She was allowed this happiness. Gretchen was her past and Meredith was her future.

Chapter Five

13 days, 13 hours, 6 minutes

Jax hated going back to work. Not because she couldn’t be at the hospital constantly or there for Caleb, but because her job made her more miserable than anything. She hated her boss, Randy, and couldn’t stand any of the other people working in the office. She’d promised herself five years ago when she took the job that it was temporary. She needed something to help pay the bills, and graphic design allowed her to apply her art degree and experience to a steady career with benefits, much more than she got as a freelance artist trying to make a name for herself in New Jersey.

“The pizzeria and the boutique are taken care of. I’ll have the menus and flyers ready to go by the end of the week.” Jax stared her boss in the eye and imagined how great it would feel to strangle him. “I’ve been working on them from home and haven’t lost a minute.”

“That’s good. The last thing I needed was for you to flake on me.”

Jax knew her boss was a dick, but could he possibly be that heartless, too? “I promise I won’t flake on you. Not even when my wife is in a coma,” she said flatly.

“Great. I’ll see you at our four o’clock meeting.” His eyes were on his phone. He was clearly done with her.

Jax tugged at the collar of her gingham button-up as she left his office. She planned on finding a new job as soon as things with her family got back to normal, and even though she’d made the promise to herself every day, this time she meant it. This job with these people was bad for her health.

Fatigue settled in, weighty and strong. She walked straight to the break room and prayed there was still coffee left. She would even drink a cup of instant if they had it. Jax tried her best to sleep, and Meredith was a blessing with all the ways she tried to help relax her, but the nights were still mostly sleepless. Gretchen’s lifeless body haunted her mind. She made a quick cup of coffee and pulled her phone from her pocket the moment she sat down and started typing a message to Amanda.

How are things?

Jax brought up her latest accounts and tried to focus on work, but she was much more concerned about Gretchen and the meeting she wanted no part of. Meetings at Shoreline Design often dragged and included only three members of the ten-person staff. She didn’t have time to sit and play spectator. Her phone buzzed.

They took her back for another scan.

Jax read and reread the message. She knew Amanda wasn’t her number one fan, but communicating more wouldn’t kill her.

Did the doctor say anything?

I’m waiting for them to come back in the room.