Page 112 of Forbidden Kisses

My mom opened the door, smiling when she saw us.

"Hi," Riley said. "Good to see you again."

"You too."

"How's the little guy feeling?" I asked.

"Not terribly bad, but I don't think he's in any shape for a camping trip. Not the best place to need the toilet."

"No," I agreed.

"He’ll try to convince you otherwise, of course."

Riley and I stepped inside. Jeremy was curled up on Mom's couch with his favorite toy in his arms and a pillow between his knees. He looked a bit pale. But I swear to God, the second he noticed Riley, his face completely lit up.

"Riley, how are you doing?” he asked. “I haven't seen you all week."

"I missed you," she said, sitting next to him and hugging him. Jeremy didn't even seem to care that I was here.

"The new nanny's not as nice as you are. No one is as nice as you are. I'm so happy we're going camping."

Riley looked up at me, and I nodded.

"Jeremy, your grandmother says you've been throwing up and going to the toilet a lot," I said.

"Yes, but I'm fine now." But then he turned pale again and said, "Oh no, I need to throw up again." He made a beeline to the toilet.

"I'll go after him," I told Mom and Riley.

Jeremy stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door. "Don't come after me. I'm a big boy."

"Right. I'm going to be out here in case you need me," I said.

He came out a few minutes later. He'd rinsed his face, but he was still pale.

I lowered myself so I was his height. "Buddy, why don't we have a cozy weekend in, okay? And we'll make plans for next week or another time."

He pouted. "No."

"It's going to be very uncomfortable if you're sick. You won't be able to eat any marshmallows."

I could see his resolve weaken. His shoulders slumped, and the corners of his mouth turned downward.

Riley joined us a moment later.

"Riley, help,” Jeremy begged. “Dad is trying to convince me not to go camping."

She sat down on the floor with her thighs to one side, cupping his cheek lightly with one palm. "Jeremy, you don't feel well."

"But I want to spend the weekend with you," he cried before hugging her.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

Now it all made sense. He'd insisted because he thought she was only staying with us if we were going on a camping trip.

I put a hand on his back, making eye contact with Riley. "Riley is spending the weekend with us no matter what. The three of us will stay home, and if you're feeling a bit better later on, we can even go down to the pool."

That was a good compromise. Even if he became sick again, there was a bathroom there.