Chapter 308
Mamie jolted awake, heart pounding, sweat soaking her pajamas. She hadn’t slept with Scott tonight. Instead, she was curled up next to Garth, hoping her presence would help him rest easy. But now her own peace was shattered. The dream still clung to her, sharp and vivid, and this time, someone new had appeared-Vince, Scott’s old coworker.
In the dream, Vince stood across from her, colder than she’d ever seen him. His voice was icy as he said, “Who told you to break up? Don’t you want your mom to get her new heart? Who else can find you a match besides me p>
Dream Mamie was paralyzed, desperate, begging him not to do this. Vince just stared back, unmoved. “You chose to end things. That means your mom will never get her heart p>
Mamie snapped awake so suddenly she startled Garth beside her.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” he asked, his little face scrunched with concern.
Mamie took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. “It’s nothing, sweetheart. Just a bad dream. I’m sorry I woke you p>
Garth shook his head and scooted closer. “It’s okay. Don’t be scared, Mom. If you hold me while you sleep, you won’t have any more nightmares p>
Right then, all that fear and anxiety melted away. Something warm and steady filled her chest―a kind of fierce, protective love. She wrapped Garth in her arms and whispered, “Thank you, baby. Let’s go back to sleep. Goodnight p>
“Goodnight, Mom!” Garth murmured, already drifting off again.
The next morning, Mamie could still picture every detail of that nightmare. This time, she couldn’t just brush it off as a random bad dream. It felt too real, too pointed. Just like before, when she’d dreamed about breaking up with Scott and woke up to that strange text message. Now she was sure-it had to be Vince.
She didn’t want to worry Scott, so she slipped out quietly and visited a private investigator. Josh and Claire had always said her parents died in a car accident, but Vince’s obsession with the heart transplant made her wonder if there was more to the story. It couldn’t just be a coincidence. Determination burned in her chest. She had to find out the truth, no matter what she uncovered.
Dorothea was having a rough time lately, too. A month after the New Year, she went in for yet another checkup, only to find-again-that she wasn’t pregnant.
That night, just before bed, she sat on the edge of her seat, turning the words over in her mind. Finally, she looked at Latham and said, “Hey, do you have time to go to the hospital with me tomorrow p>
Latham’s eyes lit up. “Wait, are you pregnant p>
Dorothea’s face fell. “No. I just think maybe we should both get checked out p>
Latham caught on right away. “Don’t stress. We should just let things happen naturally. You’re still so young, there’s no way anything’s wrong with you p>
Dorothea just stared at him. She knew her body was fine-if there was a problem, it was probably his side. “Let’s just do it together, okay? That way well know for sure, and something’s wrong, we can deat with it right away. Don’t you think that makes sense p>
Latham hesitated, looking a little uncertain, but he nodded. “Alright p>
The next morning, they went to the hospital for fertility tests. While they waited for the results, Dorothea kept speaking trying ces at athar to read his face, but he looked Calm
and collected, like none of this
bothered him at all.
She wondered, if the doctor said he was the one with the problem, how was she supposed to make things less awkward?
Before she could overthink it, the
doctor came back with their results. “You’re both healthy. Latham’s sperm motility is perfectly normal, and Dorothea, everything looks great for you, too. Don’t worry, Sometimes stress and anxiety, can get in the way, so try to relax and let things happen naturally. No need for any more testing p>
Dorothea let out a breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding, and for the first
time in a while, she felt a little lighter.