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“Three. She says her stomach feels better now and she’s cooled down, but I didn’t know if I should still call a doctor in.”
“Have you taken her temperature?”
“No. We don’t have a thermometer,” I admitted. I made a mental note to find a drug store and buy one the next damned day.
“But she doesn’t feel warm to the touch when you touch her forehead?”
“She did, but she’s cooled down now.”
“If she’s telling you she feels better I wouldn’t bother with calling in a doctor. Just keep her hydrated and keep a close watch for any signs of a fever. It was probably something and nothing. Kids catch things so easily.”
“So I can put her to bed?” I asked for clarification.
“Yes. Give her a drink, put her to bed and let her sleep. If she keeps throwing up, I’d call the doctor then, but chances are it already passed, whatever it was.”
“Thanks Livy. I’m sorry I woke you. I just didn’t know who else to call,” I sighed, relieved.
“No problem. You know you can call me anytime,” she assured me, and I was relieved to hear it, because I had a suspicion this wouldn’t be the last piece of advice I would need if Willow was going to be a part of my life going forward. “And Nico, keep a bucket close. At that age you won’t get much warning if she’s going to puke again,” she added with a chuckle.
“Yeah, I learned that the hard way earlier,” I laughed.
I found Kai and Sam back in the living room once I had hung up with Livy. Kai had Willow in his arms, rocking her back and forth. She was calmed, but still looked to be feeling pretty sorry for herself.
“How are you feeling, princess?” I asked as I approached her.
“Mr. Roar has to stay at the spas all night, Nic Nic,” she told me sadly.
“Really? He must be getting the star treatment then. I’ll bet he’ll enjoy that.”
“But he always sleeps wiv me,” she sniffled.
“Well tonight I’m going to sleep with you, right?” I asked.
“You promised to keep the bad dreams away,” she reminded me.
“That’s right. That’s exactly what I’m gonna do, princess.”
“Should I call the doctor? I found the number for a pediatrician who does house calls?” Sam asked.
“I spoke with a friend. She has kids and said as long as Willow doesn’t have a temperature and isn’t throwing up, we don’t need to. We just need to keep her hydrated and let her sleep.”
“Well she feels pretty cool right now, so that’s good, right?” Kai asked as he looked to me.
“Let’s hope so,” I shrugged.
“Take her up to her room. I’ll make her a drink and bring it up,” Sam directed.
“We can handle things now, Sam. You should get home. Garth will be worried,” Kai told him.
“I’m staying tonight. I already sent Garth a text, so he knows. You’re going to need me here if Willow gets sick again,” he pointed out and I wasn’t arguing. It was going to be ‘all hands man your battle stations’ if Willow vomited again.
CHAPTER 19
HUNTER
I couldn’t take my eyes from Maddie where she lay in her bed, fast asleep and looking more peaceful than I had seen her look at any time since I found her again. It was a reminder to me of just how much she was struggling with. I had been thinking she was settled with us, but seeing what she actually looked like when she was relaxed and at peace only proved I was wrong.
She had been walking around tense and on her guard constantly and I hadn’t even realized. I worried it was because of us – because she distrusted us so much after what we had done to her when we walked away all of those years ago. I worried it was because of the stress we had put her under with our talk of a relationship with her. I worried we had only added to everything she was already fighting so hard to deal with.
