Page 42 of Fire and Rain
She winced as she swallowed. “My throat hurts, and I’m so cold.”
“When did you last take anything?”
She had to think. “Before we went to the clinic.”
When Sean returned, he had two tablets of acetaminophen and water. “Here.”
She sat up, took the pills, and set the glass back where it had been. “Thank you.”
“Just sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
* * *
When Eden awokethe next morning, her sore throat wasn’t as bad, and she felt hot—and hungry. She’d gotten up for a short time yesterday evening for more acetaminophen, and some chicken noodle soup that Sean cooked from a can. She’d had strange dreams, but she couldn’t remember anything specific.
She heard Sean’s voice and knew Maverick must be with him. She sat up, got to her feet, and smiled when she heard Maverick laugh. She couldn’t believe what Sean had done for them over the past twenty-four hours. Yes, she could have managed on her own, but it would have been so much tougher.
Feeling weak as a kitten, she slowly walked to the kitchen to find Maverick picking at a plate of scrambled eggs, while Sean sat next to him, urging him to eat.
Sean saw her and stood. “Hey. How are you feeling?”
“Weak, but better.”
“You sit. I’ll make some tea.”
She sat. “Good morning, Mavie. Did Sean make you some eggs? You look like you’re feeling better.”
Maverick put a hand to his throat, his cheeks still flaming red. “Owie.”
“Your throat is still a little sore? Mine, too.” She touched his forehead. “You’re not as hot as you were. Gosh, it’s probably past time for your next dose—”
“Relax.” Sean set the kettle on to boil. “He’s had four doses now—three yesterday and one this morning when he woke up. I changed him a few times, too. I don’t know what you usually do with the poopy diapers, so I carried them out to the trash.”
Eden gaped at him. The man who avoided relationships and swore he’d never be a father had done what a husband would do. He’d done what Justin would have done if he’d still been alive. “I can’t believe you did all this—and I slept through it.”
“You were pretty sick and exhausted. It’s good that you slept.”
“Did you sleep at all?”
“Yeah. I crashed on the sofa. I’ve slept here before, you know. Maverick crawled out of your bed and woke me up at about seven. He and I are good buddies, right?”
Maverick held out his little fist. “Fiss bump.”
Sean gently knocked knuckles with Mavie. “That’s right.”
Eden’s heart melted. “I wish I had that on camera.”
Sean made breakfast for himself and Eden, too, and they ate together. “I got an email from the commander this morning. Sixteen kids and five adults have come down with scarlet fever so far. They’re asking people to stay on base if at all possible. They don’t want it spreading in town.”
“Good idea.”
Sean reached out, ran his thumb over her cheek. “Your face is as red as Maverick’s now.”
A jolt of awareness shot through her, her face hot where he’d touched her. “I … I really don’t know how to thank you for all of this.”
A brown eyebrow arched. “I’d have to be a complete jerk to go home knowing how sick you were. I care about you, Eden—and little Maverick. And, hey, now I can say I’m a veteran diaper changer.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I should get you a T-shirt that says that.”
