When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 374

The doctor assigned to Cassienne's care adjusted the wheelchair slightly before looking at her one last time. "I'll remind you again, Mrs. Tremont."

Cassienne nodded weakly. "I know."

"You can only stay for a few minutes."

"I understand."

"If you feel uncomfortable in any way, you must tell us immediately."

"I promise."

The doctor exchanged a glance with the ICU nurse before stepping aside.

"The visit can begin."

Cassienne slowly wheeled herself forward.

Mrs. Rawlings instinctively wanted to follow, but Abigail gently touched her arm. "Let them have this moment."

Mrs. Rawlings nodded.

Jessica quietly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Together with the rest, they waited outside.

They watched as Cassienne disappeared through the ICU doors.

Inside, the room smelled faintly of antiseptic. Machines hummed steadily, and soft beeping echoed in the silence.

Cassienne's hands tightened around the wheels of the chair as her eyes searched the room.

Then she found him. Her heart stopped. Dreston was lying quietly on the hospital bed. His usually neat hair was slightly messy, his face had lost its healthy color.

Several IV lines were connected to him, and a heart monitor displayed steady green waves across the screen.

His oxygen tube rested comfortably beneath his nose. He looked peaceful.

Cassienne had imagined seeing him like this many times while waiting outside. None of those imaginations prepared her for reality, for this. "Dreston..."

Her voice barely rose above a whisper. And there was no response.

She slowly moved closer until the wheelchair stopped beside the bed. And for several seconds she simply looked at him. The same man who had kissed her goodbye just yesterday morning.

The same man who had smiled while resting his hand on her stomach and promised to return home.

Fresh tears blurred her vision. "You liar." A tiny smile appeared through her tears. "You promised me."

She reached out slowly, her fingers gently found his hand and it was warm.

Thank God.

It was still warm.

She immediately wrapped both of her hands around it as if she could somehow transfer her own strength into him.

The tears she had been trying so hard to control finally escaped. "You don't get to leave me like this, Dreston."

Silence answered her.

She gently stroked the back of his hand with her thumb. "Everyone is outside waiting.”

She sniffled. “Your parents are waiting. Jessica, Sheila, Daisy, Aurora, Corren and Garry..." She paused. "Garry hasn't stopped blaming himself."

Her eyes lowered briefly. "But I know you. You would do the same thing all over again."

A quiet laugh escaped her. "It annoys me how good you are."

She carefully lifted his hand and rested it against her stomach. "Our little one has been asking for you too."

Another tear rolled down her cheek. "You should have seen everyone when I fainted. You frightened them." Her smile grew a little. "So now we're even." She leaned closer. "But don't ever scare me like this again."

Now her forehead rested gently against his hand. "I can't do this without you, please come back to me.”

The words came from the deepest place inside her heart. "I don't know how."

She remained there for a long moment, simply breathing and holding him.

Then she slowly raised her head and brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead. "I love you, DT."

She placed the softest kiss against his forehead. "So...You'd better wake up. Because I haven't finished arguing with you."

A small laugh escaped her again. The one filled with tears.

The ICU nurse quietly looked away, giving her as much privacy as possible.

After another minute, the nurse finally approached. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Tremont."

Cassienne understood that her time was over.

She gently squeezed Dreston's hand one last time. "I'll come back."

Then she slowly released him.

As the wheelchair turned toward the door, something almost impossible happened.

Dreston's little finger twitched. Just once. So slightly that the heart monitor didn't change.

Cassienne never saw it. Neither did the nurse. But behind the glass, Ray Simpson had just arrived to review Dreston's latest chart.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He glanced from Dreston's hand to the monitor.

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