Page 55 of Love Deep

Riley and Juniper head back into the bedroom. The murmur of voices picks up and I get the impression someone’s leaving. I stand.

I hear a chorus of thank-yous, and then Beau appears.

“Hey,” I say, wondering if he’ll tell me anything.

“It all looks fine,” he says, and my shoulders drop from up by my ears, where they’ve been for the last hour. “I’ve told them I can come down if things escalate, but I don’t think they will. It’s almost certainly just a virus.” I sigh with relief. “Her temperature has come down a little and she’s been to the loo, so I think we’re good. But she should be monitored. Call me at any time.”

“Beau, you’re a superstar, man. I’m so grateful.”

“It’s good to blow off the cobwebs every now and again,” he says. “Anything for a fan of my wife.” He nods over to the bedroom. “She has quite the poster collection.”

I chuckle. “A Vivian Cross fan, huh? Well, isn’t everyone?”

“You’ll get no argument on that from me. Take care now. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Juniper appears as Beau drives away. “Thank you so much, Fisher. Having a doctor examine her is so reassuring. I’m sorry if I made the biggest fuss over… nothing.” She sighs.

“Don’t apologize. Your daughter’s sick. You don’t have a magic wand to make her better. It must be frustrating and worrying and all these emotions I can’t even imagine.”

She smiles and presses her hand on my chest. “You’re wonderful.”

“I’m sitting here drinking coffee. I can’t lay claim to wonderful. That’s your thing.”

She grins up at me. “I’m going to stay here with Riley, though. Do you mind?”

I chuckle. “I’d insist you went to the hospital if you didn’t. Do you want me to stay?”

She hesitates. “Maybe.”

“How about I stay for a little while?” I suggest. I don’t want to leave her. I can’t do anything, but abandoning her doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.

She steps forward and leans against me, and I envelop her in a hug. She feels so warm and like she fits perfectly. “Thank you.”

I press a kiss on her head. “Go be with your daughter. I’ll be here if you need anything.”

NINETEEN

Juniper

I wake suddenly and sit up. I’m still in my jeans and shirt from last night.

Riley’s shifting on her bed. “Mom,” she calls out.

“I’m here,” I say, getting up from the floor where I’ve made a makeshift bed out of blankets. Dad came to get Mom after Beau left, and I left Fisher on the couch. I don’t know if he’s still there. Part of me really hopes he is, but I don’t expect him to have stayed. He can’t understand how high the stakes are when your child is sick. “How are you feeling, sweet girl?” I ask as I get to my feet.

She pushes up so she’s sitting. “I’m really thirsty.”

“Here.” I reach for her water bottle that’s on the nightstand and hand it to her. I put my palm to her head. It feels hot but not scorching like it did last night. I check the clock on my phone. It’s 8 a.m. The last round of medicine will have worn off by now. “Let me take your temperature.”

I sit next to her on the bed. I take it three times. Each time, it comes out at a cool one hundred. Much better thanlast night when it went to one oh four when I got home with Fisher. “You feeling a little better than last night?”

She nods. “I’m tired, though.” She takes another long drink of water, then says, “I need to pee.”

We head out of her bedroom to the bathroom, and I catch sight of Fisher on the sofa, sleeping. He looks so peaceful. I smile to myself. He didn’t have to stay last night, but I’m really pleased he did. Maybe I shouldn’t be so selfish. It might confuse Riley if he’s around, but it was nice having him here last night. Not just because he got a doctor to us, but just knowing there was someone there to give me a hug. It’s more than I’ve had in a long time. Sure, I’ll get all the hugs I want from my mom, but that’s part of the contract when you’re a mother. Fisher didn’t have to be here. But he was.

“Mom,” Riley says as we head back to the bedroom. “Why’s Fisher sleeping on the couch?”

I chuckle. “Well, he drove me home from Grizzly’s when Fizzy let me know you were sick.”