Thanks. You, too.
I needed a game plan. I have no idea what it will be, but I have more than 18 years of strategy experience. I’ll figure it out.
~Emma~
Monday afternoon, I was hunched over my desk in my apartment proofreading the last of my work for the day when Carla called me. Mia was running a fever and had been acting fussy. The weather had gotten cooler and the days were getting shorter – and that means the cold virus had probably already struck my baby girl.
I stretched my arms over my head, saved my work and slipped on my flip flops to head downstairs. Carla was holding my crying girl when I knocked on the door and she let me inside. Her chubby arms reached out to me and her pitiful cries got louder. Poor girl.
“Thanks, Carla. I hope you don’t catch it.”
“Psh. I’ve seen much worse than this. I will wash my hands and scrub her toys down here. You snuggle that poor baby and make sure she drinks plenty. Call me if you need me.”
She patted me on the shoulder as we headed back to our apartment.
I got Mia to try a little juice, but she was tired and whiny and refused to be put down. I finally took her to my room so I could put on my comfy pajamas and grab an extra blanket so we could snuggle on the couch. One of the first lessons of motherhood: sometimes it is impossible to multi-task.
An hour of cartoons later, Mia was sleeping on my chest. She’s definitely running a fever – she and my chest were wet with her sweat. With the stealth of a ninja mommy, I shifted to the edge of the couch, taking the blanket and Mia with me. I slowly stood up. She whimpered and shifted as she became more vertical and I froze. After a minute or so, she was sleeping soundly again. A slow sneak down the hall and I started the agonizing process of getting her into her crib. I put the blanket in with her since it was still warm, hoping the cool sheets wouldn’t wake her up.
I did it! She was in her crib and still sleeping. After a short victory dance in the hallway, I hit the kitchen to make a quick dinner. After I ate and rinsed my dishes, I headed to my room to shower.
Nope. Mia’s cries stopped me before I even got the water going. It was going to be one of those nights.
After an exhausting night with Mia in my bed because she refused to be away from me, I woke up to my alarm going off. Mia was glued to my side with her feet against my ribs and her head tucked into my neck. Her head was pinning my hair to the bed, so there was no way to turn off my alarm without moving her. I will totally own up to the fact that I just lie there for a few minutes, wishing Mia wasn’t sick and that I didn’t have stuff I needed to do today. Supermom is every mom, every day. But I didn’t feel like it today.
I finally shifted her enough to free my hair – leading to her crying immediately – and shut off my alarm. My girl was covered in dry snot and her face was hot to the touch. It looked like a bath was in order first thing this morning.
While I was running the water, I pulled the vaporizer down from my closet and got it running in the bathroom, too. I didn’t want the water to be too hot because her fever was already over 102, but I turned on the heater in the bathroom to keep her from getting cold.
I carried Mia back to my room to grab my phone from the charger so I could verify the schedule for this week in case I needed to change anything and saw that I’d missed a few texts this morning – from Jason. As I was reading them, there was a knock at the front door.
Everything alright over there?
Heard the alarm going off for a while. You girls
okay?
Emma. I need you to answer me or I’m going to come over.
Crap.
I glanced out the peep hole and saw him following through on that last text.
“Jason, we’re fine. Sorry my alarm woke you up. I…forgot about the… walls. Sorry.” I said through the door.
“Em. Open the door please.”
“I’m -. We’re –“
“Emma. Open the door.”
I’m pretty sure I growled at him as I unlocked the door and swung it open. He took a quick look over us and his facial expression changed immediately.
“Is she sick?”
“Yes. I picked her up yesterday because she had a fever –“
“What can I do?”
I stared at him. Aside from Heather and Carla, I can’t remember when someone has offered to help me at any point in the past few years.
“Em? Are you running a bath?”
I snapped out of it and ran to shut off the water. It was already too late. There was water covering the floor of the bathroom and seeping into the carpet of the hallway. And the dash to the bathroom started Mia’s crying again.
