24. Chapter Twenty-Three
Janie didn’t know what time it was or if he was even home. She didn’t look to see if his car was outside. She had completely forgotten her phone in the house, her shoes, and she had no clue what she was wearing or if it was appropriate. The only thing that mattered was getting Eleanor to the doctors so they could figure out what was wrong.
She continued to ring the doorbell, trying to wake Mac up if he was there. Her heartbeat was going so fast as every second went by. Was he going to be able to take her? Was she going to have to call an ambulance?
“Mac!” She yelled as she rang the doorbell several more times. Janie didn’t care if she was being annoying. She needed him out here so he could take her to the ER. Tears ran down her face as a minute passed by. She needed to start thinking about alternative routes. She didn’t know where her phone was in the house. Would one of her other neighbors be awake to call an ambulance?
The door opened and a sleepy Mac stood in front of her. His shirt was all over the place, like he had just placed it on and he wore low hanging grey sweatpants. If she wasn’t in such a panic, she would take time to appreciate her view, but she didn’t have that time.
“What’s wrong?” Mac asked. “Janie, are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I d-don’t know wh-what’s wrong with Eleanor. She’s b-burning up!” Janie was crying as the panic set in more. She didn’t know what she was going to do if he couldn’t take them to the doctors.
“Let me get my keys,” he said, leaving the door open.
She watched as he ran back into the house and out of her sight. She turned around and saw his car sitting on the curb.
“Come on,” Mac said. “Let’s get you two in the car. I want you to sit in the back with her. I know you don’t want to let her go.” He helped her into the car and got into the drivers side.
“The ER,” she said. “Please.”
“You may be waiting in the ER for hours. I’ve got a friend who is a doctor,” he said as he started to drive. “He’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong. I’m going to take care of both of you, trust me.”
Janie didn’t have it in her to argue right now. He was going to take care of everything. She trusted him.
“Siri, call Michael,” Mac said. The phone started to ring as Mac continued to drive.
“What do you want? It’s three in the morning,” Michael said.
It dawned on Janie that he was talking to Michael from the club. She knew he was a doctor but she didn’t know he did calls like this. What were his rates? It didn’t matter right now, she had money saved and could afford this.
“We’re coming over. Get your doctor stuff ready,” Mac said. “I’ve got a sick two year old. She’s burning up.”
“Got it,” Michael replied. “Front door is unlocked.”
Eleanor started to scream again and tears ran down Janie’s face. Her heart ached. She wished she could just take it away from Eleanor so she didn’t have to suffer.
“Shhh,” Janie said. “Everything is going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.” She had no clue if that was true, but she needed to be strong for Eleanor. They continued to drive and Eleanor wouldn’t stop crying. “I d-don’t know what to do,” Janie whispered. She was at a loss on how to help Eleanor right now.
“It’s going to be okay, Pinky,” Daddy said. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Janie knew she should be scolding herself for calling him Daddy, but she couldn’t right now. Her sole focus was on Eleanor and worrying over her.
“We’re almost there,” he said. Mac turned down a street and pulled into a driveway. She could see Michael standing outside and the door open. “I’ve got the door,” Mac said as he got out of the car. He opened her side and helped her out.
“I’ve got everything ready,” Michael said. “Place her on the couch and I’ll look over her.”
“I’m so sorry. I would’ve taken her to the ER, but I don’t have a car. Mac said you could help,” Janie said as she walked by him. “I didn’t know it was three in the morning. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. No harm done. I’m going to take a look at her and see what I can figure out.”
Tears were still streaming down her face as she placed Eleanor down on the couch. Right as she let go of her, she started to scream and cry. Janie went back to hold her, but Mac grabbed her hand.
“I know it’s hard, but let Michael look her over,” Mac said.
Her eyes were trained on Eleanor as Michael got closer to her. What was wrong with her? Would Michael be able to find out? Eleanor kept crying and making grabby hands towards Janie. All Janie wanted to do was go over to Eleanor and hold her.
She brought her hand up to her mouth and started to bite her fingernails. She needed to distract herself somehow while Michael looked over her baby. If she didn’t, she was going to go crazy.
“We’re not going to do that,” Mac whispered as he pulled her hand away from her mouth. A whine escaped her mouth and she shook her head. She needed to start doing something. Mac wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his body.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Daddy whispered.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. It didn’t work as Eleanor let out an ear piercing scream which made Janie’s heart rate skyrocket.
“Please,” she begged.
“Let Michael look over her real quick. He’s almost done,” he gently said.
Her eyes opened and watched as Michael was checking her temperature and all over her body.
“Has she been vomiting?” he asked.
Janie shook her head. “N-no.”
“How was she yesterday?”
“S-she was f-f,” Janie started, but her crying was starting to affect her speaking. She was so worried about Eleanor and what was wrong with her.
“She was fussy, crying, clingy, and didn’t really want to eat anything. She was drinking liquids, and did have a little chicken noodle soup, but it wasn’t a lot,” Mac said. “Ellie didn’t feel hot at all while I was holding her.”
Michael gave Mac a look and Janie didn’t know what it was about. Was everything okay between them?
“Was she lethargic?” Michael asked.
