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“Thanks, Fallon.”
She sighs. “You’ll be okay, Jasper.”
I don’t know…
I slip the bag from her and start toward the elevator.
Kieler intercepts me as I’m hitting the button. “You know, you can take time from working out at the holidays. Maybe live it up a little, enjoy a glass of beer, and eat more than chicken breasts and broccoli.”
“You know that’s not me.”
“Seems like it.”
Sure, I get up at 4 a.m. Sure, I get on my bike and ride for twenty miles first thing, but I sure don’t eat chicken breasts and broccoli. Well, not exclusively.
I adjust the bag as the elevator dings. I turn around before hitting the button. “Have a great Christmas, Kieler.”
And the elevator door closes as he’s shaking his head.
* * *
Sonnet
I flip the bedding back and forth.Where is it?
I have to leave for the hospital in ten minutes and I want to spend time with Nyck. His fever hasn’t broken, and I’m concerned it’s more than something viral. He seems fine. He’s playing and running around, but one more sign and I’m making the call.
You’re the only doc there tonight. You really want to do that to the person on call?
“Ugh!” I continue searching, but out of the corner of my eye, I see something.
A shadow darkens the doorway.
“Sonnet, it’s on your dresser, like always.” My sister Harmony’s voice comes out with a little know-it-all tone, but I’m kind of okay with it.
I grab my badge and clip it to my scrub pocket.
“Now, don’t get freaked out and I’m only telling you because I know you’d throw me out into the snow if you found out… but Nyck’s fever is now a hundred and one.”
There’s the sign.
“I think I should call in.”
“Sis, it’s a fever. Kids get them all the time. He’s running around the living room pretending that Watson is a bad guy. Watson on the other hand is sitting in the middle of the room and watching him like his twelve-year-old, lazy, basset hound ass requires.”
I chuckle lightly and from behind Harmony comes a voice saying, “I’m fine.”
Harmony pulls Nyck in front of her and my nine-year-old son’s toothy grin beams. “Since we’re not going shopping, we have a night of popcorn and movies planned out. Right?” She tickles him lightly and he crumples forward.
“Aunt Harmony! I’m going to tickle you when you go to sleep! But we’re definitely watching movies.”
Nyck squirms from her touch and runs back down the hallway.
I follow behind him as Harmony whistles a tune I can’t quite make out.
Jingle Bells? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?
Our love of music is cemented in both our souls and names.
