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Gently pushing him aside, I grab the pen from the clerk, sign my name, and dig through my purse before sliding my debit card toward her. “I’m responsible for him, and I’ll pay the co-pay.”
Later on when we’re in the waiting room, Caleb turns to me. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?” I glance up from where I’m texting Mason. There’s still one person in front of Caleb and me, probably by the time Mason gets off shit, we’ll be done.
“Sign as responsible for me and pay that money? Ms. Holland, it’s too much.” He stretches his legs out in front of him.
This right here, this is a loaded conversation we’re about to have, and while I wouldn’t choose to have it in the waiting area of a doctor’s office, it needs to be said. “I think under the circumstances, you can probably call me Karina, or a nickname if you want. Your dad calls me Rina.” I put my phone away. “Look, you aren’t a child, so I’m not going to sugar coat this for you. There’s something about Mason that’s attracted me since the first time I saw him. He’s considerate, a good dad to you, and a stand-up guy. I enjoy spending time with him.” I push my hair back behind the mask they’ve had me wear. “And I enjoy spending time with you too. I know you aren’t a little kid who needs someone to take care of him, but every once in a while, like when you’re sick, everyone wants a little compassion. There was no way I was going to let you wait hours for Mason, not when I know it was killing him, and I could help the two of you out. That’s just not who I am.”
Caleb looks at me, his gaze so very much like his dad’s. I almost feel as if I’m looking at younger version of Mason. “We’ve never had anyone in our lives like you, Karina.”
“Good.” I laugh. “Because I’ve never had anyone like the two of you in mine.”
Folding his arms back over his chest, he levels me with his stare. “Don’t hurt my dad, please don’t hurt my dad. If there’s anyone in this world who deserves love, it’s him.”
“That’s a little further than we’ve gone.” I squirm in my seat. My feelings for Mason are strong, which is why a little over a month after our first date I’m taking his son to the doctor, but love? I swore I’d never take that lightly again.
“I know my dad, and I know what kind of a woman you are. You two can fuck around with each other all you want, but feelings are involved. I’d have to be blind and deaf not to see or hear it.” He flashes me a tired grin.
Hearing it. Good God. That night when Mason told me he didn’t care who heard what he was doing to me. Caleb had heard it. Shit. I don’t know what to say, I’m stunned, and then I’m saved as they call his name to be taken back. “Want me to go with you?”
“Yeah.” He reaches down, grabbing my hand. “I’ve never been to a doctor by myself before, and honestly, it’s a little scary.”
The flashes of vulnerability are what endear this kid to me, and I question what in the hell kind of woman could abandon him. Quickly I follow him, wait as they take his weight, blood pressure, and temperature. “One hundred and two point nine,” the nurse says as she looks at me. “Good thing you brought him in, he sounds a little dehydrated. Heart rate is a slightly elevated.”
For the length of the visit, I’m a quiet reassurance to him, putting my hand on his back when they make him take a flu test, and grimacing when the test comes back positive.
“Good thing it’s a Friday, right?” He tilts his head to me.
I agree with him. “Really good thing, sounds like you need to rest.”
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I glance down to see who it is. “One second please, it’s his dad.”
M: Any update?
K: In with the doctor right now, I’ll text you once we get home and he gets situated.
“And lots of fluids.” The attending doctor hands me a prescription after I finish my text with Mason. “If his fever doesn’t break in forty-eight hours, or gets higher, we need to see him back here. I can’t stress enough the amount of fluids he needs, and here’s an excuse for school. Don’t send him back until Wednesday – this particular strain is not a laughing matter. Watch yourself and anyone else in the home. First sign of symptoms, call in here, and we’ll get some of the Tamiflu called in for you too. Any questions?”
“Nope.” I shake my head as I help Caleb back into his jacket and watch the doctor wash his hands. I do the same before we leave and head to the grocery store where the pharmacy is located to pick up his prescription.
“Do you have Gatorade at your house?” I ask him as we walk back to see if they have his medication ready yet.
“No.” He shakes his head.
“Okay, you wait here, and I’ll go grab some things you can eat and drink. If they call your name, tell them I’ll be right back.”
He nods, but has a seat with his head in his hands. I know the poor kid has to feel horrible. It’s a work out as I practically run up and down the aisles getting Gatorade, orange juice, water, some jello, applesauce, the stuff to make grilled cheese, and some chicken noodle soup. When I glance at my phone, I see that I’ve done it all in fifteen minutes, and miracle of all miracles there’s no one in the checkout line. Pushing my cart of bags back to the pharmacy location, they’re just now calling Caleb’s name. “Watch this stuff for me.”
“Shit, Karina, did you buy the whole damn store?” His eyes are wide as he looks at the four, maybe five bags, in the cart.
“You’re sick, you need things, and if you think this is me buying the whole store, you ain’t seen nothing yet, kid.”
I turn back to the pharmacy counter as they call his name again. When they ask me for sixty bucks for the medication, I get a stark dose of reality. This is what Mason’s had to deal with his whole life. A simple visit to the doctor for a kid can sometimes cost over a hundred bucks when you factor in time off, food, medicine, doctor visit. I never want these two to have to go through something like this on their own again.
“Come on.” I grab the cart, motioning to him. “Let’s get you home.”
* * *
