Read Online Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) by Connie Stephany - Free Book Online Page B

It’s really good to be home again.” She had tears in her eyes, realizing just how much she meant it. She said, “It’s not like you haven’t seen us, though. We saw each other a couple times a year.”
    “That’s nowhere near enough, honey.” Her dad said with a frown.
    “Agreed, dad. Amber’s excited to experience Minnesota, that’s for sure. I hope you can really get to know her by seeing us a lot more often.”
    “You can bet on it, honey, Jennifer,” her mom told her firmly.
    Amber appeared in the living room, awake from her nap and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, but then her eyes widened when she saw Jennifer.
    “Mommy!”
    Amber ran towards her mom and jumped into Jennifer’s outstretched arms. Jennifer caught her mom’s eye and could see the tears.
    *****
    The nurses working with her were really starting to click. They listened to her advice, they showed her the utmost respect and they had even started to ask her to join them for lunch. Two weeks in and things were going so well. She was sure she made the right decision to come home.
    As her day progressed, she was called down to the second floor to check on a patient in the ER. She walked by a man who was being brought into a room in a wheelchair. He was very sick, oxygen mask on his thin face and IV already in place.
    She was not prepared to see Rob, Adam and Mandi’s dad, like that. He was a tall, fit, handsome man and it shocked her to see him that way. He was being admitted and she resolved to call Mandi the second she got home.
    She didn’t have time to go in and see him before seeing her patient and then afterward she was so busy she couldn’t stop by. However, as soon as her shift was over, she went directly to his room and prepared herself not only to see him in this condition, but also figured Adam, Mandi or Gina, their mom, could be there.
    She knocked on Rob’s door and then entered when she heard his soft, weak voice call out, telling her to come in.
    She chose the exact right time to be there. She was sure the family was there most of the day, but she happened to choose a time when he was alone. He was awake and looked so ill that she had to choke back tears.
    “Rob?” Jennifer had always been told to call him by his first name. He always insisted Mr. Jackson was his father.
    He gave her a weak smile and in a tired voice, he said, “Jennifer? Is that you?”
    “Yes. I came to check on you. I saw you come in but haven’t been able to stop by until now.”
    “Mandi told me you were back home.”
    His voice was hoarse, and she could hear the crackling with each breath he took so it was likely pneumonia. Working as a nurse in a hospital, she saw it all. When encountering people who knew they were dying, often times she saw them accepting their fate a lot better than the people who loved them. There’s a point when they know it’s time, but they hold on for the family members for as long as they can. It’s once the family has finally accepted its time to move on is often when they let go.
    “Yes. It’s good to be back home.” She paused, looking at his forced breathing. “What are you in here with? Pneumonia?”
    “Yes. It’s not good. I know it. My family knows it.” It was clear to Jennifer he had already prepared himself for the worst and it looked like he had made peace with it.
    Jennifer paused for a moment before she could say anything else, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “I’m so sorry, Rob. Is there anything I can do?”
    “Actually, yes. Mandi also told me you won’t talk to Adam.”
    Well that was direct.
    She shrugged her shoulders in response. She stared at his eyes, which had once been a bright amber color but were now dull and sad.
    Rob took another labored breath before he continued. What he said must have used all of his energy.
    “You actually just missed him. He was here just a few minutes ago. He wants to talk to you. He feels bad about the way things were left. He doesn’t have any