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"That's aspirin. He can have children's ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Do you have any?"
''No," Eva said, wincing as Mickey trudged toward her with a drenched sock in his hand. "I guess I can go to the store at some point... if can get some one to watch Charlie. Is that a sock?"
Mickey nodded. Abigail said, "Huh?"
"Hold on a sec," Eva said into the phone.
"No, I'm coming over with the medicine. Be right there," Abigail said, hanging up.
Mickey pressed the foot pedal and dropped the sock into the trash can."Yep.That's your problem."
"How did it get in the toilet?"
Mickey shrugged. "Kids do the damnedest things."
"Grr," Eva growled, setting her phone on the counter, begging the low throb in her head not to grow any worse. "It's hard to be mad at him when- "
"Eva," Charlie cried out.
''No worries on my account," Mickey said, pulling out his clipboard. "The toilet's working now, and you shouldn't have any more problems."
"Thanks, Mick. Just leave the bill on the counter and let yourself out. I need to check on Charlie."
"This one's on me,” Mickey called out as she made her way to the guest bedroom, aka Charlie's room. She'd left the small lamp on, and it illuminated the little boy blinking plaintively at her.
"Eva, I don't feel good."
"I know, sweetie," Eva said, sinking down next to him on the full-size bed, brushing the hair off his sticky, hot forehead. "Birdie's mom is bringing you some medicine that will help you feel better, and then once the doctor's office opens, we'll go see what's going on with you, okay?"
"Okay." He nodded, tears welling in his eyes. "Mom sings to me when I feel icky."
"I'm not a good singer."
"Okay," he said, his lower lip doing that pouting thing that breaks hearts and earns kids things like candy bars at the checkout.
"When I was a little girl, playing on my farm, I jumped into a big haystack, and there I broke my arm," she sang in a warbled voice that could only be described as excruciating.
"I know this one. Daddy sang it."
Eva nodded. "He sang it to me, too, when I was little."
"That's 'cause we're brother and sister," Charlie said.
"Exactly."
"Sing some more, ' kay?" Charlie said, closing eyes brightened by fever. His cheeks were flushed, and looking at him made her heart squeeze.
Eva sang the words she knew by heart, all the while wondering how she'd deal with something bad happening to Charlie on her watch. She didn't know how to take care of a kid. Why hadn't she ever babysat or something? Or finished reading those books she'd bought about raising little boys. Not that she was raising him. This was temporary. But she couldn't screw up.
The doorbell sounded, and Eva left Charlie sleeping fitfully.
When she opened the door, Abigail didn't greet her. Leif did.
"Hey, Eva." He held a small bag. He wore some weird-looking karate pants, a rough-hewn linen shirt, and his hair was in a ponytail. Even though he had an earthy, hippie vibe, he was so good-looking a person had to look twice. He totally had that Chris Hemsworth thing going. Like Thor on her doorstep... except wearing flip-flops.
“Thanks be,” Eva said, stepping back.
"Abigail forgot she was baking something and sent me instead. Said you had a little guy not feeling well." Leif held out the bag to her. "Abi sent some over-the-counter stuff, but I have to say, using some natural methods would work as well. I have some honey here- found this over in Mandeville a few months back. That will help the cough. And if he has a headache, you can takethis lavender oil- " he handed her a vial "- and this coconut oil, and rub a little on his forehead."
