by Vicki Green
I don’t hesitate to walk in. She backs up. “Don’t come near me, Nash. I don’t want you to....” She doesn’t just sneeze once but five times. I counted.
“Go back to your room and get under the covers. I’ll be right there. Have you gotten sick since we talked?” She shakes her head. “Okay. I’ll make you some soup. Go get in bed.” She nods, rubbin’ her nose with a tissue. She turns around and I watch her walk back to her bedroom then I head into the kitchen.
I start scourin’ the cabinets for a pan and finally find one in a bottom cabinet, not that there are a lot of them in this small kitchen. This makes me even more eager to get her to my house. I think her entire apartment would fit in my kitchen plus dinin’ room. Now, I’m not begrudgin’ her of that. The apartment I lived in while I was in college was smaller than this, and I had a roommate. After pourin’ the contents of the soup can into the pan and addin’ a can full of water, I locate a spoon from a drawer and stir it, turnin’ the burner on low. I look around and find a glass then fill it with orange juice and put the container in her fridge. Grabbin’ a can of 7Up from its case, I walk to her bedroom. When I walk into the small room, I don’t see her. I walk over to the right to the only nightstand and set the items down then look down. Underneath a ton of covers, I see wisps of hair and the tip of a finger. “Tina?” Pullin’ the covers down just a bit, I see she’s shiverin’ in her sleep.
Turnin’ around, I walk back to the kitchen and look at the soup in the pan. Fuck! I’m not real good at this. I’ve never had to take care of anyone before. Well, I kinda helped take care of Pa when he got ill but I’ve never taken care of a girl before. I shut off the burner and walk back to her room, gettin’ undressed quickly then walk to the left side and pull back the covers. I climb in bed and carefully pull her to me and pull the covers up over us. Damn, she must really be sick. How many covers are on this bed? Her body begins to shiver so I tuck the covers around her and pull her closer, holdin’ her tightly. Did she call a doctor? I’ll find out tomorrow and if she hasn’t, I’ll take her to Doc Franklin or hell to the emergency room if I gotta. Right now, I’ll just keep her warm and do whatever I can.
I stay awake for a long time, tryin’ to keep her warm. She slept with her mouth open, her nose all red. At least she finally stopped shiverin’ some time ago. My eyes get heavy. She seems all right, for now, so I allow myself to close my eyes. Maybe just a few minutes of sleep then I’ll see if I can get some soup in her.
I wake up, darkness fills the room. I’m sweatin’ my ass off. At first I think it’s because of all the covers then I place my hand on Tina’s forehead. She’s fuckin’ hot as hell. Yes, she is hot as hell but I mean she’s burnin’ up. Climbin’ out of bed, I get dressed and walk out into the livin’ room and put on my coat. Walkin’ back into her bedroom, I open her closet door, find her coat and walk to the other side of the bed. “Tina?” She doesn’t stir. It takes me a bit to get her up enough to put her coat on her. This is harder than I thought it would be when you’re dealin’ with dead weight. Finally, I lift her into my arms and carry her out of her apartment, lockin’ her door with the keys I found on the coffee table. I carry her down the stairs and to my truck, stumblin’ tryin’ to get the door open. This isn’t as easy as it looks in the movies. I set her on the seat and buckle her in. Shuttin’ the door, I run around my truck and start it up. As I pull out of the parkin’ space, I look at the clock on the dash. Three eighteen. I wonder how long she’s been runnin’ a fever. I take off for the hospital. At least bein’ in town, it won’t take long to get there.
After pullin’ up to the emergency doors, I run around the truck and lift Tina into my arms. I carry her inside and right to the nurse’s station. “Help. She’s runnin’ a pretty high fever, was gettin’ sick last night. She won’t wake up.” Nurses are up and runnin’.
“Follow me,” one says. Tina still hasn’t awakened. I’m beyond worried as I follow the nurse into a small room, layin’ her down on a bed. I step back as the nurse starts checkin’ her pulse, blood pressure, and temperature.
