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“Ten seconds. All you have to do is wait ten seconds and then I’ll cuddle you again. I promise.”
The thermometer beeps and I rush forward. “What does it say?”
Elder frowns. “Ninety-nine.”
“Is ninety-nine degrees a fever? It’s a fever, isn’t it? We should take her to the hospital. I told you we should take her to the hospital!”
I can’t chance anything happening to Robin. I can’t! She’s all I have left. I refuse to lose her.
“Mom said she doesn’t need to go to the hospital unless her temperature is higher than one-hundred and four unless she’s vomiting or has diarrhea or a rash.”
I wring my hands. “She doesn’t have any of those but she’s obviously unhappy. What do we do?”
“We should bathe her in lukewarm water, make sure she has enough fluids, and give her some baby Tylenol.”
“You get the baby Tylenol. I’ll start the bath.”
I hurry to the bathroom and switch on the water. I make sure it’s not too hot or too cold. By the time Elder joins me with Robin, the bathtub is half full.
“She took the Tylenol like a champ.”
I whip off my t-shirt before dropping my underwear.
“W-w-what are you doing?” Elder asks.
“I can’t let her bathe alone.”
“What about the baby bathtub?” He motions to the plastic baby tub in the corner.
“I want to hold her.”
He blows out a breath. “Okay. Get in and I’ll hand her to you.”
I climb into the tub while Elder undresses the baby. As soon as he finishes, I motion for her. “Come here, baby girl. This will make you feel better.”
“I’ll make a bottle while you bathe her.” Elder rushes away.
Robin quiets the second her body hits the water. She does love taking baths.
“You’re going to be a swimmer, aren’t you?”
I stay in the water until it’s cold and then shout for Elder who comes running.
“What is it?” He scans the room. “Everyone okay?”
“Can you take her so I can get out?”
“Naturally.” He grabs a towel from the rack before lifting the baby from my arms. “She seems calmer already. I’ll dress her.”
I climb out of the tub and throw on my t-shirt before following him to the nursery. Elder smiles at me over his shoulder. “Can you grab her bottle?”
I enter the kitchen to find a bottle laying in a bowl of ice. I pick it up and test the temperature on my wrist. It’s good so I return to the nursery where Elder is rocking Robin in the chair while he sings to her.
“What are you singing?” I ask as I hand him the bottle.
He makes sure Robin latches onto the bottle and is drinking before answering. “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
“You and your love of classic Rock.” I study the baby. “She seems calmer. Her face isn’t as red.”
