The Color of a Memory (The Color of Heaven Series) by Julianne MacLean Page B

I asked Maureen when she returned to the floor.
    “Not yet,” she said, “but the radiologist is looking at the scans now.”
    My chest throbbed. The fact that Alex’s legs were shattered meant a long, arduous road of treatment and recovery—but that was the best case scenario. What if there was irreparable damage to his brain? What if he never woke up at all?
    A short while later, Dr. O’Brien found me in the supply room where I had gone to fetch some sterile coated sutures.
    “Audrey, can I talk to you?” He shut the door, which caused my stomach to drop.
    Somehow—I don’t know how—I found the courage to face him squarely.
    “We’ve looked at the scans,” he told me, “and the news isn’t good.” He paused and looked down at the suture packages in my hands. “You probably shouldn’t be working right now.” He took them from me and set them back on the shelf. “We can handle things from here. You’re going to need to focus on your family.”
    Taking a deep breath to smother the panic rising up inside me, I dropped my hands to my sides. “Why? Tell me the truth and please don’t sugarcoat it. I need to know everything.”
    Though it was not easy to hear, I was thankful that he spoke frankly.
    “I’m sorry to tell you this,” he said, “but your husband has suffered a massive brain trauma. There’s blood and clot everywhere, and it’s going to be impossible for him to come back from damage that severe.”
    My hands began to shake, but I strove to keep my voice steady. “Surely there must be some hope? Is there not even the smallest chance that he could come out of it?”
    Dr. O’Brien shook his head. “I’m sorry, there’s none. His entire left hemisphere is pulverized. I can show you the scans if you like. His brain just isn’t salvageable. He’s not coming back.”
    It took a moment or two for the words to sink in, then my entire body turned to pulp and my knees buckled. I dropped to a sitting position on the floor and began to weep.
    Dr. O’Brien knelt on one knee before me and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry. He was a good man.” He gave me a moment to get over the shock and collect myself, then he reached for a box of tissues on the shelf beside us and opened it. He handed me one and I blew my nose. “I’m so sorry,” he said again. “Is there anyone we should call?”
    “I already called Alex’s parents,” I told him. “They were in Boston today but they’re on their way here now.”
    I wiped the last few tears from my cheeks, then Dr. O’Brien offered a hand to help me rise.
    “Thank you,” I said. “You’ve been very kind.”
    He was quiet for a moment, then spoke gently. “I know it’s hard to think about this right now, but outside of Alex’s brain injury and his legs, his body is healthy and strong. He was a hero in this lifetime, Audrey—but he could still save more lives if you’re willing to consider organ donation. I hope you’ll think about it.”
    I nodded my head, but my mind had gone blank. I wasn’t capable of making a decision like that—not now when I couldn’t even fathom the idea of losing my husband, the man I loved…the father of my child.
    I was in shock.
    As I walked out of the supply room, all I could do was focus on finding a place to sit down before I collapsed again.

 
     
    Two Years Later
     
    Another Life…

 
    Chapter Twenty-six
     
    Nadia Carmichael
     
    If there is one thing I believe in, it is the strength of the human heart.
    My name is Nadia Carmichael and I am the grateful recipient of a gift from a man named Alex Fitzgerald—a man who died and gave his heart to a stranger.
    Just over two years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, Ellen, I contracted a mysterious virus that attacked my heart muscle and sent me into cardiac failure.
    To this day I am still amazed that my own heart managed to function long enough and well enough for me to give birth to my beautiful baby by C-section. And then, within