Page 19 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

It ripped me to shreds when he lifted his hand to his mouth as he gasped, shaking his head over and over. The doctor reached out and put a hand to his shoulder, her face a mask of care and professionalism. Jack’s hands went straight into his hair the way I’d seen him do when he was upset. He continued shaking his head over and over as the doctor talked gently to him. Eventually, he turned and pressed his hands to the nearest wall. His head fell forward as his body shook.

“She can’t die…” he said loud enough for both me and Emil to hear.

Emil slumped into the seat next to me, elbows propped on his knees, head in his hands. The tears fell, leaving translucent drops spiraling to the floor.

I wanted to go to Jack, but I had TJ. The doctor put a hand on Jack’s back, and I couldn’t help it anymore. Holding my precious cargo firmly against my chest, I went to my fiancé.

“Ellen’s not going to be okay, is she?” I asked the doctor.

The doctor shook her head.

“But you said when she got here, she was talking.” He wiped the tears and snot running from his nose across his sleeve. “What did she say?”

“She wasmumblingwhen she arrived, but the severity of her injuries was too great and worsened, requiring intubation and medication to keep her alive. We’ve just completed some tests and confirmed that, unfortunately, your sister has no brain activity. I’m sorry to say she is now brain dead.”

Jack’s body swayed violently at the news. I used every ounce of strength within me to not break down right along with him. I was determined to be his rock.

“Mr. Larsen,” the doctor said gently. “I need to inform you that she’s a registered donor.”

“Yeah, I know. I helped her set up her medical directive when we lost her husband Troy.” His body trembled. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he croaked.

“We will have the agency that deals with organ donation come speak to you once you’ve had some time to visit with her. Again, my deepest apologies. You probably have many questions. I’m happy to answer them when you are ready.”

“What did she say?” Jack asked again, tears falling down his face.

“I’m sorry?” the doctor prompted, her brow furrowed.

“What did she say when she was brought in?” He swallowed.

“She mumbled, ‘TJ, call Jack’, and then nothing more.”

He brought his fist to his mouth as a sob tore from his lungs and he crumpled to his knees.

“Å gud. Nei!” he cried out in Norwegian, which I gathered meantOh, God. No.

“Jack, I’m so sorry.” I crouched the best I could while holding TJ.

Emil came over and took TJ from me. The boy didn’t wake. Once I’d transferred him to Emil, I wrapped my arms around Jack. “I’m here. We’re going to get through this together.”

“She’s dying, they want…they want…” He couldn’t even say the words out loud as his body convulsed in another round of earth-shattering sobs.

“Mr. Larsen, I know this hurts. I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Again, I’ll have the agency come talk with you about fulfilling her medical directive as a donor.”

He shook his head. “Stop! I can’t…” His sorrow and grief seemed to swallow him whole.

I rubbed his back and with one hand urged him to stand. “Come here, let’s go over here and talk privately.” I glared at the doctor. “He just found out his sister is going to die. Please, give us a few minutes to process,” I hissed.

The woman clamped her lips shut and nodded before turning around and heading to the nurses’ station set in the center of the large area.

I led Jack over to a pair of chairs near a quiet corner and prodded him to sit. He immediately curled over himself. I knelt in front of him so that I could be at eye level when I cupped his jaw.

His eyes were tortured when I stared into them. I had to hold back my own emotional response when all I wanted to do was break down right alongside him. The pain pouring from him in such violent waves devastated me, but one of us had to be strong. For him, for Ellen, and for TJ.

“Jack…” I held his face, bringing mine so close he could only see, hear, feel and smell me. “I’m going to ask you to do the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do in your entire life.”

“Please,” he croaked, his wet lips trembling. “I can’t say goodbye. Don’t make me,” he whispered, the sound so guttural and raw it stole my breath.

“Honey, I know it’s hard, but I’ll be right there with you. And Ellen made her wishes clear in her medical directive, right?”

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