I pulled out Chloe’s card and handed it to her. “Call my assistant. She’ll get us all hotel rooms. And I have my private jet on standby if you need to get back to Willow Harbor or if Hannah needs to be transported anywhere.”
Tears streamed freely down Jules’s cheeks as she nodded and clutched the card in her hand. “Thank you.”
She hugged Claire and then left, shuffling out of the hospital like a zombie.
“How is Hannah?” I asked Claire when we were alone.
She just shrugged. “All they told me was that she was in surgery and then ICU. I’m waiting on someone to give me details.”
“She’s going to be okay,” I declared. “God’s got her.” There was a certainty in that. A faith I mustered from the depths of my soul. Ihadto believe that.
Despite the circumstances, Claire smiled. “You know God now, Jack?”
“We have recently become acquainted,” I told her, and her smile grew bigger.
“I knew it. Hannah knew it too.” She walked over to the seat where she’d been sitting and grabbed a present wrapped in green paper. It was slightly torn and crushed, but she handed it to me. “Hannah intended to give you this. The medic said it was clutched in her hands and she wouldn’t let go of it.”
I took the gift, unsure if I wanted to open it right now.
“Go on in there and open it. Might be several more hours until we get any news.” She pointed to a door that saidquiet room.
It was empty inside, so I left her for a minute and entered the quiet room. When I got inside, I sat down to peel open the paper. When I did, it revealed a black, leather-bound Bible, a notepad, and a note.
Already, emotion clogged my throat. She did know. Hannah knew.
I read the letter first.
Jack,
Just in case you refuse to see me, I want to write this down. I know it’s hard to live with the mistake you made. I know you probably feelunworthy of happiness and question why it all happened in the first place. But I’m here to tell you that there is nothing you can do that God would not forgive.
In your hands is my favorite book, and I’ve highlighted some of the most beautiful passages. May you find comfort in this truth. The truth is that God is always with us and He is with you now as you read this. So talk to Him, let Him in. He can save you from all the pain and shame you must feel.
I also want you to know that I see the good in you, Jack Marrow. You may think that you do charity work to ease your guilt, but I know you do it because you like to see others happy. You’re a good man, Jack, and you’ll never be able to convince me otherwise.
Hannah with two N’s.
I broke into sobs at that last line. She’d been driving to Seattle to give me this, and now she was clinging to life. I prayed I’d be able to tell her that everything was on the menu with me when it came to her. A relationship, marriage—I wanted it all if it was with her.
God, please, I know I’m new at this, but I’m begging you. Save her. Bring her through this.
There was a knock at the door, and I looked up and saw Hannah’s mom urgently waving me outside. I wiped my faceand stepped out just as a doctor wearing scrubs with bloodstains on the legs began scanning the space. When his eyes rested on Claire, he walked over. Claire slipped her hand into mine and squeezed. I’d have to be strong now for her. I’d had my breakdown, and now I needed to be strong for her.
“Is she alive?” her mother blurted out.
The doctor was in his forties with bronze skin and black hair. He wore a grim expression. “Your daughter’s vehicle was struck head-on by a semi-truck. She survived the surgery,” he said. “But she had multiple organs rupture on impact. It’s a miracle she’s alive. I have her in a medically induced coma and on dialysis.”
Claire sagged against me, going completely silent. She was in shock. A semi-truck had hit her head-on? Organs had ruptured? This was bad—really bad.
“Dialysis?” I asked, my heart in my throat as I tried to stay calm and rational.
Be strong for Claire.
The doctor nodded. “Her spleen, gallbladder, and both kidneys ruptured. I removed the dead organs and stopped the internal bleeding, but without a kidney transplant…”
He let that linger in the air.
A kidney transplant.
