Page 54 of For One Night

“I’ll be right in.” They slide from their seats and scramble into the other room.

I join the girls after getting things back in place to find Faith slumped in the couch. As I get closer, I can hear her whimpering. I squat in front of her, moving her hair from her face. Her cheeks are red like she’s crying.

“What is it, Faith?”

She peers up at me with glassy eyes, and my gut sinks. “I’m hot.”

“It seems so.” I pick her up, sitting her on my legs. “Are you feeling bad? Does your tummy hurt?”

She shakes her head as she falls against my chest, and I can immediately feel her body heat. “No.”

“I need a thermometer. Hope, do you know if you have one in your bag?” I run my hand up and down Faith’s back hoping to soothe her and myself.

Hope jumps up. “I’ll go check!”

“Thank you, sweetie.” I pat my pocket, looking for my phone. I clutch Faith to my chest as I stand, searching for it. I spot it on the counter as Hope runs into the room.

“Nope, we don’t even have a band-aid,” she huffs with her hand on her hip.

I grab my phone, dialing the local pharmacy. “It’s okay, sass. Unc’s got it.”

“Why do you call me sass?” Hope frowns with both hands on her hips now.

“It fits you,” I say as the store picks up. “Hi, yes. Do you deliver? Alright, I’m babysitting my nieces, and the youngest is running a fever.” I pause. “She’s six.” I listen intently. “Alright, I’ll need all of those things.” I give them my address and credit card number before hanging up.

Hope tiptoes, kissing her sister’s hand. “It’s okay, Faith, Unc will take care of you.”

“I sure will, I promise,” I say as I Google ‘what to do for a fever’. “We need to bring her body temperature down slowly; the best way is a bath.”

Hope peers up at me. “But we just took one.”

“I know, but that’s what it suggests.” I carry Faith in, sitting her on the toilet with Hope close behind.

I start the water, making sure it’s lukewarm. I take a deep breath when it hits me, I must undress her. I feel her head once more and all the uneasiness melts away when fear for her overwhelms me.

“Come on, baby.” I help her out of her clothes, placing her in the tub.

Hope and I sit vigil, as we take turns running water over her body. The doorbell rings, so I take her out, wrapping her in a towel. “Help your sister with her clothes, while I get her medicine.”

“Okay.” Hope is the best big sister.

I hurry to the door, grabbing some cash for a tip. I open it, taking the bags and rushing back to the living room. Faith and Hope walk through as I dump the contents on the table.

“Momma gives us that one.” Hope points to a box of Ibuprofen.

I pick it up, read the directions, and prepare it for her. “Here you go, baby.” Faith’s hesitant, so she drinks it slowly. “Good girl.”

“Now what do we do?” Hope glances at me, and I have no clue.

I stand, gathering everything up into the bag. “How about we go up to my room and watch some movies.”

“Yeah, we can have a slumber party!” Hope squeals, as Faith lays over onto the couch.

I wrap my arms around Faith, picking her up. “That’s exactly what we’ll have.”

I take them up to my room, setting them up in my king-sized bed. “Hope, pick out a movie while I go get us some drinks.”

“The Belle movie,”—she smiles as I pick up the remote—“do you have it?”