Rodney: Marshall’s Shadow – Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance by Kathi Barton (books for new readers TXT) 📕

number called with a code blue. Her heart felt heavy as she realized that not only was it her momma’s room number, but a code blue could only mean one thing. Sheppard got on the elevator with her.

“I’m going with you. In the event you need me.” Nodding, she was crying hard when the doors opened. Knowing she’d not be able to go into the room just yet, she stayed as close as they’d let her. “Darling, come over here. You’re going to be in the way.”

“She’s dying, and she’s all alone. I told her I’d be there, and I’m not. What am I to do, Sheppard?”

Sheppard did something for her that she would forever be grateful for. He took her hand into his and shoved his way into the room. The doctors were still working on her momma, but she took her hand into hers.

“I love you, Momma. If you’re going to do this, it’s okay with me. Just go on and be the best angel ever.” The little blip on the machine over her head made a sudden loud noise. When the staff started to work on her again, she told them no. “She’s ready. And I can’t see her suffering anymore.”

“Are you sure, honey?” She nodded at Sheppard when he spoke to her from behind. “Then they’ll let her go in peace.”

Sheppard spoke to the staff there, and they went out of the room one by one. The noise was cut off at one point, and she held tighter to her momma’s hand. Talking to her, telling her what she’d had for lunch, was all she could think to say to her.

“I met the most incredible person while away. Mr. Sheppard. I don’t know him very well, but he was there when I needed him to be. He also made it so I could be here with you now. I’m going to miss you so much, Momma.” She cried harder then, not caring one bit if anyone was judging her. Looking around, the only other person in the room with her was Sheppard. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”

“You’ll figure it out. And if you don’t, I’ll be right here for you.” He smiled at her. “You go on now and have yourself a talk with your momma, Shannon. She can hear you. I just know it.”

She did what he said, telling her about the things she was going to do the rest of the day. “I know we called that funeral home to have arrangements made, but I don’t know if I have to call them or not.” Sheppard told her the staff would take care of it by coming to get her. “Good. I showed you pictures of the pretty cemetery I found for you. I love the fact that it’s so well taken care of. You’ll be the envy of all the others with the pretty tree that shades your spot.”

She spent another hour with her momma. The funeral director must have been friends with Sheppard because she heard him tell the older man that his family was good. When she was asked if she was ready, Shannon left the room and sat in the hall with Sheppard. Leaning on his shoulder, she cried again, wondering, as she had been lately, what she was going to do now that she was all alone.

“You must think I’m silly. I’m a grown woman, and I’m afraid like a little girl. But she’s always been with me, and now I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” He told her she’d get to living, just as he’d done. “You’re right. Momma would be fussing at me if she were here now. She’d say, ‘Shannon, get yourself up and going before I have to kick you around.’ She never actually kicked me, but I understood that she would if I didn’t. I’m going to miss her a great deal.”

“Well, of course, you are. But here is what you and I are going to do. I’ve been talking to my family, and I’m to invite you to my grandson’s home. We’ll have a nice dinner, and you can bunk in my house. It’s no trouble at all, so don’t be thinking I’m going to let you out of it.” Shannon didn’t understand this connection she had with this man, but she trusted him. “Then sometime tomorrow, I’m betting you’ll be able to go to Henderson’s place and make them arrangements for your momma. You’ll feel a good deal better by getting a good night’s sleep and some homemade food in your belly.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t know me from anyone else.” He said he understood her pain. “I guess you would. More than anyone around.”

In the end, she went to the funeral home after they left the hospital. The man there, Mr. Henderson, told her that even though everything had been arranged and paid for, it would help him a great deal if she were to answer a couple of questions.

“She decided no service was to be held. Do you still want that for her?” She said she didn’t know, and Sheppard told the man they’d be there for her. “Very good. Also, I have you on the list for the spot next to your mother, Shannon. As soon as I have any information on that, I’ll give you a call. How long after the service are you leaving?”

“Right away. I need to get home and finish the things there that we left to make this trip.” The thought of going back to their home was hard on her. “I don’t have much to take care of there, but I’m thinking of coming back here. To be close to her. Is there anything around here that I could rent?”

“You let me have a look around.”

She nodded and finished up making the rest of the arrangements. She’d not have to be back here until one tomorrow. Then the burial was right afterwards.

Since