Free Light This Candle (Harlequin More Than Words) by Cindy Dees Page B

her son’s heart from his body, for crying out loud—and here he was,
grinning happily. She might attribute his lack of concern to the ignorance of
youth, but Cody was a smart cookie, and he knew full well what was about to
happen to him.
    Mitch sat down on the edge of her son’s bed, perched beside the
various tubes and wires. “So, Cody. I hear you wanted to talk with me before you
left. Anything in particular on your mind, son?”
    Cassidy sucked in a sharp breath as the word son fell from Mitch’s lips. It sounded so good it
hurt. Cody’s face abruptly went serious. “It’s important.”
    Mitch nodded, matching the boy’s serious expression. “I’m
listening.”
    “I had a dream last night. I saw my daddy, and he’s an angel.
He said he would be waiting for me if I come to heaven to be with him.”
    Cassidy’s hand went to her mouth and tears leaped to her eyes.
How Mitch was maintaining his composure, she had no idea.
    He reached out to push the hair off Cody’s forehead. “Your
daddy loves you very much. As much as your mommy and I do.”
    She stared at him, shocked and hopeful. He loved Cody? Really? Or was he just saying that to comfort a scared
kid on his way to a dangerous operation?
    “That’s what I have to talk to you about,” Cody continued. “My
daddy said you are an angel, too. And he sent you to watch after Mommy and me.
If I go to heaven, you have to promise to look out for Mommy.”
    Cassidy pulled in a sobbing breath. Cody had to make it through the transplant. She couldn’t live without
him.
    “Of course. I promise, Cody.”
    “Pinkie swear?”
    Mitch hooked his big finger in Cody’s tiny, frail one. “My most
solemn pinkie swear.”
    Cody nodded. “Okay, then. I’m ready.”
    One of the nurses stepped forward. “The helicopter’s on final
approach to the landing pad upstairs. If you’re ready, Mrs. Frazier, we’ll take
you and Cody up top.”
    Cassidy nodded. Here went nothing. Cody would either die on the
operating table or come out of the surgery with a new heart.
    It was as if Mitch read her mind. Strong arms went around her
and she was crushed against a big, warm chest.
    He whispered against her temple, “Everything will turn out
fine. I’ll drive up to Columbus to join you. I should be there in a couple of
hours, max. You’ll be okay until I get there?”
    She nodded, too choked up to speak. He hadn’t abandoned her and
Cody after all.
    “I’ll be there for you as long as you’ll have me,” he
murmured.
    And then he was gone. The transport team whisked in to wheel
Cody and a host of machines and monitors out of the room. Someone took her by
the arm and guided her into the hall. The next few minutes were a flurry of
activity as they relocated to the roof and got Cody and her situated in the
sleek, powerful helicopter that would be taking them to Columbus.
    It wasn’t until she was strapped into her seat and the bird had
lifted off into the afternoon sky that she had a second to think. Had she heard
him correctly? As long as she would have him? What
if that turned out to be a long time? A very long
time, like, oh, forever?

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Mitch was normally a conservative driver, but his speed
kept creeping up as he headed east toward Cassidy and Cody. He couldn’t bring
himself to pray for another child’s speedy death, but he did pray for peace and
healing for a family in the midst of a terrible tragedy. And he prayed hard for
Cody to be strong and make it through the surgery.
    Now that he was crazy about a child himself, he had a deeper
appreciation of what the family in Columbus was going through. He also had a
powerful appreciation of the gift of life that this organ donation represented.
The courage and generosity of one family was giving the greatest gift of all to
another.
    He hoped that someday the donor family could meet Cassidy and
Cody. He’d bet Cassidy would have some powerful words of thanks for them.
Goodness knew, he would if he ever got a