“Sir?” I turn my head and walk over to another nurse. “We need some information. Can you come with me?” I look back over at Tina, not wantin’ to leave her. “It’s okay. She’s in good hands.” I nod and follow the nurse out of the room and over to a large counter. She asked me a ton of questions, most I couldn’t answer. Just told me how little I really know about Tina and that upsets me.
I was directed to a small waitin’ area, the all familiar pacin’ and waitin’ ‘bout drove me crazy. Over an hour later, I was about ready to charge back to the room that she was in when a different nurse walks out to me. “She’s restin’ but you can come back and sit with her.” Thank fuck! I walk into her room, nervous yet anxious, and find her asleep. I walk over and sit down in a chair, takin’ her warm hand in mine. “They’re givin’ her antibiotics and liquids through the IV. Guess she is pretty dehydrated.” I nod, starin’ at Tina. “This flu has been horrible. It’s all over town. They’ll check on her in a bit and if her fever goes down and she’s hydrated, they’ll let you take her home.” I nod again. Home. Oh, I’ll be takin’ her home all right.
A little over three hours later, the sun already shinin’, Tina wakes up and is disoriented. I had to explain what happened then she fell back to sleep. Guess that’s the best thing for her right now. Another forty-five minutes and they let me take her home, sayin’ she’s hydrated but I needed to keep givin’ her plenty of fluids. They don’t need to worry about that. I’ll force it down her, if I have to.
I run out and get my truck, havin’ to go park it while I was waitin’, and bring it up by the doors. A nurse brings her out in a wheelchair and I open her door. She tries to stand, her legs wobblin’, showin’ just how weak she is. I don’t hesitate to pick her up and set her on the seat. She lays her head back immediately, her eyes closin’ as I buckle her in. I thank the nurse and get in my truck, drivin’ out of town quickly. I need to get her home, get her in bed, and take care of her. Never wanted anythin’ so badly.
Once I get her settled in bed and light a fire in the fireplace, I go downstairs to get her some water and juice. “Mijo? Is Miss Tina okay?” Manuel is sittin’ in the wheelchair in the kitchen when I enter, concern on his face. I walk over and take out two glasses then proceed to fill ‘em up.
“She’s got the flu. I’d advise everyone to keep their distance but I had to take her to the emergency room.” His eyebrows raise. “She’s better but still pretty sick.” I turn around, leanin’ against the counter. “Gotta tell ya. I was pretty worried.”
“You look pretty tired,” he says. “But I’m glad she’s okay. Need any help?”
I smile. “Nope. Thank ya.” I pick up the glasses and start walkin’ across the room but stop and look back at him. “Oh! Would ya let the guys know for me?”
“Sure thing. You just be careful. Hope you don’t get it. Maybe you should go get a flu shot. Hell, maybe we all should. Heard it was gettin’ pretty bad.”
“It’s too late for me. Why don’t you get Bart and the guys to help you and ya’ll go into town. Take my credit card that’s in the safe.” He nods, and I take the glasses upstairs to my bedroom.
Settin’ the glasses down on the nightstand, I walk into my bathroom and get the Ibuprofen, which is what the doctor told me to give her in a few hours, and set the bottle on the table. Sittin’ down next to her, I feel her forehead. Still a bit warm but they said that would be expected as long as the high fever doesn’t return. “Tina?” I whisper, wantin’ to get some water down her.
She shakes her head, her brows lowerin’. “Five more minutes,” she mumbles. Damn, she’s even cute when she’s sick.
“Baby? You need to drink some water.” Her eyes flutter behind their lids then open slowly. That’s the first time the word “baby” hasn’t made me cringe. Maybe it’s ‘cos I said it to the person I love.
“Nash?” Her voice is hoarse and when she swallows, I can tell her throat hurts by the way she winces. She looks around and then at me in confusion.
Puttin’ my arm beneath her, I lift her up, then hold the glass of water to her mouth. She drinks, greedily. “You got the flu. I came over last night and you let me in.” Her brow raises but she keeps drinkin’. “In the middle of the night, you started burnin’ up with fever so I took you to the emergency room.” She finishes the entire glass so I lay her back down. “Want more?” She shakes her head, her eyes lookin’ so tired. “We just got here a bit ago.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice gruff.
