Rebelling wasn’t an option, because Rebecca was totally exhausted. Her overworked heart must’ve been putting in overtime to keep her alive. Since she couldn’t argue, even if she wanted to, she allowed her eyes to close.
Three days later…
Rebecca’s eyes blinked open. The hospital bed was partially raised so she was better able to take in her environment. The olive-green room was dimly lit, but there was enough light for her to see that she didn’t have a roommate. She looked down, and lying on her chest was a red pillow in the shape of a heart.
“Welcome back, beautiful.” The voice came from the doorway.
It was Nick. He was smiling and holding a cup of what she assumed was coffee.
“Nick.” Her voice came out in a whisper, because that was all she could manage. Her throat was still sore from the respirator.
He placed the cup on the tray and walked over to the bed. He was so very handsome, even though he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
“It’s good to see you awake.”
“W-what… what—”
“Shhhh.”
He picked up her hand and lifted it to his lips. After a sweet kiss, he said, “Wait for the doctor.”
When Nick turned around, Rebecca could see Dr. Bettis entering the room.
“It’s good to see you so alert. You’re doing very well,” she praised with a wide grin.
“I- I had a heart attack, right?” Her voice was hoarse.
“You did,” the doctor confirmed. “You died for a few minutes, but we got you back.”
Rebecca inhaled a painful breath at the news that she’d had to be resuscitated. Dr. Bettis moved closer and began to check the monitors next to her bed. She pulled her stethoscope from around her neck and smiled.
“You survived, but that old heart of yours didn’t.”
Rebecca was confused as she glared up at her doctor with knitted brows. She wasn’t making sense. How could she have survived without her heart?
She couldn’t unless…
“Let’s see how this new one is doing,” the doctor said, sticking the ear tips of the stethoscope in her ears.
Rebecca gasped. Had she heard her correctly? Had Nick heard her? Her eyes flew to him. His broad smile told her he had. She turned back to Dr. Bettis.
“I-I… H… How?” she croaked.
The doctor nodded her head toward Nick. “Why don’t I let Mr. Cato explain?”
Rebecca wondered why her doctor would allow someone other than her to explain medical procedures. She looked at Nick and saw a flash of sadness in his eyes. But he smiled, and it was gone just as quickly as it had come. When she studied him through narrowed eyes, he lowered his gaze.
“Dr. Bettis,” she called without taking her eyes off him. “Where did this—”
“Rebecca,” Nick interrupted. He smiled, but it was tense. He was nervous. “I have a son,” he whispered.
Rebecca instantly understood. Her eyes welled with tears...tears for him. “Oh, Nick…” She breathed.
The tears swimming in her eyes trickled down her cheeks. The truth hit her like a ton of bricks. Inside her chest was his wife’s beating heart.
CATO
By her falling tears, it was obvious that she was devastated. But when Dr. Thantos told him that Vera had the same rare blood type as Rebecca, and she would not survive the night without a heart, there was no other choice to be made.
