Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“I don’t feel good.”
“I know, honey.” I rub her back as Miles parks behind my car, then a moment later, he pushes open his door and unfolds from behind the steering wheel. When he reaches us, he drops a quick kiss to my lips, then carefully takes Winter out of my arms.
“I’m going to throw up,” she whispers, shoving her face into his neck.
“Breathe in through your nose,” I tell her, rubbing her back again, and I look up at Miles. “Do you have Tylenol and a thermometer?”
“We’ve got both.”
“What about Gatorade?” I take my cell out of my bag and use it to open the doors to the elevator.
“No, but I’ll run out and get some in a bit.”
I nod and chew the inside of my cheek when she makes a noise that sounds like a whimper and a groan.
“The nurse said the flu is going around,” I tell him as we step onto the elevator.
“Yeah, a couple of the guys at work have kids who are sick right now,” he mutters as I smooth her hair away from her face. She feels hot—too hot. “Em.”
“Hmm?” I trace Winter’s brow.
“Baby.”
“Yeah?” I drag my eyes off her to look at him.
“She’s okay.”
“I know.”
“It could still just be a bug. I’ll get her in the shower and cool her down, then give her some meds. No big deal.”
“Okay,” I whisper, following him off the elevator. When we get into the apartment, he carries her to her bedroom, and I follow right behind them.
“Will you start the shower for her?”
Moving around him, I go to her shower and turn it on, making sure it’s not too hot or too cold. A minute later, she comes in and starts to get undressed.
“Do you need help, or do you want me to wait outside?”
“I’m okay.”
“Okay, I’ll be in your room if you need me.” I leave the door cracked an inch just in case she calls for help, then walk to where Miles is digging through her dresser for something for her to wear.
“She was totally fine this morning, wasn’t she?” I ask, wondering if I missed something between breakfast and when I dropped her at school. He had an early-morning meeting and left before she even finished eating, so we were on our own.
“That’s normally the way it goes.” He looks over at me. “So don’t be surprised if after she’s had a shower and taken some Tylenol, she’s running around like a maniac again.”
“I’ve never been around Kingston when he was sick before,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around my middle. “How do you deal with it?”
“The first time she got sick was when she was just a few months old. It was after she got a round of shots at the doctor, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t get her to settle. I took her to emergency, because she wouldn’t stop crying, and I refused to believe the doctor when he told me she was okay, that it was normal. It was the worst twelve hours of my life.” He shakes his head. “The next morning, it was like the night before hadn’t happened. She was all giggles and grins. Meanwhile, I was absolutely exhausted from staying up all night watching over her.” He shoots me a soft smile. “I’m not saying I don’t worry when she’s sick; I’ve just learned that she will be okay.” He steps toward me. “She’s fine. At worst, it’s just the flu. It’s not the first time she’s had it, and it won’t be the last.”
“Okay,” I whisper, and he leans down, touching his lips softly to mine.
“When she gets out, we can put on a movie and hang on the couch.”
I glance to the bathroom door. “I’m gonna go change and take Dolly outside really quick before she gets out.”
“All right, baby.” He drops another kiss to my lips.
Going to the bedroom, I take off the heels along with the jeans I wore to work today and put on a pair of sweats. I leave on my tank and my sweater but tie up my hair before I go to the laundry room to get Dolly to take her to potty. By the time she and I get back upstairs, Winter is lying down on the couch, and Dolly, who has missed her girl all day, immediately jumps up to join her.
“Do you feel a little better after your shower?” I ask, squatting down next to her and brushing her damp hair back away from her face. She’s still warm but not as warm as she was.
“A little,” she mumbles.
“This will help.” I glance up at Miles to find him holding a cap full of red liquid that must be Tylenol toward me.
I help her sit up and take it, then pass the empty cap back to her dad.