I smile. “Nothin’ to be sorry for, darlin’.” I brush back some of her hair from her face. “You were pretty dehydrated.” Tears form in her eyes then start runnin’ down her face and into her hair. “What’s wrong?” Her chin quivers.
“No one’s ever taken care of me before.” She sniffs and I hand her a tissue. “That’s something I always thought a parent should do, but they never concerned themselves with what they thought was trivial things.” She blows her nose and I take it, throwin’ it away and hand her another one. She starts cryin’ harder. What did I do? “And – and who takes someone’s snotty tissue and takes care of you like that?” I have to hold in my chuckle.
Cuppin’ her face, I rub some of her tears away with my thumb. “I’m always gonna take care of you, darlin’.” She smiles but the tears keep fallin’. “I think I kinda hate your parents.” She lets out a laugh then starts coughin’. I help her sit up, rubbin’ her back. She quiets down so I help her lie back down. I run my hand over her forehead. “You get some sleep. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
She smiles. “Thank you.”
I lean down and kiss her forehead then pull the covers up around her. She closes her eyes and quickly falls asleep. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I make sure she’s covered up then walk out into the hall, closin’ the door but a crack. “Hello?” I start walkin’ down the hall but don’t want to go too far.
“Hey, Nash.” Sadie. “Have you heard from or seen Tina? Misty’s sick with the flu and no one’s answering the phone at the shop and Tina’s not answering hers.” She sounds concerned.
“Yeah.” I let out a big yawn. “Sorry. I meant to call you, actually. Tina’s got the flu too. I had to take her to the ER and just got home a little bit ago.” I hear her gasp and then sounds of coughin’. “You okay over there?”
I can tell she’s covered the phone, her voice muffled. “Memphis. Babe. Can you take a sign over to the shop and put it in the window for me?” I can’t hear him but a low voice in the background I’m assumin’ is his. “No. I’ll be fine. Thanks.” There’s a rustlin’ sound then I hear a baby cryin’. “Sorry, Nash. Looks like that’s really goin’ around. Sandra – Doc Grayson is on her way over here. Both kids are sick, and I’m afraid I’m getting it too.”
“Damn. I’m sorry, Sadie. Memphis okay?”
“Yeah. For now. I’ll have him take a sign over to the shop so people will know we’re closed and why. I’ll see if Sandra can stop by Tina’s after she leaves here to check on her.” She starts coughin’ again.
Might not hurt if she would stop by here, just to make sure Tina’s okay. “Uh, Tina’s over here at my place. Think she’d stop by here once she’s done at your place? I’d be mighty obliged.” I turn my head at the sound of Tina coughin’ and walk to the door, openin’ it a bit. She’s asleep.
“Oh!” Sadie sounds surprised. “That’ll be even closer for Sandra. I’ll tell her. Is Tina okay?”
“Yeah. She was dehydrated so they pumped her full of fluids and antibiotics. Told me to keep gettin’ fluids down her. Better do the same for yourself and those babies.” I hear the front door open and Manuel talkin’ to someone.
“I will. Nash?”
I start walkin’ toward the stairs. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Thank you for taking such great care of Tina. I know it can be hard on her, no family around, not that she’s had much of a family so to speak, and obviously I’m not much help with having Jared and Evie. I feel like I haven’t been much of a friend lately.” She sounds kinda down.
“Nah. No thanks necessary. I’m sure she understands. You’re her best friend. Besides, I have no problem takin’ care of her. Did she – did she mention she’s gonna move in with me?” Shit! Maybe I shouldn’t have said anythin’. Maybe she hasn’t had time to tell Sadie yet.
“Oh, yes. She did.” I can hear a smile in her voice, makin’ me a bit relieved. “She may not seem like it, all the time, well, you know – she is pretty shy, but she’s really excited. Thank you, again, for being there for her. For showing her how love should be. I don’t know if she’s told you much about her family, if you can call them that – oh! I probably shouldn’t be saying anything.” She starts coughin’. “It’s really for her to tell.”
