Read Surge (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 3: St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders for Free Online Page B

female reproductive system. The birthing videos she’d been subjected to in class had made her stomach turn and she wished she’d taken geology instead.
    An hour and a half later she got up to make a glass of chocolate milk and saw Jackson’s dinner in the refrigerator. It was nearing five o’clock. The ping of her phone disturbed her thoughts.
    CODE C
    OMW! Bringing U dinner.
    Something must be wrong. Code C was what Jackson called a code Clara meaning he needed her asap. Recalling that he had a bed to sleep on in his office at the hospital, she thought it would be nice to spend the night in that bed next to him and wondered if such a thing were even possible. She’d been in the little room before when they’d needed privacy to talk. It was quiet and out of the way. With the tantalizing idea in her mind, she changed into yoga pants and a tank top and pulled on a hoodie in case she became cold. She slid her feet into flip-flops, grabbed his dinner and her books, and left for the hospital.
    Once there, she went straight to his office and used the toaster oven to heat the leftover pizza. She went to the soda machine and purchased him a fruit punch drink with electrolytes so at least he’d be well hydrated. On the table in his office she set out the heated pizza, salad, and love note, and then she texted him.
    In yr office. Dinner is ready.
    Be there in five.
    Clara set out her books and pulled a fresh stack of notecards from her backpack. Upon finishing her fifth notecard she heard the door snick open. She looked up and saw Jackson slumped against the door in his green scrubs.
    “What’s wrong?” She guided him to the table. He folded into a chair and his hands clasped around her waist as he rubbed his face against her stomach. An agonized moan tore through the room.
    “Jackson?” She’d seen him like this before, when he’d lost a patient. Her hand massaged his stiff neck. “What happened?”
    “Bug.” He whispered as he continued to bury his face in her stomach.
    “Talk to me baby.”
    “There was a pile up on the I-10.” His swallow was audible. “Took us five hours to clear. I wanted to be done with the unrelenting death, destruction, and loss, but I couldn’t outrun it. When I got to the hospital all the victims were here to haunt me. Their mangled parts, the blood, the families.” His haunted eyes pierced her in place. “What if I lose you?” His hold on her was so tight it hurt.
    He was frantic. “Hey.” She squatted in front of him and took his face in her palms. “Jackson, look at me.” His tortured dark blue eyes looked into hers. “I’m right here. I’ll always be with you. You won’t lose me. I promise.” At her reassurance his brow went smooth. “I’m going to stay the night here too, sleep on the cot. When you’re able, come to me. I’ll be waiting for you.”
    He took her hand in his. “Thank you.” He kissed her palm. “I need you so much.”
    She leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips. What he saw in a day’s work were things no one was meant to see. Any other person would have cracked by now, but not Jackson. He dedicated his life to helping others during their time of need. He knew firsthand what it was like to lose a family member. He’d lost two all at once.
    “Can you eat?”
    “I don’t know. Feeling kind of sick.”
    “How about some juice and a little salad and bread?” He nodded and let her take care of him. She passed him the love note she’d written on the napkin and his thumb caressed it as he read.
    “I’ll always love you, Cracker Jack. Thank you for making sacrifices so we can be together. I’m proud to call you my one and only. Can’t wait to be your wife.”
    A lone tear rolled down his cheek. “Bug.” He gasped and pulled her into his chest. “I love you.”
    “I more than love you.” As he ate she massaged his shoulders and neck relieving some of his stiffness. She finally sat next to him and took a few bites of pizza while she worked