From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 121

Juliana pressed her lips together, grumbling under her breath. “Why are you yelling? I never said I wouldn’t sign.”

Once both signatures were on the form, Eleanor could only wait for Jared’s surgery that Saturday. She moved right into the hospital for those few days. The weekend was just around the corner, and it just so happened that Max was out of town on a work trip. She didn’t have to worry about making him dinner or coming up with an excuse for why she’d be gone.

In the hospital’s cardiology department, Jessie pouted at her grandmother, her face scrunched up. “Grandma, you really scared me. You’ve got to be more careful.”

If Eleanor had been there, she would have recognized Paola instantly as the woman she had helped the other day.

Paola smiled, a little embarrassed. “I’m fine now, aren’t I? Honestly, if that girl hadn’t helped me, I probably wouldn’t be here to see you today.”

Jessie’s name was a blend of her parents’ last names. The Goff family and the Davidson family were both well-known and respected. On their own, maybe they didn’t stand out as much, but together, even the powerful Clarkson family had to think twice before crossing them.

Jessie didn’t stay long. After she left, Paola grew quiet, lost in thought.

“Lily,” she said softly to her caregiver, “that girl who saved me looked so much like Cindy when she was younger.”

The resemblance had been so strong, Paola actually thought, for a second, that her daughter had come back for her.

Cindy had passed away shortly after Jessie was born. Jessie had two older brothers, which only made her more cherished by everyone in the Goff family.

Lily, the caregiver, smiled. “People can look alike, Paola. Maybe it was your daughter’s spirit looking out for you.”

Paola just smiled, letting the idea float away like a gentle joke.

Saturday finally came. Eleanor was a mess of nerves, and Juliana was no better. Strangely enough, Jared was the calmest of the three.

He stood there in his hospital gown, giving them both a reassuring smile. “Mom, Eleanor, I’ll be fine. Trust me.”

“Doctor, how’s Jared?”

“Doctor, is he okay?”

For the first time ever, the two of them spoke in perfect unison.

The doctor pulled off his mask, his smile bright and reassuring. “The surgery went really well. As soon as the anesthesia wears off, Jared will wake up.”

Relief hit Eleanor so hard she almost laughed and cried at the same time.

Jared, she thought, next year I really will get to celebrate your eighteenth birthday with you.