Chapter 36 - Going Home
Cat had been in the hospital for a week, and they were finally ready to discharge her. Even with the werelion blood, she had to give her body time to recover. All the doctors were amazed that she could walk without assistance and that all her bones had healed.
She was sitting on the side of the hospital bed, waiting for the nurse to come with a wheelchair to take her downstairs to Trey. Cat didn't like being the patient. She preferred being the nurse and was getting agitated to get out of there. She felt like a freak the past week, with doctors coming wanting to see her for themselves.
Cat was ready to go home. At least what she would be calling home for right now. Trey was still worried about her going back to her apartment with her address being released online. He also wasn't taking her back to the hotel because he didn't like how easy it had been for Caleb to get to her.
Roger had offered to let them stay in his pool house at his home in Granite Bay. At first, Trey wasn't sure because he didn't know how Cat would feel staying at someone else's house. She had reassured him that she would be fine as long as he was there. That's where they were headed as soon as the nurse took Cat downstairs.
Just as she was ready to get up and walk out, a nurse came in, pushing a wheelchair. Cat smiled as soon as she saw who it was.
"Are you ready to get out of this place?" Diane, the ICU nurse, asked her.
"Yes, I was just about ready to sneak out. What are you doing here?" Cat got into the wheelchair and fixed the footrests so Diane could push her.
"I told them that I was there to care for you from the beginning and saw firsthand your injuries healing quickly, so I waited to be the one to discharge you. How are you feeling?" Diane had visited every day, even on days she didn't work. Cat was more comfortable with her than anyone else because she respected her boundaries.
"I feel like a new person. It's good to be leaving." They were waiting for the elevator, and it couldn't come fast enough for Cat. If someone saw her, they would never have guessed how she looked a few days ago. She had no bruises and no casts, bandages, or anything. A few small scars were healing and would probably be gone soon.
Trey had stayed by Cat's side the entire time. He even slept with her to help the night terrors when she woke up screaming. His warm, comforting touch and Atlas' purring calmed her enough to go back to sleep. The staff had tried to kick him out a few times, but when they heard Cat's nightmares, they stopped trying.
As Diane and Cat got to the hospital entrance, Trey was pacing back and forth next to his truck. He ran over to them when he saw her being pushed out the door.
"I'll take her from here. Thanks, Diane." Trey leaned down and scooped Cat up into his arms. Cat wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
"You two kids take care. Cat, I hope to see you again sometime." She waved as they headed to the truck. Diane sighed. She was going to miss them.
"Are you ready to head to our new temporary home?" Trey leaned down to kiss her softly as he put her into the truck. His heart still ached, thinking how he'd almost lost her.
"I'm actually a little excited. It will almost be a mini vacation getting out of Sacramento. I can't thank Roger and Valerie enough for letting us use their pool house." Trey walked around the truck to get in the driver's seat, and Cat moved over until she was against him.
Trey was shocked that she had been okay with him touching her so soon after what had happened. He had thought Cat would fall back into her fear of touch from anyone. She did refuse to let anyone else touch her. When the doctors came in, she only let them do the bare minimum, which even caused her a lot of pain. With Trey, it was different. His touch was healing to her.
"I can't wait to take you on a real vacation. I want to show you the world. Right now, we'll start with Granite Bay, but next, it will be Monterey. After that, we'll go wherever your heart desires." Trey lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
"You make me love you more every day. How long will it take to get to their house? I'm anxious to take a real shower and wash the hospital off me." Cat rested her head against him and held his hand as he drove.
She was still scared of someone getting to her, which was one reason she was glad to get out of Sacramento. Cat knew Leo wouldn't give up so easily.
"We should be there in about thirty minutes, depending on traffic. Their house is enormous. It was left to them when Roger's parents passed. You'll be amazed when you see it. They had hoped to have children, but they were never able to. If we have children, I'm positive Roger and Valerie will want to be surrogate grandparents." Trey looked at Cat, and she looked upset.
"What's wrong?"
"Do you want children one day?" Cat was terrified of having a child. Even though they had discussed it once when they were in Truckee. That was more of Cat discovering how werelion cubs were born.
"I would like to have a couple of cubs. Do you not want kids?" Trey was concerned by the sadness he saw on her face.
"I do, but I'm worried about how I'll be as a mother. How can I be a good mother when I'm scared of everything. I wouldn't want to pass on my irrational behavior to our children. What if I mess them up for life?" Cat had tears running down her face thinking about how horrible she would feel if she harmed their kids. Trey pulled the truck into a parking lot and stopped so he could look at her.
"Sweetheart, look at me." His heart broke looking at her big sad blue eyes.
"You will be the best mother any child could ever have. You're the strongest person I have ever met. I admire you because of your strength, integrity, and caring heart. You're special, and I never want you to doubt yourself or what you're capable of." Trey leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled away, Cat was smiling.
"Thank you. That has been eating at me since we discussed the werelion cubs. All those things you said about me are because of you. Before I met you, I was terrified of the world. You have shown me that I can live and be happy. If anything ever happened to you, I would be lost. You are my light at the end of the tunnel of darkness. I love you and can't wait to spend the rest of my life by your side." Cat hugged him as best as she could in the truck seat.
"I love you too, and I already had a glimpse of what it would feel like to not have you with me. That's not something I ever want to experience again. My heart, my soul, and my life are yours forever." He kissed her forehead and breathed in her intoxicating scent.
"Alright, let's hit the road." Trey smiled as they pulled out of the parking lot. They were almost there, but when he heard Cat's fears, he knew it was important for her to see how incredible she was.
Cat watched as the scenery began changing. They were driving in a well-established neighborhood with large brick and stone houses. Each house seemed bigger than the last. Trey laughed when he saw her expression.
The area was very green, with lots of trees and bright flowers planted in the median down the center of the road. There were wide sidewalks where Cat saw families walking. She smiled when she saw them and imagined it was her and Trey with their children.
She kept looking around in silence as Trey watched her, amused. He couldn't wait for her to see Roger and Valerie's home. He had warned them that they would say hello, but then head to the pool house. Cat may be healed physically, but it would take longer mentally for her to recover. As a therapist, Valerie understood. Trey was hoping she would be able to help her without Cat even realizing it.
As Trey slowed down and started pulling into the driveway of the largest house on the street, Cat was speechless. He punched a code into a box to open the large gate. This house was a yellowish tan stone, with a clay tiled roof that is common in California. It seemed exceptionally long and looked like it was at least three stories.
There were so many windows that Cat pitied whoever had to clean them. She stared at the top of the house that had cutouts like a castle. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She suddenly felt out of place in her blue jeans and t-shirt.
"Am I dressed alright to be here? I feel like I should be in a dress or something." Trey smiled at her worried face.
"Roger is a sergeant, and Valerie is a therapist. Yes, they have a massive house, but they aren't wealthy. They actually live pretty modestly. Trust me, what you're wearing is fine." He stopped the truck in front of the house in the circular driveway.
"Okay. They aren't expecting me to be very social, are they?" Cat didn't think she had it in her right now to make small talk.
"No. They'll show us to the pool house, and that's it. I already told them you need time to adjust." Trey squeezed her hand before getting out of the truck. Cat scooted over, and he lifted her down.
They walked hand in hand around the truck to the house's front door. When the door opened, Cat gasped in surprise and put her hands over her mouth. She stepped back at what she was looking at. How could this be possible?
