Page 41 of Caden the CEO
Dru was exhausted as she sat in the chair next to Caden’s bed and held his hand. It didn’t matter how many people had come and gone, she wasn’t going to leave his side.
“Baby, I want you to eat and get some rest,” Candace said, trying to get her to leave for a third time. “I promise if he wakes up, I’ll let him know you were here until I put you out.”
Dru smiled but shook her head. “I can’t leave him, Mama Spencer.”
“You can leave him, because you trust God enough to know he’s not going to leave you. His body is building itself back up, but you can’t let yours shut down.” Candace gripped Dru’s cheeks and forced her to look up at her. “Go home, eat, shower, rest. If you want to come back in the morning, I promise I won’t give you a hard time about it. Go rest, daughter. Nikolai and I will stay here with him tonight.”
A shaky breath escaped Dru as she looked at Caden. “Okay. I’ll go home for tonight.” She stood and gave Caden a kiss before whispering she loved him and resting her forehead against his. “Please keep me posted, and call me if he wakes up,” Dru requested.
“Of course, baby.”
They hugged, then Nikolai walked her outside, where Niko and Lorenzo were taking a smoke break.
“One of y’all take my daughter home,” Nikolai said. “Make sure she eats.”
“Got you, OG,” Lorenzo said, already knowing Niko wouldn’t leave.
“Take it easy, sis,” Niko said, pulling Dru close for a hug. “We got ’im.”
All Dru could do was nod. Of course she trusted Caden with his family, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to be there.
By the time Dru got comfortable in Lorenzo’s car, her body made her aware of just how exhausted she was. She yawned, feeling her eyes drift close.
“Rest, little one. I’ll carry you inside if I have to. Dre and Marilyn are already at the house. Everyone is safe and good. Rest.”
“O-okay,” she stuttered, . . . whispered. Even if she wanted to try and stay up and talk, her body demanded she sleep.
Dru didn’t know what time she got home, or how long she’d been asleep, but the feel of her phone vibrating pulled her awake. Clearing her throat, she sat up, noticing it was dark outside. With a groan, she grabbed her phone, jumping out of bed onto unsteady feet at the sight of Nikolai’s name.
“Daddy Spencer?” she answered, heart racing as she waited for the news.
“He’s okay, Dru. And he’s awake.”
“Are you sure?”Caden asked, holding Dru’s hand.
Dru hadn’t left his side the entire time he was in the hospital except to freshen up at home and eat. Then, she made her way right back up to the hospital. It didn’t matter how many other visitors he had or how long they stayed, she was never too far, and that increased his love, respect, and loyalty to her.
Marilyn had gotten Tina’s funeral planned, and it was that morning. For the past week, Dru and Dreya insisted they weren’t going to go. Now that the day had come, Caden wanted to be sure that was still the case.
“You don’t have to not go just because I’m in here,” he continued.
“It’s not that,” Dru clarified. “Even if they’d released you by now, I still wouldn’t go. Why would her dying change how she treated us when she lived?”
“I understand and respect that. As long as you won’t wake up one day regretting not saying goodbye.”
Dru’s head shook as she smiled. “Nah. I’m confident that won’t be the case. I did check with Dreya and see if she felt like she needed to say goodbye, and she said no. She has been chatting with her therapist daily, so I’m hoping that’s helping. The girl hasn’t shed a tear. I thought maybe she’d have this moment where she broke down over her mother dying, regardless of how she treated her, but that hasn’t been the case. If anything, she said she feels relieved. It’s like a monster that’s been under her bed for years is finally gone.”
“Good. You both deserve peace. I’m glad you can finally get that.”
“How do you feel about going home soon?” Dru asked, sliding into bed next to him and changing the subject.
“I can’t wait to get out this ho. I’m ready for my own bed.”
“I just knew you were about to say you were ready to get back to work.”
Caden chuckled softly. “Normally, that would be the case, but with how much I was working, I need a vacation even more now. Niko and Zo can handle that shit, and the pharmacies have capable managers. I’m taking at least six weeks off.”
Dru squealed and shimmied against him, making him laugh harder.
