Unjustified Favor

By Janna Hill

Love and supernatural abilities are flourishing as the clan grows larger, but sorrow and malevolence are never far from them.

We find Unjustified Favor picking up where book one (Between the Rage & Grace) left off with the O'Bromley, the Turner and the Latrull families sorting through secrets, dealing with death and suspended in the supernatural.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janna Hill
• Release date: Mar 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463281949

Janna Hill

Janna Hill is an international author of fiction, short stories and poetry. She currently resides somewhere between the palm trees and pines and a forest in Texas. Her motto is: Fans are just friends and family I haven’t met… or wrote about yet. She has also been heard to say, home is where the blog is. You can follow her at home@ www.therealjannahill.com

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Unjustified Favor

Book III in the Clan Destiny Series

by Janna Hill

© 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing by the author or the author’s representative.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Published in the USA by J Hill Ink

Smashwords Edition

It is with many thanks I dedicate this title to my family and fans because without you I would have no inspiration.

To my husband, because without you my muse would fall short. And with much love & gratitude to my belated Aunt Gloria whose encouragement will live forever in my memory.

Chapter 1

As Clara made her way down the dim corridor and toward the shimmering band of brightness, she could see the five souls waiting for her. She pressed forward, numb from the shock. Was it her own force propelling her or the will of those waiting, drawing her to them like a moth to a flame? She could not discern, either way the light ahead offered comfort.

She should have seen it coming, the loss of her mother, she should have known. In hindsight, she did know but had refused to acknowledge it because to acknowledge it would have been to believe it and she was not ready for that. Of course, it did not matter now whether she was ready or not, it was a reality.

I am so sorry sweetie, Maggie cried, holding her arms open as Clara approached and then letting them fall as her friend drifted past, her glazed stare fixed on Mr. O’Bromley.

Clara’s father watched quietly behind the somber crowd as she approached. When her eyes met his, he stood and forced a weak smile. His face appeared frazzled and dejected; he had aged twenty years in the last hour. When she was within arm’s reach, the old man sat himself down, patted his knees and waited. Without hesitation or embarrassment, the woman dropped into her father’s lap and wept.

Joseph O’Bromley did not attempt to hush her or tell her that it would be okay. How could he? He knew far too well it would not be, not for a while anyway and for him, not in this lifetime.

Would any of you like to go in and see Mrs. O’Bromley before they take her away? Maggie asked speaking barely above a whisper to Jim and Mr. O’Bromley. Jim nodded and gently nudged his father in law but the elder just shook his head and continued to rock his daughter. Maggie motioned for Jim to follow and instantly the gentle giant was in stride beside her.

Maggie counted each step they took; they had taken thirty seven and a half before either of them spoke.

I hope you weren’t offended by Clara’s demeanor. She didn’t intend to snub you. I want you to know that we all appreciate your support but this is a blow to her, to all of us-

Well aren’t you the sweetest little thing. Maggie smiled, No, I wasn’t bothered in the least. She replied, concealing her embarrassment. She would not admit the disappointment she felt when Clara walked right past her; nor would she confess the courage it took to make such a gesture. That’s a wonderful family you have Jim, and I truly am so sorry for your loss.

Thank you. Mary O’Bromley was a great lady. The kind of mother an orphan only dreams about.

Maggie wanted to respond, to offer a polite remark of understanding. Clara had told her Jim’s story, how he had been shuffled through the foster care conundrum, but she had no consoling words to offer. Her mind instead darted back to her own maternal figure, inundating her with self-pity and anger. She hated those feelings, hated the fact that she could still be troubled by the unwanted memories that too often caused her to wake up crying. She shoved the recollections back into their recess.

Jim raised his arm and gently wrapped it around the shoulders of the slender frame beside him. They walked rhythmically in silence down the empty corridor. Jim knew Maggie’s story as well.

When they reached the double doors Maggie stepped ahead of Jim and tapped the stainless steel disk on the wall. She tapped her foot, listening to the mechanical parts grinding and clicking. After a few seconds the hinges groaned and the doors swung open.

Someone should fix that. Jim whispered.

Indeed they should. Maggie agreed, and motioned for him to follow her.

She led him past a sprained ankle, a fractured color bone and a drug overdose before they reached the Plexiglas room where Mrs. O’Bromley rested.

The evidence of the failed resuscitation lay scattered about the room. Her vacant eyes were half opened and staring. Her paisley blouse had been stripped of its buttons, exposing her bare chest and her mouth was agape.

Maggie scrambled to close the lady’s shirt and gently slid her hand across the open sockets. She hated for families to see the ugliness of it. She hated a lot lately.

For heaven’s sake! I am-

Her attempted apology was stifled when Jim put a huge hand up and shook his head.

Don’t matter none about that. I know it wasn’t a pretty site – death never is. And I know she’s not in there, in that shell. His voice cracked and he cleared his throat, I just need to say good-bye and put my mind at ease.

Do you want me to stay with you? she asked.

No thank you, I’d rather be alone for a minute, if you don’t mind.

That’s fine. Maggie said, rubbing her hand across his arm, I’ll wait for you over by the nurse’s station. Take your time.

Maggie left the bereaved son-in-law to say his final farewells and marched toward the unit’s main station.

Sitting idly behind the counter was a full figured young lady dressed in purple colored scrubs. The uniform appeared to be a few sizes shy of accommodating her physique.

Well aren’t you a plump little people eater. Maggie approached the nurse and bit her tongue to suppress the words wrestling to escape her mouth.

What’s up? the nurse asked, mirroring the sneer on Maggie’s face. Maggie did not know this girl. Her nametag was hospital issue but her face was not familiar. And she did not know Maggie.

