AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you. I hope I will feel better tomorrow, so I can take them to school.”
“You won’t. I’ve already arranged my schedule so I can pick them up from afterschool care. Just rest. You are no good to them if you don’t rest and get better.”
I started to pull his door closed.
“You can leave it open just in case the girls need something,” he instructed.
“They can ask me. I’m not going anywhere. I will sleep on the couch.”
“On the couch? It’s black leather. That won’t be comfortable,” Morris rasped.
“It’s fine. I’ve slept on worse.”
“You can stay in here with me. I don’t bite, usually.”
“The biting wouldn’t bother me. But you have a fever, so you probably are contagious like Fee said. We can’t both be sick. I will sleep out here. Good night,” I said while pulling his door closed.
“Good night,” he returned.
Morris
I had been down for three days battling with some version of the flu. I didn’t want to be dramatic and say that it felt like I was going home to be with the Lord, but it was pretty close. The pain, dizziness, and nausea at the same time was the perfect combination to make you ask to go home on the morning train. I didn’t know what I would’ve done if Cam hadn’t been around. She took care of the girls and me the entire time.
She made sure the girls were fed, entertained, picked up and dropped off at school, and in bed a decent time every night. She force-fed me fluids and medicine and cleaned up behind me. I wanted to help. I hated being a burden, but she never made me feel like it was a chore to help. She did it effortlessly.
“Daddy!” Fee knocked on my bedroom door.
“Yes?”
“The dress lady is here!” she answered excitedly.
“I’m coming out,” I responded while pulling my T-shirt over my head.
I’d spoken to Cam about helping me find the girls’ dresses for the Daddy-Daughter dance. She not only reached out to her client that owned a dress shop, but the client agreed to come by and let the girls try on dresses. Before I got sick, I’d promised the girls I would take them dress shopping. With the dresses coming to them, I was able to fulfill that promise while I continued to recuperate.
My beard needed to be groomed, my hair needed a fresh cut, but at least my skin wasn’t the pale gray color it was when I looked in the mirror a few days ago. I was able to stand in a warm shower and wash away the last few days of sweat and sickness. I ran a comb through my beard and popped a mint in my mouth before joining Cam and the girls in the living room.
“Hey,” Cam met me before I made it to the couch. “Are you sure you are up to this?”
“Yeah,” I smiled. “I am much better today. Besides, it feels good to be out of that room.”
“Val, this is my friend, Morris. Morris, this is my client, Valentina. This is Skye and Fee,” Cam said.
Valentina was a tall woman with caramel skin and a bald head. She wore the no-hair look well.
“Hi, Morris,” Valentina said and extended her hand.
“Hi, I would shake your hand, but I am just getting over something crazy,” I explained.
“Oh yeah, that bug got my husband and me too. We both were down for a few days. It was horrible,” Valentina explained.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty rough,” I agreed
Valentina stood next to a rack filled with dresses.
“Cam told me the girls’ sizes and a little bit about what they are looking for. I pulled several colors and styles for them to choose from. I can make any necessary alterations,” Valentina said.
“Can we try them on?” Fee asked.
