Free [Finding Emma 03.0] Megan's Hope by Steena Holmes

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    “ Merry Christmas, old man. ” Jack watched his friend with a look of love in his eyes.
    Doug couldn ’ t say anything but Megan caught the faint smile on his face.
    “ Go say hi to my Dottie mine. Tell her I ’ ll be there soon. ” Jack breathed in deep, as deep as he could. “ Wait for me, okay? ” Jack choked up and held onto Emma ’ s hand, blinking away at the tears that pooled in his eyes.
    Doug closed his eyes and smiled. Megan checked his monitor and knew he was either resting or asleep because his heart rate, while slowed, still beat.
    Peter and the girls all came into the room and crowded around the bed. Peter went over and squeezed Jack ’ s shoulder.
    “ Merry Christmas, Jack, ” Peter said. Jack smiled up at him and reached for his hand, squeezing back.
    “ You girls look so pretty, just like your mom, ” Jack said to Hannah and Alexis. The girls stood there, unable to say much but they smiled at him.
    “ Your sister has a story to tell me and then … I think I ’ m ready to …” He couldn ’ t finish.
    “ To see Grandma and give her a hug. Wouldn ’ t that be the bestest Christmas present ever? ” Emma finished for him.
    Peter nodded and reached for Megan ’ s hand.
    “ The bestest, ” Peter agreed.
    Emma opened up her present for Jack and showed him the cover of her book. It was a large heart and on the front were the words The Tales of Emma and her Papa .
    Jack reached out to the book, touching it, and gave Emma the biggest smile he could.
    “ Is this a story about us, little girl? ”
    Emma nodded.
    “ Are there pictures too? ”
    Emma opened up to the first page and showed Jack the picture she ’ d drawn of her room with the fairy lights.
    With everyone silent, Emma read the story, retelling tales of her baking with Dottie in the kitchen, of working with Jack in his little workshop, and helping to take care of his flowers. She recounted the story of when Daisy had been her surprise gift and then she turned the page to the picture of a small tree, the same one where Dottie ’ s ashes were buried beneath.
    “ Papa, now, I want you to lie back and close your eyes, okay? ” Emma placed her hands on Jack ’ s cheeks and gave him a small kiss.
    “ Emma. ” Peter went to stop her but Megan squeezed his hand.
    “ Papa is tired, Daddy. It ’ s okay. ”
    Megan was so proud of her little girl. So proud and humbled by her strength. She was doing what no one else could … letting Jack know it was okay to go.
    “ Emma, ” Megan said softly.
    Her daughter looked up with bright eyes and Megan knew she was holding back her tears. “ Finish your story for Papa, okay? Jack, we all love you. ”
    “ Love you, Papa Jack, ” Hannah and Alexis both whispered.
    “ Jack, thank you … for everything, ” Peter managed to get out.
    Jack gazed around at everyone. “ I ’ ve lived a good life, but you all, ” he paused as he looked at Emma, “ you have helped to make my life worth living. ” Jack ’ s face tightened up and it was evident for everyone to see he was in pain. He struggled to breathe — in and out, in and out — and everyone held their own breath waiting … just waiting.
    “ I love you, Princess, ” Jack was finally able to whisper.
    Emma leaned forward and placed another kiss on Jack ’ s lips. “ I ’ ll always love you, Papa. ”
    Jack closed his eyes. “ Finish your story, baby girl. ”
    With trembling hands, Emma picked up her book and turned to the last page. She blinked a few times before she opened her mouth.
    “ At the end of his days, Papa was tired and Grandma was ready for him to come home. His little girl would miss him forever but she knew he would always be watching her, protecting her, just like her grandma. Because in the end, that ’ s what love is all about. ” By the end, Emma ’ s voice had dropped to a mere whisper until the only sound anyone heard in the hospital room was the steady tone of the heart monitor, first from Doug ’