Page 70 of Cash

“That’s gross,” Cara cringed.

On the screen the little boy took a bite out of the fish the dragon had puked onto his lap.

What the fuck kind of cartoon was this?

“Hiccup should know better not to eat something that was in a dragon’s mouth,” Cara prattled on as the dragon tried to mimic the boy’s smile. “I totally wish I had a baby dragon. Toothless is the best.”

Before I could comment, a loud groan came from my bedroom. I was off the couch and in my room in time to see Stella thrashing on the mattress.

I made it to the side of the bed, rolled her off her back, and brushed her hair off her face.

“Hurts,” she moaned.

“Does she have to poop?” Cara asked from the doorway. Which was as far as I’d allowed her into the room the first time she’d looked in on Stella, claiming I didn’t want her to catch Stella’s flu. “When my tummy hurts, Mommy used to take me to the potty.”

Her second comment erased her comically innocent question.

“Cash,” Stella breathed. “Cara?”

I leaned closer so only she could hear when I shared, “It’s all good, Stella. Cara’s here and safe. So are you.” Her eyelids cracked open and for the first time since I’d found her in the basement of her brother’s house I saw the blue of her eyes. They were bloodshot but the gratitude I felt made it easier to ignore the haze of pain that coated her gaze. “I told her you had the flu. That’s why she can’t come in here.”

“Is Lolo okay, Cashy?”

Stella’s eyes widened and her head jerked back in surprise.

“Yeah, sweetheart.”

“Does she have to poop?”

I felt my lips twitch. “I don’t think so.”

“Puke?”

Stella shook her head, which was really nothing more than sliding her cheek against the pillow, but she did it with a half-smile playing at her lips.

“No, Care Bear, I’m not gonna puke.”

“You’re awake!” Cara shouted. “Can I come in?”

“Yeah, sweetheart,” I told her and shifted to the side so Cara could see Stella.

Cara walked into the room but stood far enough away not to catch the fictitious stomach bug.

“Hey,” Stella whispered. “You okay?”

“Yeah, Cashy came and got me just like you said he would.”

Stella’s gaze slowly transferred to me, but she looked back at Cara when she went on. “I played with Gia and Frankie and ate pizza. And the Snake used his magic on me so I wouldn’t be scared when Cashy left me to go get you. Gia asked her mommy if I could go over to her house and play. She said yes, but I had to ask you first. So, can I?”

I watched Stella slowly blink. I wasn’t sure if it was in confusion or pain or just a curious response to Cara seemingly being cool with this afternoon’s adventure.

“Who’s Gia?” Stella asked.

“Leo and Olivia’s daughter,” I told her.

“I’ll think about it, Care Bear.”

“Is that a real think about it or the pretend kind?”