Page 57 of Manny Included

“Okay.Yes, okay.”Bay took a few deep breaths, Pete’s calm exterior clearly helping Bay to stop panicking.

Bay grabbed his phone and texted quickly.It only took a moment before he was nodding.“He says he can be here in ten minutes.”Then Bay did something else on his phone.“Okay, it’ll be at least fifteen minutes before a car can get here, so it’ll be quicker to wait for Will and I’ll drive you to the ER.”

“Sounds fine.Let me wrap him up and get a diaper bag together.”He had to help this baby out.

He handed Flynn to Bay.

Bay took the baby and held on, bouncing a little.“Shh.Shh.Sweet boy.We’ll get you taken care of, I promise.It’ll be okay.Please stop crying like that—you’re breaking my heart.”

“We’ll get him all fixed up.We have to.”

“Petey?What’s wrong with the baby?”Belle blinked at him, so confused.

“He’s sick, honey.We’re taking him to the doctor.Mr.Will is coming to stay with you while we’re gone.”

“Oh.Okay?”

“You can go back to bed, honey, okay?”Bay suggested.

“You’re not leaving us alone, right?”she asked, sniffling.

“Never.Not a chance.I swear.”

“Will is coming.We won’t go until he gets here,” Bay added.

She looked at them both for a long moment and then nodded and headed back to her bedroom.

God, this sucked.

Like well and truly.

“I hope whatever he has isn’t contageous.”Bay kept moving slowly, clearly trying to keep Flynn quiet and distracted.

“Yes, but at least if it is, we can warn the pediatrician.”

“I was thinking more of it not making everyone sick.It’s summer, they should be enjoying themselves, not crying and feverish.”

“He’s had an ear infection before.Eric was plagued with them too.”

“So it could be something simple and not what the rest of them will get?Let’s hope that’s what this is then, yeah?”

There was a knock at the front door, and Bay’s phone buzzed.

“It’s Will, he’s here.”

“Good.Let’s go.”He nodded.“It’ll be all right.”

Bay nodded jerkily, and they headed downstairs, him with the baby bag, Bay with Flynn.

They let Will in.

“Oh, look at the poor dear.He’s miserable, the poor thing.I’m here now.You get him to the hospital.”

“We’ll call.I promise.As soon as we know something.”

“Don’t you worry.The kiddos and I will manage just fine.”Will chased them out of the house.

“He’s going to be fine.I swear.”They ran to the car, and Pete sat in the back with the baby as Bay raced to the hospital.