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Sadie’s stomach churned with excitement and anxiety as Zack drove into an attractive older subdivision. Young boys threw basketballs at a hoop in a driveway, and a man mowed another lawn. It was almost five in the evening, the sun already setting on the chilly February day.
For the last five weeks, Zack had invited her to join him on this Sunday outing, but she’d refused—not sure she was ready. Today she’d said yes. By his reaction, she’d surprised him.
In the last six months, since taping of the show ended, she’d returned to life, to living, and to her job. After losing Dylan, she feared being around pregnant women might depress her. Going back to work only proved the opposite. Her patients, excited and apprehensive, gave her energy. She never thought she’d be so happy again.
She spoke to Kelly often, getting reports of her and Brett’s progress. Ruben and Tamara zoomed with them once a week, the men talking mostly about football. She exchanged texts and calls from the other women racers and knew Zack did the same with the men.
Zack pulled into a driveway in front of a home painted light green with white shutters. Huge, majestic oak trees shaded the yard and house. He turned to her. “You okay?”
“I’m not sure.” She didn’t know how to feel or how she’d react. He cut the engine, and she opened her door. He swiftly got out, made his way to the passenger side of the car, and clasped her hand. They started up a stone path leading to the porch.
The front door swung open. “Kack!” A little girl with straight black hair and green eyes sprinted toward them.
He released Sadie’s hand and hunched down. The child ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Missed you,” the three-year-old said.
“I missed you too.” He stood with her in his arms.
Sadie couldn’t take her eyes off the child.
“Amelia, this is Sadie.”
The little girl waved, then her attention returned to Zack. She captured his face in her hands and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
Sadie’s heart missed a beat. She swallowed hard, tears threatening to overwhelm her.
Zack adjusted Amelia in his left arm. He put his right around Sadie and kissed her temple. “You all right, baby?”
She bobbed her head.
A couple hurried from the house. With black hair and an austere expression on his face, the man towered over a plump blonde.
“Sadie, this is Jane and Tom, Amelia’s parents,” Zack said.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Sadie nodded to Tom before she locked gazes with Jane. Suddenly, Jane rushed forward and engulfed Sadie in a hug. At the sound of the woman’s sobs, Sadie let her emotions overtake her. They held on to one another as they wept.
Two strangers forever linked.
In another selfless act, Zack had donated Dylan’s organs. The day Sadie opened the letter from Amelia’s parents and read the first paragraph, she’d packed a bag and drove to Cally’s place. In her grief, Zack donating Dylan’s organs only provided another reason for her to be angry at him.
Zack responded to the letter and kept in touch with them through the organ donor organization. They had rules in place where the two families were allowed to anonymously correspond by letter for a year before they could meet in person, and both parties had to be willing. So five weeks ago, Zack met Amelia, Jane, and Tom. Sadie hadn’t been quite ready to join him.
“I knew if Amelia ... received a heart,” the other woman whispered between sobs, “it meant someone ... would lose their child. I can’t express ... my sorrow for what you’ve gone through. ... I can’t imagine anything worse.”
Sadie hugged her tighter while giving thanks to God, the doctors, Dylan, and Zack for saving Amelia’s life.
Eventually, after the woman looked deep into her eyes and squeezed her shoulders, they let go of one another.
Amelia, still in Zack’s arms, giggled as she made his collar stand up.
“Zack’s been telling me how special Amelia is, and I had to come see for myself.”
“We’re glad you did. Please, come inside. It’s cold out here.” Jane led the way to the house and everyone trailed her. The beautiful old home had hardwood floors and a huge entranceway showcased a spiral staircase.
Zack put Amelia on her feet, and she gripped his hand to tug him toward the stairs. “Let’s play in my room.”
“Go on up,” Jane encouraged them. “Tom and I are finishing dinner.”
Amelia toddled to the stairs and held on to the rail as she started up. She glanced back to make sure they were following her. In the precious room decorated in pink and unicorns, Sadie recognized a familiar picture on the nightstand.
Her vision blurred as she walked over and picked it up. It was a picture they’d taken of Dylan at the zoo the first time they’d brought him. On the frame was written Angels Exist.
She spun around and smiled at Zack.
He came over and wrapped his arms around her. “Jane asked for a photo of him.”
Through a haze of heartache and hope, she buried her face in his shirt. “Thank you for bringing me. It’s painful in a good way, a healing way.”
“I feel the same every time I visit.”
~
After supper, while still at the dinner table, Amelia dozed in Zack’s lap.
“Do you mind putting her in bed?” Jane asked.
“On it.” He switched Amelia to his shoulder and stood.
Jane shared an uncertain look with Tom before saying, “I took the liberty of asking my neighbor if we could borrow something.” She rose and left the room, quickly returning with a stethoscope. “I thought when you put her down you might want to—”
Jane was crying again and couldn’t finish her sentence. Tom stepped to her side and put his arm around her shoulders.
Sadie somehow kept her composure as she squinted at her husband. He nodded. She stood and said, “Thanks,” as she grabbed the instrument she used so often at work.
Once back in the child’s room, Zack gently laid Amelia down and knelt on the carpet beside the tiny, low bed.
Sadie took the spot beside him and put the earpieces in before leaning over and placing the diaphragm on the child’s heart—on Dylan’s heart. The strong beat pounded straight into her soul. She listened. Peace swept through her knowing her ultimate darkness now lit the way for this precious child.
After a few moments, she kept the diaphragm in place and handed the earpieces to Zack. He bowed his head, eyes closed. Sadie watched Amelia’s little chest rising and falling in a perfect, gentle rhythm.
Zack straightened, removed the stethoscope, and reached for Sadie.
They held each other for the longest time.
Awed beyond words.
~~~
Pre-order Chasing Time ~ Dre’s story ~ HERE!
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Chasing Series (Contemporary Romance)
Chasing Sunsets ~ Book 1
Chasing Time ~ Book 2 ~ PREORDER NOW
Chasing Sunrise ~ Book 3 ~ COMING SOON