Page 5 of Rising Star

“Think you can manage on your own or do you need me to…you know…help you out?” The words exited my mouth before I could analyze them, and I wanted to slap myself for being so absurd.

And now I was proposing to help to undress my children’s nanny. Absolutely great.

“I-I can do it. Thanks. For offering.”

I rubbed my nape, keeping my focus on the water. “I’ll be in the other room. Just call me if you want anything…or whatever…I’ll be over there if you… Anyway, I’ll let you do your thing now,” I said, pointing behind me with my thumb. Way to go, Sam.

I heard the distinctive sound of bathwater being drained after twenty-minutes and moved to my feet. Seconds later, Madison reappeared wearing only a purple terry cloth robe she adjusted at the waist.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, taking tentative steps in her direction.

“A bit better. But I’m still cold.” As if summoned, chills traversed her, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

“I called our family doctor while you were in the tub. There’s a bug going around. He said to call him back if the fever doesn’t break in two days.”

Madison returned to her previous position under the covers, and I tucked two blankets around her.

“Want water?” She nodded. I left the room and came back seconds later with a full glass. She took small sips before discarding it on the bedside table.

Her teeth chattered.

I sat on the edge of her bed, and the voices in my head hollered that I’d regret what I was about to do. But damn it. Madison looked like shit, and if I could do anything to make her feel better, I wouldn’t miss my chance. Ignoring the way my heart banged in my chest, I raked my fingers through my hair and spoke the thing I feared I’d regret the moment the words escaped my mouth, “Scoot over. I’ll warm you up.” She shifted to her right, and I stretched my legs over the pile of covers. With one arm around her shoulders, I pulled her against me. My hand found her forehead. Warm as a furnace against me, her fever hadn’t broken. “I got ya,” I whispered against her hair, my lips dying to kiss her right there. Madison nestled in the crook of my arm, her head resting on my chest, and her body grew heavy when she fell asleep.

A long while later, her chills abated. And her breathing evened.

Half-seated, a pillow behind my back, I refused to move, not willing to wake her up.

The scent of her perfume permeated my nostrils. Citrus and Madison.

My eyelids fluttered, and my head hung lower. Before I realized it, I dozed off too.

“No, Mama, no.” Gut-wrenching sobs and a death grip on my upper arm woke me up with a start. In the darkness, I had a hard time recalling where I was. Or if it had all been a dream or reality. “No, please. No. Stop. It hurts.” The grip on my arm tightened, fingernails digging into my skin through my shirt.

Madison.

I cocked my head to watch her, the light from the hallway casting a soft glow on her tear-drenched face. My thumb erased the wetness covering her cheeks. Her fever had lessened a notch.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s just a bad dream. You’re safe. Nothing will happen to you.”

Her glossy eyes captured mine, and for a second, I got lost in them.

Her lips shuddered, and she blinked as if to reset her brain.

“Thanks,” she whispered, her voice rough.

“You’re still freezing?” I asked.

“Yesss,” she said, traces of fear still stamped in her voice.

“Want me to stay?”

“Please.” I reached for her hand, and she relaxed in my embrace.

Feeling an unknown peace in my core, we both drifted back to sleep.

The sound of my cell vibrating on the nightstand pulled me out of my slumber. It took me a moment to come back to a conscious state.

Still asleep beside me, Madison’s head was pressed against my chest. When I skimmed her forehead with my fingers, I concluded her fever had dropped.