Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance Read Online Free Page A

There are loads of tests to be done and my body might reject the new lungs.” Rory took her face in his hands.
    “It’ll take Aoife. I promise you. It’ll take. You will be home here in three weeks with your lovely new lungs. You will take a breath of the fine clear fresh air here on Cherry tree farm and you will feel better than you have ever felt before. I feel it in here.” He thumped his fist against his heart.
    Aoife smiled at him and pinched his arm gently. “Ah Rory, ever the optimist. Right lads, we have to get ready. Rian, my hospital bag is in the cupboard under the stairs, will you get it for me? It’s a two and a half hour drive to Dublin; we need to leave in the next half an hour.”

    Cass fidgeted on her feet as the doctors and transplant co-ordinator entered the room. Doctor Henning, took her mother’s hands gently in his own.
    “It’s time Alice. We need to take Harry to theatre now, to prepare the organs.”
    “Do you turn off the machine now?” Cass asked, looking anxiously around the room.
    “No. Not yet. We will do that soon, after. Would you like to walk him down to the theatre?”
    Cass nodded and they walked beside the gurney as the orderlies began the slow journey to the operating theatre. Her parents walked on either side of  Harry, holding each of his hands in their own. Her father on the right hand side of the bed, his jaw set tightly as he gripped the hand of his son. He spoke to him soothingly as he had done so often when Harry was a small boy. Her mother on the right was silent and staring straight ahead as she rubbed Harry’s knuckles within her two hands. Cass stroked her brothers hair feeling empty and lost. It all seemed so surreal, so final.
    As they stopped at the door of Theatre one, they told Harry how much they loved him and how much he would be missed. Cass kissed his face and her tears spilled onto his face and rolled down into his ear. She wiped them away with her fingers and whispered into his ear.
    “I love you Harry. I love you so much. I’m sorry-so sorry.”
    She put her arm around her dad and pulled him back as he sobbed and cried out for the son he would never get back.
    Cass was in awe of her mum’s strength. She watched her take the time to thank each member of the transplant team individually. As she turned to Cass, she nodded and smiled through the haze of unshed tears that welled in her eyes. Proud and elegant even in the face of the greatest adversity.
    “His last journey Cass. His grand farewell. My little boy is gone.”
      Doctor Henning nodded towards a member of the team and Cass stood silently as Harry disappeared through the doors. His last and greatest gift still waiting to be given. “If you would like to sit in the family room and relax for a while, we will call you …after the procedure.”
    Cass nodded and gave one last look at the door before she turned and walked away.  Her parents followed soon after, the waiting game had begun again in earnest.
    Cass paced the room for the two hours it took for Harry’s organs to be removed. She ran over the last two weeks in her mind. Why hadn’t she told Matt to lie down for a while rather than insisting Harry drive him home? All the ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs’ ran over and over in her mind, until she was drained from it all. What did it matter now? Harry was gone.
    Mary Ellis, the transplant co-ordinator opened the door of the waiting room and nodded to Brian and Alice.
    “You can see him now. It’s all done. All perfect organs. Harry will give new hope and a brand new lease of life to six people. He’s a silent hero.” Cass wondered about the six people and their families who would get good news today. The Ying and Yang of life. Someone dies, someone is reborn. She had never thought of people waiting to receive organs before. People in homes and beds around the world bravely trying to live their lives as best they could. Patiently waiting for the death of another to bring them a precious