I want to laugh but my chest hurts too much, and I fear I’ll start in on another coughing fit if I do.
I work my lips into what I think is a cracked-lip smile instead.“That’s good, baby.I’m glad Ax could be here to take care of you.”
I lift my gaze to Dane and strangely enough, I see the same expression on his face as he stares at Lenni.It’s plain as day.Adoration and love.
“And I want to wide my bike outside.Ax said you need to say okay.Can I, Mama?Please?I pwomice to wear my helmet.”
My brain tries to keep up with her excited chatter.Her face lighting up, she wiggles in his arms and Dane sets her down on the floor again.“Oh, and Mama, I made a picture for you.To make you better.I go show you.”
Without any further explanation, she runs out of the room and down the hallway, leaving me under the watchful gaze of Dane.He turns to my bedside table, grabs a glass of water, and hands it to me as I lift my body into a sitting position.
“Here, drink some water.You need to stay hydrated.”
I gladly accept the offer and take several long gulps, the cool liquid drenching my parched tongue and dry throat.When I’m finished, he takes the glass from my hand and places it back on the table.
Kneeling beside the bed so we’re at eye level, he gives me a grave look of concern.
“You had me worried, Hal.I was about to call in a doctor, you’ve been so out of it.”His eyes flash with what looks like worry.“In fact, if you’re okay with it, I want to call my IV therapist to come over.You’re in need of some major rehydration.”
“Oh.Um, is that necessary?How long have I been out?”
I try to recount the last time I was lucid and aware of what was going on around me.There are flashes of recollection of me lying on the bathroom floor the first night after I put Lenni to bed.The next morning, I remember watching her from my spot on the couch, unable to move a muscle as she poured Cheerios into a bowl, and hearing the cereal pieces scatter over the floor.
I have no memory of texting or talking to Dane.
“Two days,” he states.“Three nights.”
My mouth drops open, and I gape at him.“Two days?Oh my God.I’ve never been this sick before.”
Dane pats the top of my thighs, still covered in my stinky pajamas.A sudden wave of embarrassment washes over me, and I push his hands away.
“I’m so sorry I burdened you with this.I was…”
“I know, you were desperate.”He chuckles and lifts a shoulder.“But look, it’s fine.I’m just glad I was in town and could be here for you both.But tomorrow I have to be at a morning practice and I have a game tomorrow night.I’ll need to make some arrangements for Lenni.”
I wave him off, turning to the side of the mattress and gingerly placing my feet on the floor.I push my palm against his chest to get him to move.“It’s fine.I can manage.”
He shakes his head when I wobble and then holds me upright with large hands that cup my shoulders.Once I’m stabilized, he then sits down at the edge of the bed next to me.
“Halle, come on.You can barely sit up without passing out, much less take care of Lenni.I can still help you figure it out.I just need to call in some backup and make arrangements.You don’t have to do this alone.”
Emotion clogs my chest, and I want to burst out in tears.Maybe it’s not a wave of dizziness from this virus but a swooning sensation from seeing this side of Dane I’ve never witnessed before that overtakes me.He’s so in control of everything, like all of this is just a walk in the park.
When I don’t respond, Dane continues.
“I can drop off Lenni at daycare before practice, and I’ll ask Nils Lundren if his nanny can watch Lenni during the game.You just stay here and rest and get yourself better.For both your sakes.”
In the past, Dane always played it like he was just an easygoing, cheeky charmer, where everything came easy and the world was his oyster.But he’s proven through this to obviously be good under pressure and that he doesn’t ruffle easily.Maybe that’s what makes him such a good hockey player.
Unlike me.I overthink everything and panic over every decision I make over Lenni.
Even looking for a new pediatrician for Lenni took me over a week to research.I narrowed through the list of doctors, reading through the reviews one by one, creating a spreadsheet of their qualifications and backgrounds before I made my selection.
Even in making the decision to call Dane—although I can’t for the life of me remember doing it—I probably stewed over it until I was so sick I could no longer take it.
Before I know I’m saying it, the words slip from my mouth.
“When did you grow up, Dane?”
