“Daisy is running a fever. Quinn is bringing her home.” I glance up from my phone. Here I thought I was getting the hang of things, but when push comes to shove, I have no idea how to help a sick child. Thank God for Quinn. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
Zander steps up to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Kids get fevers all the time. It’s probably just something she picked up at the park. Everyone was fussing all over her yesterday.”
I nod, not convinced. “I should run to the drugstore to get some medication.”
“Good idea. I’ll stay here and paint and wait for Quinn.”
I set my roller down, and I’m just about to shove my phone in my pocket when it pings again. I grab it, expecting it to be Quinn.
When I see who the text is from this time, the room goes fuzzy around the edges.
“Jonah?” Zander says. “What now? Is it…Daisy?”
I hold the phone out to show him the message from Shari, and he reads it out loud
Can I see you? Coffee at Feldman’s tonight?
Concerned blue eyes meet mine, and he scrubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Shit, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” I stare at the message. “Girls need their mothers, but after what she did…” I go quiet for a moment, mull this over then say, “Right now, I have to get Daisy her medicine. I’ll deal with Shari later.”
With my stomach twisted in knots, I head downstairs, grab my keys from the counter, and step outside. The sun is high in the sky, warming me instantly as I jump into my car and jack the air. I take off, head to the pharmacy to grab what I need, then return home to find Quinn’s car in the driveway. Will Zander have filled her in? If so, how will she feel about Shari’s text?
I hurry inside, and the three people I care about with everything in me are sitting in the living room. Quinn is fully focused on Daisy, and I get the sense Zander is waiting for me to tell her about Shari.
“How is she?” I ask and cross the room. I put my hand on her forehead, the way my mom used to do with me. She feels warm, but no warmer than usual. Man, I really suck at this. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are a bit glossy.
“It’s low-grade,” Quinn explains, as I lift the paper bag and dump the medicine onto the coffee table. “Nothing to worry about, but we can’t keep her at the daycare and risk other children catching it.”
Zander laughs as the medicine spills from the bag, some landing on the floor. “Did you buy one of everything?”
“Yeah,” I say and grip the back of my neck as I take in a fussing Daisy. “I wasn’t sure what she needed.”
“Children’s acetaminophen will do,” Quinn says, and I root through the boxes until I find what she needs. “Did you set her crib up in your bedroom?” she asks.
With the paint fumes, we planned for her to sleep with us anyway. Now I’m glad I moved her crib. I want her near me, to be able to keep a watchful eye on her. “Yeah. I didn’t finish the painting, though.”
“That’s okay. I’m going to give her some medicine and put her to bed.”
“Do you have to go back to work?” I ask, panic lacing my voice as I drop onto the sofa.
“No, I called in a sub. I figured you’d want me here to help Daisy.” As if sensing her brother’s gaze latched on her, her glance darts to Zander, and I see the way he’s watching the two of us.
“Thanks,” I say, and this time my phone rings. All eyes shoot to me. I grab my phone, check caller ID. “My parents,” I say, and swipe my finger across the screen as Quinn heads to the stairs.
“Mom, hey, how’s it going?”
“We’re on our way to your place right now.”
I briefly close my eyes. “Everything is under control,” I say. “You didn’t need to cut your vacation short.”
“We wanted to. We’ve had time to think this over, and you’re obviously going to need my help, and we want to see our grandchild, Jonah.”
I nod, even though they can’t see me. “I can understand that, but Quinn is just putting her to bed. She has a low-grade fever.” I exhale softly. “I don’t know what I would have done without Quinn.” My eyes lift, and I note again the way Zander is staring at me.
“Did you give her children’s acetaminophen?” she asks quickly.
I hear Dad in the background asking questions, then a car horn blares.