Chapter 19 #2
“Christ. You’re roasting. Come on.” Teddy nudged her down the hallway. Lordy, her legs were heavy. Jessica didn’t get sick often, but when she did, it usually followed this same pattern. She’d keep going and going, and then her body would throw a tantrum because she wasn’t taking care of herself.
“Where’s your medicine?”
She pointed to the tub on top of the fridge where inquisitive little fingers couldn’t reach.
“Okay”—Teddy’s hands settled on her shoulders, and he guided her into one of the dining chairs—“you’re going to sit here, and I’m going to take care of you.”
Jessica opened her mouth, but Teddy cut her off, his expression stern.
“That’s not up for negotiation.”
“Mum!” Sam cried, clambering up into her lap, squirming around until he was comfortable. “Look! This one’s a truck! Like Teddy’s!”
“Wow. That’s super cool.” Jessica stifled a yawn in her son’s hair and groaned when she tried to raise her head again. It was like her brain had been replaced with cotton wool and/or concrete.
“Why don’t you go and get the rest of your cars, and we can race them down the hallway?” Teddy suggested, and Sam leapt off Jessica, his elbows catching her in the ribs. Ouch.
“Don’t forget your manners,” she prompted, letting her eyes close. Just for a second.
“Thank you, Teddy!” Sam called, and it sounded like he was already at the other end of the house, or maybe Jessica’s ears were blocked and she hadn’t noticed yet?
“Take these.” Teddy pressed a couple of pills into her hand and passed her a glass of water. “And drink this.”
“It’s not that bad. We can go to the pub in a minute.”
The air around Jessica shifted, and when she opened her eyes, Teddy was crouched in front of her. “We’re staying home, Starshine.”
At least she could pretend the blush her new nickname prompted was because of her fever. Silver linings and all that.
“But dinner … you need people to see us together …”
“Forget about what I supposedly need. What do you need?”
A hug.
Someone to take care of me.
But she didn’t know how to ask for either of those things, so Jessica shrugged.
“Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. Food was the last thing she was interested in. Her stomach recoiled at the thought.
“I need to keep moving.” Yes. That would be best. If she stayed still, she didn’t have anything to distract her from how rotten she felt. How much she needed to rest.
“Or”—Teddy raised his eyebrows—“you could go and lie down. On the couch or in your bed. I’m not fussy.”
I bet he isn’t. I bet Teddy can make any location work.
Ahem. Another thing to blame on her fever. Thank God she hadn’t said that out loud.
“But what abo—”
“I’ve got this.” Teddy swept his arms out, gesturing at the groceries she hadn’t managed to finish packing away yet.
“Hey mate,” Teddy said to Sam who was dragging his tub of cars into the kitchen. “What do you say we have a boys’ night? Just you and me while Mum has a rest?”
Sam came over where they were and rested his elbow on Teddy’s shoulder.
“Can Blue play too? Even though she’s a girl?”
Teddy ruffled Sam’s hair, and Jessica couldn’t be sure, but she might’ve just ovulated.
“She sure can.”
“Can we play outside? Do you like digging?”
Teddy smiled and checked his watch. “I love digging. Let me help Mum get settled in bed, and then I’ll be right out.”
Sam nodded and patted Jessica kind of gently on the face. “Feel better, Mummy.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“Okay. Time for bed, Starshine,” Teddy said.
If only the situation were different.
“I’ll just—” Sam would be hungry soon. She should cook the pasta. She’d bought his favourite dinosaur-shaped kind.
“Nope. It’s bedtime. Don’t make me carry you.”
Her eyes widened, and heat slithered through her body, momentarily displacing all her aches and pains. That was why she stumbled when she stood. No other reason. Nuh-uh.
“Woah.” Teddy caught her waist. “Turns out I am going to carry you.”
She tried to tell him he didn’t have to. That she would be too heavy, but Teddy had her cradled in his arms before she could even open her mouth.
Sue her for snuggling in and resting her head against Teddy’s neck and setting her palm right over his heart. It was steady and sure just like she was learning Teddy could be.
The walk to her bedroom was criminally short. Within seconds—at least that’s what it felt like—Teddy had her settled on her bed and was kneeling to help remove her fluffy slipper socks.
Jessica blinked as a wave of nausea climbed up her throat, and she groaned, clapping her hands over her mouth.
No. Not here. Not now. Not in front of Teddy.
“Starshine?”
She shook her head frantically, and Teddy must’ve been telepathic because he had her back in his arms in an instant. They rushed down the hall to the cottage’s only toilet where Jessica lost all her dignity … and the plain toast she’d forced herself to eat earlier.
“It’s okay.” Teddy pulled her hair off her face. Over the thrum of her newly resurfaced headache and the burning in her throat, she realised he was tying it up, getting it out of the way.
“Oh my God.” Jessica buried her face in her hands, embarrassed tears pricking at her eyes.
“Nope. We’re not doing that,” Teddy said gently, rubbing a soothing pattern into her lower back. “Nothing to be embarrassed about here, Starshine.”
Jessica hunched back over the toilet bowl. She couldn’t have answered if she wanted to.
“Sam?” she croaked once the second bout was over.
“I’ll go check on him. Tell him we can dig another time. You going to be okay here for a minute? Don’t try to get up until I come back, please.”
Jessica slumped against the wall and closed her eyes. “Thank you,” she said to Teddy.
“It’s all good. I got you,” he replied.
And just like always, Jessica believed him.