“No. Not that I could tell. She grabbed my finger and held on tightly. Ellie moved her hands to grab the sippy cup and looked perfectly fine,” Mac replied. “She was just fussy and wouldn’t calm down. Was trying to fight sleep until I got her to bed.”
Eleanor started to cry even louder and Janie’s heart broke. She wanted to hold her and comfort her. She wanted to make everything right.
“You can hold her now,” Michael said.
Mac let go of Janie and she flew over towards Eleanor, picking her up and holding her close.
“Everything’s okay,” she whispered as she started to rock. “Mama is here.” Tears started to run down Janie’s face again. Worry was forming in her stomach as Michael waited to tell them what was wrong.
“What’s wrong with her?” Janie asked. “I need to know. Please, tell me.” Mac wrapped his arms around her and held both of them close. She could feel his warmth seeping into her skin and she relaxed a little. She didn’t realize how cold she was until she had left his embrace and him getting closer again.
“Everything is going to be okay. Let Michael talk,” Mac said
She nodded her head and looked at Michael. He didn’t look worried which should have calmed her down some, but it didn’t. She didn’t know how much longer she could take the silence.
“Michael,” Mac growled. “Stop worrying my woman. Tell us what’s wrong with our princess.”
Michael looked at both of them and gave a small smile. “From what I can tell and your answers, it’s just a stomach bug or the flu. I’m going to give you some medicine for her.”
“Is her temperature too hot? How much was it?” Janie asked.
“It was one hundred and one point five. Concerning, but nothing some medicine and lukewarm baths to try and bring her temperature down,” Michael explained things. “No super cold baths because I don’t want to shock her body. If it gets worse, I want you to take her to the ER right away.”
Janie nodded her head. She could do that. But what if she had to wake up Mac again? She really needed her car back. When was she going to get it back?
“Thank you,” Mac said. “I really appreciate you looking over Ellie at three in the morning.”
“No problem. Hopefully Little Bit doesn’t get this sick again. But if she does, I can take a look at her and tell you if she needs to go to the ER,” Michael said. “That also goes for you, Little one. If you ever feel really terrible and want a doctor to look over you, let me know. Well, let Mac know and he’ll bring you to me.”
She leaned her head against Mac’s chest and took several deep breaths in. Janie was exhausted. Eleanor was still crying and whimpering, but her screaming had stopped for now. Though, it could start up again any second now.
“I’ve got some suppositories in my bag. Let’s put one in Ellie before you go home. It should help but if it doesn’t by thirty to forty minutes, put her in a lukewarm water bath. If she still doesn’t get better, take her to the ER,” Michael said. “I’ll be right back with the medicine.”
“How about you sit down,” Mac suggested.
He helped her sit down on the couch. “I might fall asleep,” she whispered. “I’m so tired.” But at the same time her body was fully awake. Eleanor’s fever could get worse. What if she missed it?
“If you do, I’ll take care of you two,” Mac gently said. “Everything is going to be okay. I’ve got both of you.”
And at that moment, she knew she was in good hands. He was going to take care of them. She trusted him too.
“I’ve got the medicine here and some more for the next couple of days. She can have one every twelve hours. I’ve written the name of it on the bag so in case you need to go to the ER, you can tell them what she’s been given,” Michael said as he walked back into the room. “Now, she’ll probably cry because of this. I think it’s best if you hold her and I’ll insert it.”
Janie nodded her head and got Eleanor out of her pants and pullup. They were still in the potty training phase, and even though she was doing good, nights were still hard for Eleanor.
“Alright, here we go,” Michael said.
She held onto Eleanor as Michael started to insert it. Eleanor cried and screamed, trying to wiggle free from Michael putting the medicine in her.
“Such a good girl,” Michael said. “She did well.”
Janie put her pullup and pants back on. She held Eleanor close to her and calmed her down.
“Everything is okay,” Janie whispered. “Mama is right here.”
“Was she anywhere recently?” Michael asked.
“We took her for a checkup two days ago,” Mac replied. “She probably got it there. Though, we were only there for maybe thirty minutes. It was super quick.”
“That’s all it takes. She probably touched something and got sick.”
Janie gasped and her eyes went wide as she stared at Michael.
“What’s wrong?” Daddy asked.
“I’m so sorry,” Janie whispered. “I forgot that Monroe was here and probably asleep.”
Michael shook his head and gave her a smile. “Monroe is perfectly fine. Once the door is closed to our room, you can’t really hear anything from the outside. Even a screaming baby.”
Janie still felt bad. “I’m sorry for barging in here.”
“Little one, I’ve told you it’s perfectly fine. Friends help each other out in times of need.”
She nodded her head and relaxed on the couch.
“Can I look at you?” Michael asked.
Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. “I’m fine. I don’t need anything.” Sure, she was exhausted and it didn’t help that she was about to start her period. With Eleanor sick, it was going to be absolutely terrible.
“Have you been sleeping well? Eating and drinking enough?”
Before she could respond, Mac started to talk.
“She took a nap yesterday, but I don’t think she’s been sleeping enough,” Mac said.
Janie glared at him. He didn’t need to tell her business to everyone.
