Free Second Look (A New Beginning Book 3) by Connie Stephany Page A

straight for the hospital. After his visit that day, he had taken some time off work. He knew it wasn’t good.
    When he got to the hospital that day, he was told they had moved his dad to a different room. He walked up to the front desk to ask for his dad’s new room.
    As he walked up the stairs, Adam blew out a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare himself. The tears in his eyes threatened to spill over, so he stopped in the stairwell to pull himself together. He stood there for several minutes, thinking about how amazing his dad was. They were lucky he lived this long, but he still wasn’t ready to lose him.
    He finally pulled himself together and walked up to the nurse’s station on the 2nd floor.
    “Excuse me, could you tell point me to Rob Jackson’s room?”
    “Yes, he’s in room 214. Family?”
    “His son.”
    The nurse’s expression softened as she pointed. “It’s right down that hall.”
    “Thanks.”
    Adam headed towards his dad’s room. He didn’t hear anything when he initially knocked, so he knocked again and then entered the room quietly.
    The sight of his dad shocked him. He looked so much worse than he did even the day before. He looked even thinner and was hooked up to even more machines and an oxygen mask.
    That was not his dad. His dad was tall, fit and muscular with a thick head of dark blonde hair and kind, brown eyes. He was over 6 feet tall, and wore trendy jeans with shirts Mandi chose to make him cool.
    The guy in the bed had frail arms that were skin and bones, his eyes were sunken and his hair looked much thinner, even without having chemo. He could see only the top of his body since a blanket covered most of it.
    His IV was dripping slowly.
    Drip. Drip. Drip.
    The monitor was beeping every so often.
    Beep. Beep. Beep.
    Adam didn’t know how the nurse managed to get the IV into his dehydrated veins.
    Was it selfish of Adam to want his dad to continue the fight when he was so damn sick and his body was worn out? Was it finally time to let him go and tell his dad it was okay if he needed to stop fighting? He could barely think the words much less picture having that conversation, but looking down at his dad, it was time to do just that.
    As if sensing Adam’s presence, his dad stirred and opened his eyes.
    “Adam.”
    The one word caused a coughing fit, which looked painful and took his breath away.
    “Yeah dad, it’s me.”
    Adam rushed forward and sat down in the chair beside the bed. He grabbed his dad’s outstretched hand and tried to keep his tears at bay.
    “How long have you been here?”
    “Just a couple minutes.”
    “Guess who I saw.”
    “Who?”
    “Jennifer. She came in and visited.”
    Adam frowned. Perhaps the painkillers were playing with his head.
    “Maybe it was someone who looked like her?”
    “It was her, son.” He looked so sure he almost believed him. “She said she’d call you.”
    “Well, I’ll look forward to her call.”
    “You don’t believe me.”
    “I really hope it’s true, dad.” Adam sighed. If only. “So, when do you think they’ll let you come home?”
    His dad’s smile fell. “I don’t think I’ll be going home, son.”
    Adam shook his head and was about to argue but his dad interrupted him.
    “Son, it’s time. You don’t have to like it, but I need for you to accept it. I need you to take care of your mom and sister.”
    Adam’s eyes filled with tears and he took a deep, calming breath. Then, he nodded his head once in acknowledgement.
    His dad looked relieved at Adam’s reaction. “Good boy.”
    “Dad, this isn’t easy for me to say, but I think you need to hear it. If it’s time for you to go, then go. I’ll never be ready, but if it’s time, it’s time.”
    For the first time he could ever remember, Adam saw his dad cry. It was a mixture of sadness and relief. His dad held out his arms and Adam leaned in for a rare hug from his dad. He held on tight and didn’t ever want to let go.
    His mom walked into