“Dang it.” My pajama pants were wet at the bottom now, the bathroom was flooded, Mia was shrieking in my ear and it wasn’t even eight in the morning. I needed a do-over.
“I got this, Em. Give me ten minutes and she can have her bath.”
“Jason – “
He put his hands on my shoulder and crouched down enough to put us at eye level. “Emma. Go. Change pants. Bath in ten minutes.” He turned me around and gave me a gentle push toward my own room.
I went.
I set Mia on my bed and dashed to get dressed. I grabbed a hair tie off my nightstand and pulled my hair into a quick, messy ponytail. What I really wanted was to brush my teeth, but that was impossible with him in the bathroom….
I picked Mia back up and snuggled her close as she cried. She was so miserable. I walked with her to the kitchen and took her temperature again. 102.4.
“Okay, kid. Let’s get you some medicine.” As I was measuring her dosage while balancing her on my hip, Jason walked past me carrying an armful of wet towels. He threw all of them into the washing machine, opened the cabinet for detergent and started the washer. His jeans were wet at the knees and the neckline of his shirt was damp from sweat. There had never been a sexier man in my life. Ever.
“I’ll have maintenance bring a fan for the carpet in the hallway. But the bathroom is good to go.”
“Thank you so much.”
He started walking to the door, so I followed him. When we got here, he turned and put his hands on my shoulders again, giving me a squeeze.
“Are you going to be okay?”
I nod.
“I’ll be out most of the day, but I’ll be back around seven. If you need anything from the store or anything, text me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I stand completely still as he leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead before he runs a hand down Mia’s back.
“Hope she feels better.”
“Thanks, Jason. For everything.”
He smiled as he stepped out into the hallway.
I knew he would wait outside until I lock it. So I just stood there….
“Emma…” I heard through the door.
I laughed softly and slid the deadbolts home.
“I heard that.” There was laughter in his voice. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapter 7
~Emma~
A few hours after Jason left us, Carla showed up with lunch and held Mia so I could take a shower and catch up on my work e-mail. Jason had stopped at her apartment before he left to let her know I was struggling and asked her to check in with us. Carla smirked when she told me about it and the sparkle in her eye told me she was all for the two of us being “together.”
“Miguel says Jason is a good guy. Navy man, yes? You should ask for pictures. Men in uniform are why cameras were invented.” She laughed when I just gaped at her.
“What? I might be old, but I’m not dead! He is very handsome. And he looks at you like he wants to eat you up. You look at him the same way.”
I just shook my head at her. “Carla. Are you matchmaking? I’ve only known Jason for a little while. He’s a nice guy, but I don’t think he’s interested in me that way.”
“Hmmm,” was her response.
“Let me send out a few of these by e-mail and I’ll be good for the
day. Maybe twenty minutes?”
“That’s fine. No hurry.” She had Mia on her shoulder and bounced her as she walked around the apartment humming.
When I finished dealing with work, I took Mia from her and thanked her again. She promised to check on us again tomorrow. She winked and said she’d bring lunch again, so I shouldn’t make anything.
I called Heather and cancelled our dinner plans since Mia was so sick. Heather told me about some stuff going on at the bar and reminded me that I’d owe her a raincheck for cancelling our standing girls’ night. I laughed and promised we would do something as soon as Mia was feeling better.
By dinner time, Mia was burning up and crying pitifully no matter what. Her fever was over 102. I read online about alternating medicines since she’d had acetaminophen just an hour before and her fever was still too high. Finally, I called the doctor’s office. The after-hours on-call doctor called me back and I explained what I was dealing with before he tells me what to do. Alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen every two to three hours. If her temp stays above 102, try a lukewarm bath and see if she’ll take a popsicle or a cool drink. If none of that works or if she starts getting lethargic or seems like she’s having trouble breathing, we go straight to the ER.
