Sacred Hart Read Online Free Page A

judgment. It was stupid to play the “what if” game, though. It wouldn’t bring him back, and no matter what, I did what I thought was best. Mr. Bartley died in my arms, he died with familiar eyes on his. I was just glad I wasn’t the one who’d had to tell his family. Officer Reynolds had, and I didn’t envy him that.
    I dressed quickly in jeans and a crème colored sweater. The dense fabric did little to warm me. My house was old and the floor board heaters, if I was being honest, were crap. The wood burning stove helped to some extent, but my bedroom faced north; it was always the coldest. I French braided my hair and sat on the edge of the bed. The pale blue and green quilt my mother had made me was threadbare, but I would never part with it. It could be in rags and I’d still sleep with it. I tried not to think of my parents. I tried not to think about Mr. Bartley to no avail. Technically, I should’ve been at work, it was where I’d been headed this morning. Instead, like any other day, I dropped Beth off at Cornelia’s place, but called in sick and came home. The charge nurse was understanding. I worked at All Saints Hospital just outside of town. It was the only trauma hospital for miles. Trauma was my specialty, in work and out. I exhaled an exasperated puff of air.
    “Simmer down with the dramatics, Maggie. Geez.” I watched myself in the mirror and pretended to smile, first with little teeth, then a small smirk, and finally, a giant cheesy grin. I laughed. This was mine and my little girl’s favorite game. “Goofy smiles in the mirror always helps a sad heart.” It’s what my mother used to say to me. These were the little things I’d kept with me. Even now after my parents’ death, I could still find the real smile in the mirror… sometimes.
    I stood abruptly and grabbed my keys off the dresser, nodding at my reflection. I’d pick Beth up early; maybe we could go get some lunch, try to make this crap day better. I grabbed my jacket and slipped my arms through the sleeves. The rain had stopped, but the air was icy. My breath created misty puffs as I walked to my car. The dented Volkswagen Passat sat in the driveway with a dusting of ice along its surface. I’d had this car since I graduated nursing school ten years ago. I climbed in, started the engine, and turned the heat on high blast. The music played effortlessly through the speakers. The slight warm twang of the guitars, the low tone of the piano, it was sad music, but it soaked through all my defenses and made me happy. Music was probably the only thing, besides Beth, that got me through the rough patches. Eventually, my window defrosted enough, three songs later to be exact. I was blissed out as I turned up the stereo and backed out of my driveway.
     

     
    “Thanks again, Cornelia,” I said as I waved over my shoulder.
    “No problem, anytime. Let me know if you get Mr. Bartley’s funeral off from work. If not, I can find someone to watch Beth.” She smiled at me as I turned to look back at her. Her hair was salt and pepper and up in a bun today. She was so tall and elegant. I imagined she was quite the sight when she was younger.
    “That would be great.” My lips spread in a return smile.
    “Bye, Mrs. Samson.” Beth waved rapidly as she chattered her teeth.
    “Get in the car, Honey Bee.” I shook my head with a grin.
    Beth’s hair was too long. It hung just below her waist, all one length in straw colored waves. She had my blonde but looked just like Adam. I wished she could’ve looked more like me; looking at her was like staring at the past, and it hurt sometimes. Adam was that hot doctor every young nurse wanted to work with. He was smart, tall, dark, and had just enough sex appeal to make him cocky. His brown eyes drank you in, making you think you were his. I’d worked with him back when I lived in Utah. We had a drunken one-night stand, and I ended up pregnant.
    He didn’t want anything to do with me after that. It