She really is a good friend. “She’s told me. Well, some. There’s no need to thank me for somethin’ I love doin’.” I hear a baby cryin’ a little louder. “You’d better get to your baby.” I let out a small laugh, even though this whole situation isn’t funny. Fuck, I’m tired.
“Yeah. Not a lot of happy people over here,” she says a little more lighthearted than I’m sure she feels.
“Well, ya’ll take care and let me know if I can get anythin’ for ya.”
We end the call and I look down and see Prie standin’ just inside the front door. She looks up at me in concern. “Prie. You shouldn’t be here,” I say goin’ down the stairs.
“I was just worried about you and the guys. The flu is going around.” She looks nervous. I decide to stay on the last step.
“We’re fine.” She takes a step towards me. “Don’t, Prie.” She stops. “You need to go.” I look up the stairs then back at her. “Tina has it. She’s upstairs. You shouldn’t be anywhere near her or me, really. I’ve been around her all night.”
“Is she okay?” I know she’s concerned for her friend but she’s makin’ me worried bein’ here.
“She will be. She’s still pretty sick. Trevor okay?” She nods. “You need to go, Prie. Stay at home until this blows over. Maybe call your doctor and let them know you’ve been around people with the flu. See if there’s anythin’ you can take. Don’t worry. I’ll call you, keep you updated. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers.
“We’ll tell Tina you came by,” Manuel adds. Prie looks at him and smiles, givin’ him a nod then walks out the front door.
Just with her bein’ in my house for even a second makes me nervous. Even though I understand her wantin’ to come here, bein’ worried and all, she shouldn’t have come.
“Nash?” I look upstairs at the sound of Tina’s weak and hoarse voice.
“Comin’, darlin’.” I look at Manuel and can tell he’s worried about all this as well. He nods, and I take off up the stairs.
Chapter Sixteen
Tina
God, I feel like I’ve been in some terrible accident or I’m paying in the worst way for all my sins. Hmm, I don’t remember making any sins worthy of how I feel. Maybe it’s getting back at me from all the times I drove Sadie and her friends around, watching them party. It’s payback for not protecting my best friend and making her see the error of her ways. “Darlin’, let me help you up so you can drink some juice.” Then, there’s this low, deep voice that calls me darlin’ and in the midst of all the aching, chills, and then horrible heat, my lady bits wake up. If I could move, I’d totally be all over that.
A strong arm moves underneath me and raises me up. The coldness of orange juice rushes down my throat. Damn that tastes so good! “More?” I look up at him and nod. “Okay.” He lays me back down and fills up the glass. “I brought up the container.” He raises me again and I gulp like I’ve been in the desert for d
ays. Not that I know what that’s like. “Okay?” I nod again and he lays me back down. Now – I need to use the bathroom. Oh God! I need to use the bathroom! How in the hell am I going to do that? I don’t even think I can get out of the bed. Sigh.
“Um....” He sets the glass down and looks at me. “I kinda need to use the restroom?” Could this be any more embarrassing? He doesn’t say a word, just takes the covers and pulls them back then lifts me into his arms with a “whoosh”. “Oh!” He carries me into the bathroom, flips on the light, and sets me down on shaky legs. Squatting down before me, he starts to push up my nightgown. “Nash!” He looks up at me with a strange look.
“What?”
“Um – I just....” I suck in my bottom lip. Is it the fever making me so hot or am I blushing? Could be both.
He smiles. “Darlin’. I’ve seen you naked – more than once.” It’s true, he has. But this is – different. “You need help. Just pretend it’s you and me – alone. We’re just gettin’ ready to make love.” I nod. He pulls up my gown and pulls down my panties. With his sturdy, strong hands, he grasps under my arms and helps me sit down on the toilet. “Are you okay?” I nod, suddenly not able to do my business with him standing there. He winks. “I’ll just be right outside the door.” I breathe a sigh of relief and smile. He walks out door, closing it but leaving it open slightly.
