Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 45

Chapter Forty–Five: I Will Go With You.

Last night was full of laughter, music, and unexpected moments. Cassienne had not planned for things to turn out the way they did, but somehow, the night flowed naturally. After dancing with Merrick, she found herself pulled into another dance, this time with a man she remembered as Jake.

Jake turned out to be a very good dancer. He moved easily with the rhythm, confident but not arrogant. Dancing with him felt light and free, and for the first time in a long while, Cassienne forgot about the weight she carried inside her chest. She laughed more than she had in weeks.

After the dance, they talked.

Jake was friendly and open. He spoke about his work with excitement, and Cassienne quickly learned that he was a talented gamer. As they talked more, she realized he was also knowledgeable in game development.

Since Cassienne was always on the lookout for good developers, she became interested. They discussed ideas, concepts, and challenges she had faced in another project she was working on. Jake offered opinions that surprised her. He understood problems she had been struggling with for a long time.

That small conversation made Cassienne feel hopeful.

The night continued smoothly. Drinks kept flowing, laughter grew louder, and soon, many members of the team were clearly drunk. Some could barely stand straight, while others laughed at nothing at all. By the time the celebration began to wind down, it was clear that several people would not be able to get home on their own.

Cassienne, Merrick, and Corren took responsibility.

They helped some of the drunk staff into cars, gave directions, and made sure everyone got home safely. It was tiring work. By the time everything was done, Cassienne’s feet hurt, her head felt heavy, and exhaustion settled deep into her bones.

When she finally got home, it was very late into the night.

She did not even bother changing properly. She washed her face, dropped her bag by the door, and collapsed onto her bed. Sleep came immediately.

But it did not last.

A sharp ringing sound pierced through the quiet room, pulling Cassienne out of deep sleep. She groaned softly and turned on the bed, trying to ignore it. The ringing continued, loud and persistent.

Slowly, she reached for her phone.

When she checked the time, her eyes widened.

It was four o’clock in the morning.

She cursed quietly under her breath. She had barely slept for a few hours. Who would be calling at such an early hour?

With sleepy annoyance, she rolled to the edge of the bed and picked up her phone. The screen lit up–and she froze completely.

Doctor Marvin.

Her heart skipped.

Doctor Marvin was the female doctor in charge of her mother’s treatment.

Chapter Forty–Five Will do with You

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Fear rushed through Cassienne like cold water. Her sleep vanished instantly. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the caller ID. A thousand terrible thoughts ran through her mind all at once.

Was her mother worse?

Was something wrong?

Why else would the doctor call at this hour?

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and answered immediately.

“Hello,” she breathed into the phone.

“Mrs. Tremont,” Doctor Marvin said calmly, going straight to the point. “There is an urgent development.”

Cassienne’s heart pounded painfully.

“Is my mother alright?” she asked quickly.

“Yes,” the doctor replied. “She is stable. But you need to come here immediately.”

Cassienne held her breath.

“She has been asking for you,” the doctor continued, “and for your husband. If you can both make it here soon, I believe it may help her condition. I’m sorry for calling at such an early hour, but this is the only option we have right now. We have already assured her that you are coming.”

Cassienne’s chest filled with emotion.

This was good news.

Her mother was responding. She was asking for her. That alone felt like a miracle. Tears gathered in Cassienne’s eyes as relief washed over her.

“I will be there, doctor,” she said firmly.

“Please make sure Mr. Tremont comes with you,” the doctor added. “She keeps asking for him.”

Then the call ended.

Cassienne lowered the phone slowly.

The smile on her face faded just as quickly as it had appeared.

Dreston.

There was no way this would be easy.

They were no longer together. They were divorced. Asking him to come with her felt wrong, and it would be uncomfortable, and dangerous. What if he misunderstood? What if he thought she was using her mother as an excuse to get close to him again?

She hated that idea.

She had buried that part of her life. She did not want anything that would pull her back toward Dreston.

But this was about her mother. Right?

Her mother’s health came first–above pride, above pain, or fear.

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Chapter Forty–Five (Will Do With You

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If seeing her with Dreston would help her mother recover, then Cassienne would do it. She would swallow everything else.

Her mother was the only family she had left. Cassienne had been alone for too many years. She would do anything to protect the one person who still mattered.

Anything.

Without allowing herself to overthink, she searched for Dreston’s number on her phone. Her thumb hovered for a second before she pressed call.

The phone rang. But there was no response.

Her heart sank slightly. If this had been before, she would have ended the call already. But she waited.

Her thoughts wandered painfully. Maybe he was with Tina. Maybe he would be annoyed by her call. She knew that Tina’s happiness always came first in his life now, whether she liked it or not.

She was just about to give up when the call connected.

“Cassienne?” Dreston’s sleepy voice came through the speaker. “Are you okay?”

Her breath caught.

For a brief second, she wondered if he was worried about her.

“Cassienne?” he repeated, more alert now. “Are you okay?”

She hesitated.

Was she doing the right thing?

“I…” she began, then paused. “I need a favor from you.”

There was a sigh on the other end of the line. Then silence followed.

Cassienne’s heart sank again. She almost expected him to hang up. But finally, his voice came back. “What do you

want?”

She swallowed.

“It’s about my mother,” she said softly. “I need your help with her recovery.”

There was silence again, and this time, it was heavy and uncomfortable.

“I hope she’s fine?” he asked.

Cassienne explained everything. The call from the doctor. Her mother asking for both of them, and the request.

When she finished, he asked, “Is that all you want?”

The question caught her off guard.

“Yes,” she replied quickly. “That’s all. I really need your help.”

When he went quiet again, she lost hope.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she rushed out. “I forgot how busy you are. And Tina is pregnant with your child, and

Chapter Forty–Five I Will Go With You

“I’ll go with you.‘

His words cut her off.

“What?” Cassienne gasped.

“I will go with you,” he repeated calmly. “I’ll pick you up later.”

Then the call ended.

Cassienne sat frozen on her bed, staring at her phone.

He agreed.

He actually agreed.

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