I didn’t have popsicles. I had ice cream, but dairy in her belly sounded like a bad idea. I considered calling Carla, but I’m sure she won’t have any, either, which means she will have to go out to buy them for me…. I’m obviously not going out to get anything with her crying and feeling so miserable.
Jason. Jason should be heading home soon. Maybe he can stop and pick up some popsicles on his way back.
Hey. Is there any way you can stop and pick up
popsicles for Mia?
He responds almost instantly.
J: Sure. What kind? How’s she feeling?
E: If they have Pedialyte brand, that would be great. Otherwise, something that isn’t guaranteed to stain my couch or carpet?
E: She’s about the same. Fever won’t stay down.
J: Dang. Okay. I’ll be there in about 45 mins.
E: Thanks a bunch, Jason.
J: Not a problem.
Almost an hour later, he knocked on the door. Mia was sleeping on my shoulder, so we both met him at the door. He made an expression of sympathy when he saw her poor flushed little face, then he stepped inside carrying four bags from the nearest supermarket. I followed him to the kitchen and he started whispering while he unloaded the bags.
“They didn’t have Pedialyte popsicles already frozen, so I got some that you have to freeze and I also got some regular popsicles that are already cold for her. They didn’t have any that were the push up kind like the Pedialyte ones, so I bought some of the all-natural fruit ones that are coconut, so they’re white.”
“Those will work fine. Thank you.”
“I also got you two bottles of the Pedialyte liquid and more of the fever medicine you’ve been using, in case you run out.”
I was pretty much speechless at that point. He had thought of everything Mia might need and bought it all without me asking him to do it. He held up the last bag so I would pay attention.
“This bag is for you. The vitamin C stuff to help you not catch this crap, an extra box of tissues and some cold medicine in case you do, chicken soup because it’s supposed to make anyone feel better and dark chocolate because… well. Women like chocolate, right?” He smiled sheepishly at this last comment.
I stepped forward and hugged him with the arm not holding Mia. He rubbed one hand up and down my back for a second and lightly rubbed the other over Mia’s sleeping head.
“Thank you. For all of this. For this morning. I really appreciate it.”
“I offered, Emma. I’m glad I could help.”
He kissed the top of my head and then walked to the front door and stepped into the hall. “Let me know if you need anything. I mean that.”
“I will. Thanks again. Good night.” I locked up after he left and Mia and I settled in for the night.
Mia and I were lying in bed feeling sorry for ourselves the next morning, Wednesday, when I heard the knock at the door. I grabbed my robe and looked out the peephole. I couldn’t see anyone, but there was a box in front of my door and what looked like…a coffee cup? I snatched the door open as fast as I could get the locks undone and discovered Jason leaning against the wall in front of his own door. I yelped a little when I saw him. Partially in surprise, but mostly because I knew I looked like death warmed over.
“Donuts and hot tea…. You look like I didn’t bring the vitamin C soon enough. I’m sorry.”
He walked to me and hugged me, kissing my forehead before he bent over and handed me the box and the cup. Mia was starting to fuss inside.
“I’ll be by later to check on both of you. Carla said she’d be bringing you lunch, too. Try to get some rest. Call me if you need me – I should be working from home most of the day…”
I managed to clear my throat enough to say “thank you” before I took my breakfast back inside.
We laid around all morning with the television playing cartoons. I was getting worse instead of better, even after taking medicine. Mia fell asleep around 11, so I text Carla and asked if we could have lunch for dinner so I could lie down and take a nap, too. She said she’d see us later, no problem.
The afternoon was hellacious. Mia started to feel better – which is great but not so great for me– so she was ready to play and run around even though her nose was leaking like a faucet and her cheeks were flushed and chapped. I was a zombie. I let her eat an entire bag of goldfish crackers and the television never turned off or left the cartoon channel she loved.
