12. Sparrow
“Mom!”
I’m jolted awake when someone shakes me. My eyes fly open, and I find Telle standing in front of me. “What’s wrong, Telle?” I ask as I slowly sit up.
“Loch is sick! She is throwing up in the bathroom!” Telle exclaims as he starts pulling me off my makeshift bed on the couch.
I could really use a good night’s sleep in King’s bed.
Rushing to the bathroom, I find Loch hovering over the toilet. Dropping to my knees, I brush her hair out of her face. I’m shocked when I find her sweaty and hot to the touch. “Oh, sweet girl, it will be okay.”
Telle hands me a damp washcloth, so I drape that across Loch’s neck, and move over to the medicine cabinet. Cringing, I go through the cabinet, not finding the children’s medicine.
“Telle, go grab my phone from the coffee table, please.” I’m going to have to suck it up and call King to ask for help. He has been really trying for the past few days. I’m starting to get a clearer picture on who the adult King is. And I think I really like it.
“Here, Mom.” Telle thrusts my phone into my hand, while Loch vomits again.
“Shit,” I mutter when I realize it’s one in the morning. Pushing the call button, I bring the phone to my ear and step into the hall.
“Bird? What’s wrong,” King practically shouts. I’m able to hear music playing in the background, and I immediately feel my stomach twist in jealousy. I have no claim over him.
“Bird?”
“Sorry, I can tell you are busy. I’ll figure it out.” I quickly hang up and debate texting Cam. He’s on duty tonight, he should be able to stop at the drugstore.
Before I can call Cam, my phone rings.
“Hello?”
“Bird, I’m trying here, really fucking trying. What’s wrong?” King snaps out.
“Loch is sick, and I’m out of children’s Tylenol and Pedialyte. I was going to see if there’s any way you could pick some up for me. But if you are busy, we will make do.”
“I’ll be there in twenty. Do you guys need anything else?”
Wracking my brain of the sad state of my pantry, I say, “Umm maybe some saltine crackers for the morning. Thank you, King.”
Don’t ask me why I called him King just now.
“I’ll be there soon, Bird.” King hangs up, while I stare at the background of my phone. I took a picture of King and the kids the other day after breakfast, immediately setting it as the background.
Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door. I pull Telle back before he can open it, unlock it myself, and swing it open. King stands on the porch, arms overflowing with bags. I wave him in and lead him to the kitchen, where he sets the bags down on the table.
“So, I got two different kinds of medicine, every flavor of Pedialyte because I didn’t know what Loch liked. Crackers, popsicles, soup, and ice cream.” I finally fully take the man in and would kick my ass if I could; he was at work, and I assumed the worst.
“Thank you, King. Really.” I quickly put the groceries away and grab the bottle of medicine. He follows me down the hall and into Loch’s room.
“Daddy!” Loch croaks out from the middle of her bed.
King wastes no time crawling into her bed. “Hi, sweet girl. I’m sorry you don’t feel good.” He helps her sit up while I hand her the vial of medicine.
Once she drinks down the cherry flavored medicine, she lies back down. Her eyes start to drift closed and we silently sneak out of her room. A quick glance in Telle’s room shows me that he is back asleep, so we continue into the kitchen.
Last minute, I bypass the kitchen and flop down onto the couch. I’m exhausted but doubt I will be able to sleep. If I had to guess, Loch will wake up in a few hours needing more medicine. Immediately closing my eyes, I feel King sit down next to me.
“Tell me something,” I murmur as I bring my blanket over my lap.
King gently brings my legs up and sets them on his lap. Now that I’m lying down, I don’t know how long I’m going to stay awake. “I’m scared of the kids. I’m scared that they hate me. But I love them with everything I’ve got. I’ll do right by them.”
Yawning, I burrow further into my pillow. “They love you, King. I know Telle doesn’t show it, but he’s letting you in. And Loch didn’t call out for me when we went into her room, she called out for you.”
“Yeah, that felt pretty good,” King responds with a small chuckle.
He has nothing to be scared of— the kids love him. Telle has been slow to come around, but I know my son, he idolizes King. I’m the one that’s scared. Every time we are with King and I see what our life could be like, I feel like I should run and hide. I don’t know if I can allow myself to let that possibility become a reality. A reality that good couldn’t possibly be attainable.
A soft knock on the door somewhat wakes me up. Not wanting to open my eyes yet, I roll over and hear King speaking to whoever is here.
“Thanks, brother.”
“No problem. Is it only Loch that’s sick?” Ace whispers out.
“For now, we’ll see if Telle gets it. Can you pick up the deposit tonight from the bar?”
Hearing running coming from the hallway, I jump up from the couch, barely awake. Catching King and Ace’s attention. Once on my feet, I sway as dizziness crashes through my body. “Whoa, Bird. Sit back down before you fall down.”
“Shit.” Sitting back down, I hang my head in my hands.
“Ace, make sure Bird doesn’t fall over while I go check on who is in the bathroom.”
My stomach rolls as King walks away. Groaning, I lay back down on my makeshift bed, wishing I had an actual bed. I don’t usually let the things I don’t have upset me, but right now I really wish I had a comfy bed to rot in.
“Okay, I’m making an executive decision. We need to go to my house where we have more than one bathroom. Telle is now sick, and Loch ran in while he was brushing his teeth. I think it’s safe to say, you all have the same thing.”
King kneels down in front of me, brushing my hair out of my face. “Bird, what do you guys need to come to my house?”
“Umm…the kids should be fine, you have them pretty set up over there. Loch will want the stuffed animal on her bed. I just need my iPad and a change of clothes.” King took the kids shopping the other day, so they now have a full wardrobe at his house.
“Okay, Bird. I’m going to take care of you guys. Just rest.”