Read Online Paradigm Rift: Book One of the Back to Normal Series by Randy McWilson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Randy McWilson
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interpretation. He kept it short but not very sweet.
“Backwards Big Bang.”
CHAPTER 16
“Mr. Collins? Mr. Collins. Denver Collins .”
The female voice continued to echo in the distance, but it seemed to be getting closer. “Wake up. Wake up, Mr. Collins.”
Denver’s eyes popped open, and he leaned forward, disoriented, and blinking hard in the sudden, bright light.
“Mr. Collins? Over here.”
He directed his gaze to the right, and as his eyes adjusted he discovered that he was in a hospital, in a waiting room to be exact.
The voice belonged to an older African-American nurse framed in a doorway, she took a step closer to him. “Congratulations, Mr. Collins. You have a beautiful baby daughter. She is healthy and your wife is doing fine. It was kind of touch and go for a while, but you can come back to see them now.”
Without warning, streams of hot tears began to cascade down as he rose to follow. He rounded a few corners and the large, glass expanse of the nursery window came into view. The nurse tenderly maneuvered the newborn’s cart into a nearby room.
She opened the door into the hallway and motioned for Denver to come inside. As he walked across the threshold time literally seemed to slow. He glanced down at the baby. That’s my daughter .
He wiped his wet face again and again. The nurse transferred the precious package into his trembling, inexperienced arms. He had held everything from wild women to dangerous weapons, but this was new, fragile—outside his experience.
The nurse almost laughed as she guided his arms into the cradle position. Once he felt comfortable, and with careful precision, he sweetly brought the newborn close and kissed her forehead.
The nurse patted his shoulder. “She's a very pretty baby, and trust me, I’m an expert. I've seen quite a few.”
He struggled to speak, but what came out was more crack than voice. “Jasmine.” The nurse leaned in. He swallowed and made a stronger second attempt. “Jasmine, her name is Jasmine.” He attempted to wipe another tear with his right shoulder…
…Without explanation, Denver found himself standing against a bed in ICU Recovery. His wife was hooked up to a spaghetti maze of tubes and wires, looking more like she had recently survived a car accident rather than a hard delivery.
Jasmine was nestled up alongside her, with just her little face peeking out from the wrap of blankets. Jennifer stroked the sleeping infant with no more pressure than a gentle breeze. Denver bent over and graced his wife’s cheek with a light kiss, and then turned his head to see the newest member of the Collin’s clan.
Almost on cue, baby Jasmine began fretting, her eyes tried to open, and then settled back to sleep. Denver smiled and stared into Jennifer’s tired but thankful face. He mouthed the words “I love you” and clasped her hand, being careful to avoid the IV. Suddenly, the light in the room grew brighter and brighter until Denver was blinded…
…As his sight returned, he saw the kitchen and dining area in their first apartment. Jennifer was storing the remnants of a late meal in the fridge, as a young Jasmine played in the floor nearby. Denver had almost forgotten how cute her Shirley Temple blonde curls had been. The back door opened, and he saw himself walk into the room. Jennifer glanced up and turned to the toddler. “Oh look, Jasmine. It's the guy who sleeps here occasionally.”
“Babe, I told you it would be a couple rough weeks,” he said. “We've got new software, and a new—”
She cut him off. “A couple of rough weeks ? How about a few rough months !” She pointed at their daughter. “I have to show Jasmine your photo just about every night—sure don't want her to forget what her father looks like!”
He started to say something, but reconsidered, and bent down to the cutie on the floor. He put his arms around Jasmine, and as he raised her everything began to blur out…
…There was darkness and
“Backwards Big Bang.”
CHAPTER 16
“Mr. Collins? Mr. Collins. Denver Collins .”
The female voice continued to echo in the distance, but it seemed to be getting closer. “Wake up. Wake up, Mr. Collins.”
Denver’s eyes popped open, and he leaned forward, disoriented, and blinking hard in the sudden, bright light.
“Mr. Collins? Over here.”
He directed his gaze to the right, and as his eyes adjusted he discovered that he was in a hospital, in a waiting room to be exact.
The voice belonged to an older African-American nurse framed in a doorway, she took a step closer to him. “Congratulations, Mr. Collins. You have a beautiful baby daughter. She is healthy and your wife is doing fine. It was kind of touch and go for a while, but you can come back to see them now.”
Without warning, streams of hot tears began to cascade down as he rose to follow. He rounded a few corners and the large, glass expanse of the nursery window came into view. The nurse tenderly maneuvered the newborn’s cart into a nearby room.
She opened the door into the hallway and motioned for Denver to come inside. As he walked across the threshold time literally seemed to slow. He glanced down at the baby. That’s my daughter .
He wiped his wet face again and again. The nurse transferred the precious package into his trembling, inexperienced arms. He had held everything from wild women to dangerous weapons, but this was new, fragile—outside his experience.
The nurse almost laughed as she guided his arms into the cradle position. Once he felt comfortable, and with careful precision, he sweetly brought the newborn close and kissed her forehead.
The nurse patted his shoulder. “She's a very pretty baby, and trust me, I’m an expert. I've seen quite a few.”
He struggled to speak, but what came out was more crack than voice. “Jasmine.” The nurse leaned in. He swallowed and made a stronger second attempt. “Jasmine, her name is Jasmine.” He attempted to wipe another tear with his right shoulder…
…Without explanation, Denver found himself standing against a bed in ICU Recovery. His wife was hooked up to a spaghetti maze of tubes and wires, looking more like she had recently survived a car accident rather than a hard delivery.
Jasmine was nestled up alongside her, with just her little face peeking out from the wrap of blankets. Jennifer stroked the sleeping infant with no more pressure than a gentle breeze. Denver bent over and graced his wife’s cheek with a light kiss, and then turned his head to see the newest member of the Collin’s clan.
Almost on cue, baby Jasmine began fretting, her eyes tried to open, and then settled back to sleep. Denver smiled and stared into Jennifer’s tired but thankful face. He mouthed the words “I love you” and clasped her hand, being careful to avoid the IV. Suddenly, the light in the room grew brighter and brighter until Denver was blinded…
…As his sight returned, he saw the kitchen and dining area in their first apartment. Jennifer was storing the remnants of a late meal in the fridge, as a young Jasmine played in the floor nearby. Denver had almost forgotten how cute her Shirley Temple blonde curls had been. The back door opened, and he saw himself walk into the room. Jennifer glanced up and turned to the toddler. “Oh look, Jasmine. It's the guy who sleeps here occasionally.”
“Babe, I told you it would be a couple rough weeks,” he said. “We've got new software, and a new—”
She cut him off. “A couple of rough weeks ? How about a few rough months !” She pointed at their daughter. “I have to show Jasmine your photo just about every night—sure don't want her to forget what her father looks like!”
He started to say something, but reconsidered, and bent down to the cutie on the floor. He put his arms around Jasmine, and as he raised her everything began to blur out…
…There was darkness and
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