You must be new here. The seasoned nurse inquired looking over the desk.

Yeah. Yeah was the only response the newbie offered, along with an exaggerated facial expression.

I thought you might be because anyone else would know not to leave a room in such a mess, especially with the family coming in. It’s stressful enough on them already, don’t you think?

Excuse me? You need to take that up with housekeeping the haughty girl spoke holding her name tag forward, I’m in the nursing department.

Maggie was flabbergasted by the employees disdain, so much so that she found herself speechless, for a few seconds. However a second can seem like an eternity to a cheeky southern belle like herself. Raising her brow slightly and putting her jaw back into place she made a mental note of the tag and replied,

What does that have to do with you leaving your patient and your area in a mess LISA? She stressed, Lisa RN, did I get it right?

The opposing nurse nodded with a smirk.

You could have at least covered her up and not left her boobs hanging out for everyone to see. Why didn’t you pick up around the bed or put a fresh sheet on Mrs. O’Bromley?

Umm, maybe you didn’t notice Lisa answered raising her own brow, "but she’s dead. I don’t think she cares whether the sheet is clean or not!

Really? Maggie shrieked, You are that stupid? That disrespectful? That narrow minded? It did not occur to you how her loved ones might react or do you just plain not give a crap?

Lisa continued to contort her face, mocking Maggie.

Stop it! You look like a purple toad having a seizure, sitting there rolling your eyes like that. Maggie felt cruel, and lashed out, What’s the matter -- do you have a thyroid disease because you are about fifty pounds over your recommended weight and your clothes are way too small! You look hideous!

I’m busy. Why don’t you go back to where ever it is you came from and leave me alone? Lisa picked up a small stack of reports, straightened them, tapping them against the countertop.

Oh you are going to get busy, you arrogant little pig. Maggie growled before ordering her, Pry your fat lazy butt out of that chair and go in there and tell Mrs. O’Bromley’s son-in-law how sorry you are for his loss. Then apologize and make up some lame excuse for why the area looks like a tornado hit it. I’m sure you’re good at making up excuses and don’t you dare say you were waiting on housekeeping. After all, there is no need to let him know what a slothful cow you really are.

Who are you to talk to me like that? You don’t have the right to insult me and you don’t give me orders! Lisa said, lifting her body upright, You’re not my supervisor. I have never even seen you before, you skinny little twit!

You ought to do it because it’s the right thing to do but if you need further encouragement you should know my father owns this little establishment. Maggie lied, ignoring the fact that she had just been called a twit.

Seriously? the girl asked with an immediate change in tone. Maggie nodded and watched as Lisa hurried to where Jim was standing beside the late Mary O’Bromley.

Though she could not hear the conversation she saw the purple suited nurse frantically picking up the wrappers and discarded tubes around the gurney and counted at least four times that she mouthed the phrase ‘I’m sorry.

Maggie was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the lie made itself available and the power it held. She had never been prone to telling falsehoods but that little fib had sprung up out of nowhere and took on a life of its own. She would have to make a point to find out who did own the hospital and if she had to she would deny ever saying such a thing.

It was a one eyed one horned flying purple people eater. The song happily played in her head as Maggie flipped through Mrs. O’Bromley’s records to be certain everything possible had been done to save her. There was no doubt in her mind. The EKG revealed an unbelievable ST segment and the cardiac enzymes were off the map. The combined elevations were the calling card of the grim reaper, meaning she was essentially dead when she arrived.

Marcel’s Funeral Home will be picking up the body. Do we need to sign anything before we go?

Jim’s approach startled Maggie and she tossed the chart into the air.

Sorry. Jim smiled as he watched a few pieces of paper float down to rest on the worn white laminate. I didn’t mean to scare you.

It’s okay. I shouldn’t have let my mind roam so far from home. Maggie laughed placing the documents back where she had found them.

Yes Mr. O’Bromley will need to sign a few things but you can go on back to the waiting room and I’ll bring the forms out to him.

Jim left and Maggie walked back to the clear enclosure to find Lisa finishing up.

Can I help you with anything? she asked.

No, I’m almost done. Lisa replied suspiciously, noting that the Maggie did not wait for her response but instead took charge in reorganizing the room and swiftly exchanging the soiled coverings with crisp clean ones.

Now doesn’t that look better?

I guess. Replied the nurse in purple as she fidgeted with the mouthpiece of the ambu bag, I hope you are not going to say anything about… you know.

Maggie considered letting the languid nurse squirm a bit, but the idea was cut short by her conscience.

I won’t tell you were slacking if you don’t tell I lied about my father owning the hospital. She offered.

Your dad doesn’t own this place? the woman asked with rising indignation, Then who does?

How would I know? Maggie laughed, I only said that to get you motivated and it seemed to work. She could feel Lisa’s glare on her back as she walked away. It was nice meeting you Lisa RN, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. Holler if you need anything.

Chapter 2

Let’s get you to bed. You’ve had enough excitement for your first day back among the living. Maggie said, taking the handles of the wheelchair and gently pushing it forward.

But I’m not tired. Linda argued.

She would always say dat – I mean th... thh that even when she was a little girl. Ms. Latrull interjected, hurrying to keep up with them She was always afraid she would miss some ting, some th – thing. Something!

Maggie stopped the chair abruptly causing Linda to jolt forward. Both women were staring at Mary Latrull. Maggie was baffled by her stuttering.

What has gotten in to you? Maggie asked scanning the woman for possible signs of a stroke, Do you feel alright? Are you dizzy? Are you on any medications?

She is working on her phonetics Linda chuckled, watching her mother repeatedly press her tongue against her front teeth.

"Phonetics - really? What brought