Prologue
“Mr. Chasez?”
JC lifted his head from his hands to look at the young nurse. The compassion in her eyes didn’t help his feeling of dread. Today was the day. According to Melissa’s living will, she didn’t want to be kept alive by artificial means if there was no possible chance for recovery. She had been in a coma for a week before the stroke that had left her brain-dead. Last week, they had delivered little Madison Marie Chasez, so there was no reason for the machines to keep her alive. It was time to say his final good-bye to Melissa.
“You can go in now, sir.”
Nodding tiredly, he rose to his feet. It was going to be the hardest fifteen feet he’d ever travel in his lifetime – going to her hospital room. He didn’t want to go. If he didn’t go, he wouldn’t have to say good-bye. But he had to. He had promised Melissa he would let go when the time finally came.
Entering the room, he went to her bedside and pulled up the chair as he had done so many times before during his vigil. He noticed the nurse had tried to clean Melissa up as best she could and even put a ribbon in her hair. Melissa would have liked that touch. He sat down and took her cool hand between his warm ones, willing her to life as he did each time.
“Baby, it’s Josh.” He laced his fingers with hers and looked out the window. “It’s a gorgeous day out. Sun’s nice and bright. The kind of day you always liked.” He bit his lips together, trying to stem the tears threatening. “Mel, I miss you, baby. God, how I wish you’d open your eyes and tell me you’re back.”
Too agitated to remain seated, JC got up and went to the window, staring out unseeingly. “I didn’t get enough time with you. I need more time. You got a baby to help me raise. Don’t you wanna see her – at least once?” Guilt swamped him. He had yet to see his own daughter – He couldn’t get passed the fact that because of her, Melissa was as good as dead. To him, it hadn’t been a fair trade: the woman he loved for a squalling infant.
“I’ve loved you nearly nine years, Melly – and we spent most of that time apart. You can’t expect me to live without you now that we finally have the rest of our lives to be together.”
With a heavy sigh, he went back to the chair and once again took her hand. He brushed a kiss along her knuckles.
“Remember the day we met, Mel? You were so beautiful and so sure of yourself. I’d never known a girl like you…”