Around 5pm, there was a knock at the door. I was lying on the couch napping in between jerking awake to be sure Mia wasn’t trying to kill herself. I couldn’t even force myself to get up and answer the door. I was bone tired and just felt horrible.
The good news was it was Carla at the door and she had her own key, so I didn’t have to get off the couch. The bad news was she had Jason with her. Carla clucked her tongue at me and our mess and immediately stuck Mia in her high chair for dinner. Jason came to the couch, slid his arms under me and picked me up. I was appalled that he saw me like that, but I was too sick to protest. I leaned my cheek against his shoulder and soaked up his strength and warmth. I’ve been so cold.
He set me down on my bed and rummaged through my drawers, grabbing clean panties and pajamas. He squatted down in front of me and asked if I could manage to get undressed and dressed alone. I have no idea what expression was on my face – mortification, helplessness…horror – but he patted me on my leg and left my room. He sent Carla in to help me while he kept an eye on Mia.
Carla wrapped me in my robe and walked me down the hall, insisting that I needed to soak in the tub and be clean before I changed. I agreed. She drew my bath and helped me undress and get in. She used Mia’s rinse bucket to wash my hair for me and then told me to relax and soak up the heat.
I dozed off and woke up when Carla came back in to help me out of the tub. She helped me out and I dried myself off haphazardly before she helped me get dressed. Then she grabbed my robe and guided my arms through. She picked up my brush and leave-in conditioner off the counter and guided me back down the hall.
Mia was yelling at the table and Jason was trying to entertain her to keep her quiet. His expression of relief when he saw Carla was laughable. All it takes to unsettle a big, bad SEAL is a little 22 month old girl.
Carla sat me down on the couch and went to help Mia get cleaned up. Jason went back down the hall and came back with my blow dryer. He scooted me over so he could sit against the arm of the couch and moved me so my back was to him but I could lean against the back of the couch for support. And then he brushed my hair. After working the tangles out, he turned the hair dryer on low and brushed it dry. He was gentle and comforting and I totally fell asleep while he was doing it. He woke me up to take medicine and then he car
ried me back to my bed, helped me pull my arms out of my robe and tucked me in. I remember him kissing me on top of my head before I passed out.
Thursday morning I woke up to sunlight streaming in my bedroom windows. Mia never sleeps that late and I panicked and jumped out of bed. When I jerked open my bedroom door, though, I was confronted with a sight that I was unprepared to see. Jason and Mia were playing with blocks in front of the television. PAW Patrol was playing quietly. Jason smiled at me and asked how I was feeling. His grey eyes crinkle at the corners and the grey turned nearly silver. I smiled back at him in a fog and then dashed to the bathroom.
When I came back out, I felt almost human. I was running at about 50% of my normal, but it was a whole lot better than the day before. Jason was standing at the kitchen counter when I walked in and handed me a cup of coffee and more medicine. Even in my foggy state of mind, I appreciated the way his jeans hugged his hips and thighs. His black polo outlined his strong shoulders and hard pecs. The black made his eyes more brilliantly silver than the sedate grey they seemed to be at other times. He was a beautiful man.
“Carla said two more doses and you should feel better.”
I smiled at him and said “I already feel a lot better. I don’t know what I would have done last night if you and Carla hadn’t come over.”
He stepped closer to me and set his hands on my
shoulders. “You were supposed to let me know if you needed anything. You’ve got to let people help you when you need it, Em.”
Tears filled my eyes. He took my coffee cup from my hand and set it on the counter before pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist and just absorbed him. I have no idea why it made me tear up. It’s not like I didn’t have other people who cared about me. Heather is my best friend and I know she would drop anything going on in her life for me or Mia at any time. But there’s something different about this big, strong man who is being so tender with me. When he let me go eat my breakfast and go back to bed, I told myself I needed to be careful with my heart. Jason Davies could destroy it so easily….
Bourne to Love Emma (RED-Stone Operatives Book 1) Page 6
