Page 24 of When a Soul Cries

“Za-Za.”

That tiny voice nearly broke me in half.

“Yeah, baby. Za-Za got you.”

She reached for me, and I gathered her against my chest. Heat came off her body through the thin pink shirt she wore. I pressed my lips to her forehead, then immediately pulled them away.

“She is burning up.”

“We noticed she felt warm after nap time,” Ms. Keisha explained. “She didn’t eat much at lunch, either. We checked her temperature twice. The last reading was one hundred two.”

“Did she throw up? Cough? Pull at her ears? Anything?”

“No vomiting. She’s had a little runny nose, and she’s been fussier than usual.”

Halo tucked her face into my neck, too tired to care that my hair was in her way. I rubbed slow circles over her back.

“Where’s her bag?” I asked.

“I have it right here.”

Ms. Keisha handed me the diaper bag and a folded incident sheet. I stuffed the paper inside without looking at it. Whatever boxes they had checked could wait. Halo couldn’t.

“Tell her mama I hope she feels better,” Ms. Keisha said.

“I’ll tell her.”

I adjusted Halo on my hip, snatched my license off the counter, and headed outside.

By the time I reached my car, my phone was ringing.

Sol.

I answered on the first ring. “I have her.”

“How does she look?” Her voice came fast and shaky. “Is she okay? Is she crying? Did they tell you how long she’s had the fever?”

“Breathe, Sol.”

“Zari—”

“I said breathe. She’s hot and she doesn’t feel good, but she’s with me now.”

I opened the back door and gently lowered Halo into her car seat. Normally, she kicked and twisted while I buckled her in. Today, she only watched me through glossy eyes, one small fist wrapped around the chain at my neck.

“They said she didn’t eat much,” I continued. “No throwing up. Just a runny nose and the fever. I’m about to call her doctor and see what they want me to do.”

“I should leave.”

“And let Mr. Potato Head fire you? No.”

“That’s my baby.”

The crack in her voice softened me.

“I know she is,” I said, quieter. “And that’s why I’m telling you I have her. Lo-Lo is good with me. Finish your shift unless the doctor says we need you there. I’ll call you the second I know something.”

There was a pause.