Chapter 5 - The Road Back to Us
When Caleb burst into the ICU room, the ventilator tube had been removed, and Hannah was coughing weakly, her eyes fluttering open. A nurse was adjusting her pillows, providing her with a small cup of water.
"Hannah," Caleb breathed, rushing to her side.
As he reached for her hand, Hannah flinched slightly, a flash of fear and deep sorrow crossing her pale face. Her voice was nothing more than a raspy whisper. "Caleb... the doctor... your mother said..."
"I know what she said, Hannah. I know everything," Caleb interrupted gently, carefully cupping her face in his hands so she could see the absolute devotion in his eyes. "She lied to me. She lied to the doctors. She tried to make me think you were unfaithful so I wouldn't come home. But I know the truth. You called me seventeen times. You tried to save our baby."
Tears spilled from Hannah’s eyes, cutting paths through the exhaustion on her face. "The baby... Caleb, where is our baby? Is he...?"
Caleb smiled through his own tears, kissing her knuckles. "He’s alive, Hannah. He’s a fighter, just like you. He’s in the NICU, and the doctors say he’s stabilizing. He’s waiting for his mommy."
A profound wave of relief washed over Hannah’s face, her shoulders finally relaxing into the hospital bed. "You didn't believe her?"
"Never," Caleb said fiercely. "I love you more than my own life. I will spend the rest of my days making this up to you. Lorraine is being arrested as we speak. She will never, ever hurt us again."
Two days later, Hannah was strong enough to be transferred to a wheelchair. With Caleb pushing her gently, they made their first journey together to the NICU.
The nurses wheeled Hannah right up to the plastic incubator. For the first time, Hannah reached her hands through the openings, gently touching her son's tiny feet. The baby opened his dark, alert eyes, looking straight toward the sound of his mother's soft, emotional weeping.
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"We’re going to call him Ethan," Hannah whispered, looking up at Caleb, then toward Dr. Brooks, who was standing at the edge of the room, smiling warmly. "After the doctor who didn't give up on us."
Caleb nodded, leaning down to press a deep, loving kiss to his wife's head, holding his new family close. The nightmare was finally ending.
