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Mitch drove to another subdivision not too far from where Derek lived. Derek hopped out of the car before Mitch came to complete stop and ran up to the front door and rang the bell. Both Chance and Mitch got out, too.
“Is he normally like this with Jaden?”
Mitch nodded. “Pretty much.”
Derek came back outside the house carrying Jaden. He had a diaper bag slung over his shoulder. Mitch helped him secure Jaden in the car seat and everyone got back into the vehicle then Mitch drove away. Chance looked over at the child seated between him and Derek. His skin looked a bit blotchy. He was trying to touch his left ear and was crying.Ear infection. Another common symptom of teething.
“Your ear hurts fellow?”
Derek reached over and stoked the child’s forehead. “He’s still hot.”
The hospital was not too far away. Derek hopped out of the car again, unstrapped Jaden, and hurried into the emergency room door. Chance grabbed the diaper bag and followed them in. The receptionist was trying to get Derek to fill out some forms, but he was ignoring her and rocking Jaden to quiet him. Chance took the forms and filled out what he could. Luckily, Mitch came in and added to it. He also had a copy of Jaden’s insurance card. Apparently, Derek had freaked out this way before. The receptionist processed the form and a nurse came for Jaden. Derek refused to let her touch him. He insisted on carrying Jaden in back to see the doctor. Chance tried to follow but Mitch stopped him. “He has to do this for himself.”
Chance agreed. He and Mitch found some seats and sat down. “I bet it’s an ear infection caused by teething,” Chance said.
About thirty minutes later Derek emerged from behind the examining room doors, carrying the sleeping child. Chance and Mitch jumped to their feet and hurried over to him.
“What did the doctor say?” Chance asked.
“He has an ear infection,” Derek said. “The doctor thinks it’s caused by his teething. They gave him something for the fever.”
Mitch looked at Chance. “That’s what you thought.”
Chance couldn’t silence the driver in time before he said it.
Derek looked at Mitch and then at Chance, then headed for the exit. They all got back into the car.
“We have to stop for a prescription.”
Chance went in and got it once they arrived at the pharmacy. Jaden was sleeping peacefully in his car seat when he returned but Derek looked like he’d aged a couple of years. Mitch drove them back to Derek’s mansion.
“Will you need a ride home tonight?” Mitch asked Chance.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Chance answered. “I might be needed to rock someone to sleep.”
Derek’s cheeks turned a bright red as he stood under the porch light holding Jaden. Chance took the child so Derek could open the front door.
“I’ll call you if I need you,” Derek said to Mitch. Mitch nodded then drove away.
Everything upstairs was just as they left it. Derek undressed Jaden and put him to bed, leaving the adjoining door opened. “I need a shower,” he said.
“You go ahead,” Chance said. “I’ll listen for the baby.”
Derek smiled weakly. “Sorry for blowing you off earlier.”
“It’s okay,” Chance said. “You deserve to let off a little steam every now and then.”
Derek went into the bathroom and Chance busied himself by changing the linens on the bed. Derek had pointed out the linen closet when he gave him the tour of the house.
“Thanks,” Derek said when he exited the bathroom later. “I can’t stand sleeping on sticky sheets.”
“I think I better shower, too,” Chance said. “I’m still a bit sticky, too.”
Derek blushed. “You were fantastic. Thanks.”
“Anytime,” Chance said. He went into the bathroom and showered. Derek was already in bed when he returned.
“Jaden’s still asleep. His fever has come down.”
