sarah sat down on the bench. “She’s fine. But everyone’s worried about you.”
    â€œI bet Dean went ape shit.” She gave a short bark of laughter and then started to cry again.
    Sarah wasn’t sure what to say. She barely knew Amy, but what she did know was that she was volatile and unpredictable. But this was Jack’s sister and she also knew that Amy loved