“I’m, uh, Tani’s friend,” he managed, clearing his throat.
Bea frowned, turning her laser focus to me. “Where did you meet him?”
Her tone was almost accusatory, and I couldn’t help a small smile. “Just… around the island,” I said, hoping to steer her away from any mention of work. “He’s new here too.”
“What’s his name?” she pressed, not looking away from him.
“Hayden,” he answered for himself, offering a hand. She eyed it, then shook it with the formality of a tiny diplomat.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Her lips curled in a sly grin.
I groaned inwardly—should’ve seen that coming. “No, Bea, he’s just a friend.”
She didn’t look convinced. “He’s handsome,” she declared, glancing between us as if solving a puzzle.
I wanted to bury my face in a pillow, but Hayden took it in stride. “Thanks,” he said, giving her a small, crooked smile, his expression half-amused, half-bashful.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my aunt clearly enjoying the show. I fixed my gaze on Bea’s favorite toy train, seizing on the distraction. “Hey, want to show me your train set?” I asked quickly.
Before she could protest, I took her hand and led her away, silently grateful for the save. Hayden wasn’t off the hook for long; soon, Jack wandered over and pressed a second toy train into his hands. In no time, Hayden was kneeling with Jack and my aunt and uncle by the track, tentatively joining their play.
All the while, worry for my parents burned at the back of my mind. I didn’t want to dwell on the subject verbally now, in front of Bea, and my aunt and uncle clearly didn’t either, but having no idea what kind of fever they had or how it could be treated ate away at me. Hayden seemed to sense that I needed space to deal with it, and he remained on the other side of theroom with Jack. I could barely even focus on what Bea was saying to me.
When Martha returned an hour later with a tray of drinks and sandwiches, and a number, I let out a sigh of relief. After placing the tray on a low table, she came to kneel next to me on the floor and tapped the number into my phone’s address book. “This will get you through to the right person,” she explained.
Then it was a waiting game. I wanted to cherish the short, precious time I had with my sister, but I couldn’t stop watching the clock for the end of our appointment. I ate three sandwiches just because it was free food and I needed to tank up. I could barely appreciate the fresh ingredients.
When it was time to go, I crouched down beside Bea and Jack. “I’ll see you both next Sunday, okay? And hopefully by then, Mom and Dad will be well enough for a visit.”
Bea squeezed my hand, face earnest. “Promise?”
“I promise I’ll come,” I said, hugging her tight. Jack clung to my side until Martha gently pried him off with a smile.
Hayden ruffled Jack’s hair and gave Bea a little wave. “Bye, troublemakers. See you soon.”
We exchanged quick goodbyes with Martha in the hallway, and then I hurried outside, barely waiting for the gate to finish sliding shut. My phone was already in my hand as I leaned against the cold post, dialing the hospital’s number, heart pounding while I waited for someone to pick up. Hayden lingered a half step closer than usual, hands shoved in his pockets, posture loose but his gaze fixed on me. The question in his eyes was clear:Are you okay?
“Dora speaking,” a female voice suddenly spoke in my ear.
I sighed in relief, then pressed the “loudspeaker” button so my aunt and uncle could hear the conversation. “Hello, Dora. My name’s Tanisha Lockwood and I’m calling about my parents: Rey and Norine Lockwood. They were recentlysectioned off with a fever. I’m calling to find out how they are. Are they still quarantined?”
“Yes, they are,” she replied.
My breath hitched. “Can I speak to them?”
“All patients in the quarantine area are resting,” she replied apologetically. “I can pass on a message, but I suggest you call tomorrow morning. Hopefully by then they’ll have more strength to talk.”
I bit my lip. It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for. I could at least get my most burning questions answered now. “What kind of fever do they have?”
“Unfortunately, it’s still an enigma to us. We haven’t seen anything quite like it before. We’re still exploring the most effective means of treatment.”
“What are the symptoms?” I pressed, my fingernails biting into my palm.
“Primarily, high temperature accompanied by swelling of the throat and mouth. They’ve also had difficulty ingesting food, so we’ve been feeding them intravenously for the past couple of days.”
That sounded bad. “Have they shown any improvement at all?” I asked desperately.
She hesitated. “Put it this way: they are, at the moment, in a stable condition. Rest assured, we’re doing all we can to get them well.”
