Page 98 of Caged

Dad got an update from the nurse while my mom grabbed a blanket from the empty bed and draped it over my shoulders.

I grabbed her hand to show my gratitude.

“The doctor said they’ll remove the breathing tube later today,” Dad attempted to comfort me, putting his hand on my shoulder. “It’ll take some time, but she should make a full recovery.”

“Should isn’t good enough,” I said.

I slipped my hand under Cate’s and gently laced our fingers together. I’d be there, by her side, making sure she wasn’t alone.No matter how long it takes.

“You don’t have to stay,” I said to my dad, who’d moved two chairs near the door.

“We know,” he replied, making no attempt to move. Ma just smiled and settled into her chair.

“Thank you.” I turned and blinked away the tears forming in my eyes.

I prayed Cate would wake up.

I begged her, silently, to come back to me.

I bargained with God.

When my brothers showed up at lunch with burgers, I inhaled them.

After lunch, Ma kissed me goodbye and left with my brothers. I told Dad he could leave but he said, “I’ll stay.”

I dozed off with my head resting on Cate’s bed, my hand holding hers. The sound of Dad’s voice woke me, saving me from a memory-induced nightmare.

He was on his phone.

“General Maxwell, I’m glad you’ve landed safely. I trust you found your driver okay.”

Her father’s here, which means my time with her is limited. It was a selfish thought, but I didn’t care.

“I’m with her now, she’s unconscious, but stable.”

I willed him to put the phone on speaker, but he didn’t.

I felt a tug at my hand and snapped my attention back to Cate. Her eyelids fluttered, and she mumbled, but she didn’t wake up.

“I’m here,” I whispered. “You’re safe.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.” Hearing my father call someone else sir sounded foreign.

“Jaden and I will stay with her until you get here.”

A short pause.

“Yes sir, we’ll see you then.” He hung up and pocketed his phone.

“When will he get here?” I asked.

“About an hour,” he answered. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, she moved her hand and tried opening her eyes.”That has to be a good sign, right?

Assuming I’d have to leave when Maxwell’s dad arrived, I selfishly hoped she’d wake up before then. I wanted to be the first person she saw, the first person she talked to, the first person to reassure her she’d be okay and promise to help her every step of the way.

The one thing I wouldn’t do was tell her how I felt. Not here, not like this. She deserved to be drug-free and fully healed when I confessed my love.

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