“Pinky, he asked you about it,” he replied.
“I did not say that out loud,” she whispered. “I didn’t. Did I?”
“You did and it was absolutely adorable.”
“I’ve been eating enough, but probably haven’t been sleeping or drinking enough.”
“I want you to get at least seven hours of sleep at night. If you can’t do that, then a nap during the day to help,” Michael said. “I also want you drinking at least forty ounces of water, but if you can drink sixty that would be even better.”
“I’ll make sure she does that,” Mac said.
“I would like to see you in two weeks to see if things have gotten better. Either here or at the club. Or if you aren’t comfortable with either, you can come by my clinic.”
She shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t care right now and she didn’t want to think about it.
“I’ll talk to her about it in the morning,” Daddy said. “I won’t be at work tomorrow.”
Janie kept switching from calling him by his name to Daddy. She was exhausted and both of them felt right.
“I didn’t figure. Take care of her.”
Her eyes landed on Mac’s as he looked at her. “Ready to go home, Pinky?”
She nodded her head. “Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate it.”
“Any time and I mean it. Mac has my number and he can give it to you if you need it,” Michael responded. “You sleep in tomorrow. Get lots of rest and take it easy.”
Mac stood in front of her, but she had no energy to get up from the couch. Her whole body felt like it was one hundred pounds heavier than it should be.
“Ready?” Mac asked.
“I don’t wanna move,” she whined.
Eleanor was slowly starting to fall asleep in her arms. It looked like the medicine was starting to work or maybe she was so exhausted. Either way, Janie was happy.
“Let me put Eleanor in her car seat and I’ll come back and get you,” Mac said.
She nodded her head. She didn’t have the strength to argue right now or tell him she could do it. Because honestly, she couldn’t right now. If she could, she would sleep on this couch in this position for the rest of the night. But it wasn’t her house and she needed to leave.
“How about I take Eleanor and you take Janie,” Michael said. “One trip instead of two.”
“Thank you,” Mac said.
“Just give me a second,” Janie whispered. “I can get up.”
Mac knelt in front of her. “Pinky. Can you look at me?”
Her eyes found his and he gave her a small smile. She loved it when he smiled or laughed. It made him even more handsome than he already was.
“Thank you,” Mac said. “I’m going to go give Ellie to Michael and pick you up. I don’t want you to move. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she mumbled and leaned her head back. “Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry,” he said as he started to pick up Eleanor.
She whined but it quickly quieted down as Mac held her close to him. Eleanor looked like she belonged in his arms. Janie wanted that as well. She watched as Mac handed Eleanor over to Michael before turning back to her.
“Ready?” he asked and she nodded her head. “I’m going to pick you up.”
She just sat on the couch, waiting for him to pick her up and take her to the car. Mac effortlessly picked her up from the couch and she leaned her head on his chest.
“So strong,” she mumbled. “Muscle Daddy.”
She giggled and relaxed into his arms as he carried her out to the car.
“Such a silly girl, Pinky,” he said as he sat her in the car and buckled her up.
She nodded her head, but she wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying. But she didn’t really think he was expecting her to. Janie watched as Daddy took Ellie from Michael’s arms and put her into her carseat, making sure she was secure.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll do it any time at whatever time,” he replied. “And I’m serious. I hope this helped show you that I want to stay.”
She nodded her head. It did but she still didn’t know. Sure, he said that Eleanor was okay and he wanted to take care of her. But in five or ten years would he get tired of her since she wasn’t his own child? That was something she really needed to think about. No matter how much she may like or love Mac, Eleanor was her daughter and she wasn’t giving her up and didn’t want her subject to no love from him if they were together.
“We’re here,” Mac said. “I’m going to go place Ellie in her crib and then I’ll come get you. I’ll be sleeping on the couch.”
“I was going to sleep by Eleanor’s crib. You can sleep in my bed,” she replied.
There was no use in him sleeping on the couch when there was a perfectly good bed he could use.
“How about you and Eleanor sleep in the same bed. I’ll sleep on the couch in case we need to go to the ER,” Mac said. “That way you don’t have to run across the yard without any shoes on.”
Janie looked down at her feet and fully realized that she hadn’t put any shoes on. She had felt the pebbles and rocks go into her feet, but she didn’t fully register it.
“Do I need to look at your feet when we get inside?” Mac asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll check just to make sure. But first I’ll put Eleanor in your bed and come back and get you.”
She unbuckled herself and waited for Mac to get Eleanor and take her inside. Janie didn’t even think she locked her door when she left. But she couldn’t remember.
“Let me take a look at your feet,” Mac said.
She held up her feet and he inspected them. She giggled as he ran his finger up her foot.
“Ticklish?” he asked.
Janie nodded her head. “Super duper ticklish.”
“I’ll remember that for later,” he replied as he picked her up. “Let’s get you into bed.”
Mac carried her into the house and to her room. He gently placed her down next to Eleanor and kissed her forehead.
“I expect you to sleep in tomorrow,” he said. “But if you need anything, I’ll be on the couch.”
She nodded her head and snuggled into her pillow, right next to Eleanor who was peacefully sleeping.
“Thanks,” she whispered before she fell asleep.