Page 83 of Dreaming About Forever

“You didn’t bring your purse in. Is it in Jordan’s truck? Can I get you something from a vending machine?”

“Water. Juice.” She was so thirsty.

Oh no. She’d taken insulin after working at the church, but she had forgotten to eat.

Vicci disappeared and came back with a cup of water. “Drink, sweetie.”

Alicia raised the cup to her lips, but her tongue was swollen as if it were too big for her mouth.

Heavy footsteps thudded through the haze, and she raised her head. Jordan was running toward her, and she stood to greet him.

“What’s wrong?” His face blurred as he opened his arms to her.

“Glucose. Tablets. I…”

What was she trying to say?

“Alicia!”

Her arms and legs grew heavy, and the edges of her vision engulfed Jordan as he raced to her side. His hands gripped her arms just as everything went black.

29

JORDAN

Jordan stared at the monitor beside Alicia’s bed, but the numbers and lines blurred together. She’d been in and out for the last five hours, but the pain in his chest hadn’t subsided.

Her hand was warm in his as he brushed the rough pads of his thumbs over her delicate skin. They were so different, in every way. He’d been on the fast track to thinking they were two parts of one whole–two pieces that fit together perfectly.

Now, he wasn’t so sure. She’d been too worried about his family to eat, and now her body was in distress.

He didn’t deserve her. Not before this. Not after this.

There was a soft knock at the door behind him, but Jordan didn’t move or speak.

“Sweetie? How’s she doing?” his mom asked quietly.

“Same.” He hated that “update” because it hadn’t changed. Her blood sugar was still low, her body still couldn’t cope, who knew where her mind was in all this. She hadn’t woken up for long enough to tell him.

His mom’s shadow appeared at his side, and her hand rested on his shoulder. “She’ll pull through. I know it.”

“How can you know it? The doctors don’t even know what’s going on. They can’t bring her blood sugar up. They’ve been doing all they know to do, but it’s not working.”

“Maybe it’s working but just not fast enough for you.”

Jordan huffed. “How long should I just wait around for her to get better?”

“As long as it takes. Sorry, son, but you’re not in charge of this mission, God is.”

His mom was right, but that didn’t mean he liked it. The helplessness had been tugging at his insides all day.

“How’s Dad?”

His mom pulled up a seat beside him. “He’s the same. Stable but not looking great. I hate seeing him like this.”

“That makes two of us.” Jordan’s dad had always been a model of strength. He was a provider and a protector. None of the Taylors had ever questioned whether or not their dad loved them. He’d been the spiritual leader of their family, and he’d taught them countless life lessons. It was tough to see the mountain brought low.

Jordan stared down at Alicia’s hand in his. “I hate seeing her like this too.”

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