37. Henrik
THIRTY-SEVEN
HENRIK
Coming home is always great. But today is different. The thrill I get when Kodiak Harbor comes into view is unmatched.
Seeing Carina sick is torture. I feel helpless.
I’m grateful it wasn’t worse, though. Trying to get someone off a crabber in the middle of the Bering Sea in an emergency takes major logistics.
Thankfully, Peter recognized her symptoms and had some idea how to treat her.
I’m sure if it would have been an emergency, I would have lost my shit.
I’ve already had Kai and Edgar step into a shared captain role because I struggle to think about anything but Carina and her well-being.
Last night after dinner, I texted Carina’s parents to let them know she was sick, and that I plan to get her to the ER as soon as we get into town. Then I repacked both our duffle bags and moved them to my room so we could depart the ship shortly after docking.
Normally, as the captain, I would be the last off, but today my plans are different. Thankfully, Edgar is on board, and he can take care of all the tasks that need to be handled once we’ve docked.
“Does docking always take this long?” I grumble under my breath. I’m sitting next to my bunk, eager to whisk Carina off to the ER, when I feel a warm hand move to my thigh and squeeze. Focusing my gaze on my sick girlfriend, I mouth, “You okay?”
She nods back and asks, “Are you?”
What’s she talking about? I’m just sitting here. I cock my head and give her a questioning look.
She points down at my foot, and I bark out a laugh when I see it jackrabbiting the floor.
I’d been completely oblivious to it. It’s a nervous habit I’ve had since I was a child.
I only do it in moments of stress. And this certainly qualifies.
Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, my shaking stops.
I blow out a breath when I hear Edgar give the all-clear.
Grabbing our bags, I head up to the deck to deposit them before returning for Carina. I know she’s still dizzy, and I want to offer her a hand if she needs it.
Stepping out onto the deck, I suck in a breath of fresh sea air and give thanks we’re home. I see Mr. Dahl waiting on the dock, and I wave to him.
He climbs aboard and offers me a smile and handshake. “Thanks for reaching out last night to let me know Carina’s sick and when you expected to be back. How’s my Care Bear doing?”
Setting the bags to the side, I answer, “She’s doing all right.
Like I told you and Mrs. Dahl last night, I’ve kept warm compresses on her ears, and she’s slept a lot the past day and a half.
She’s taken Tylenol occasionally for the pain, and she doesn’t have a fever.
She’s eaten little because she’s nauseous. ”
“Sounds like you took good care of her. Let me help you get her to your truck. I appreciate you watching over her.”
I nod. “It was my honor. I appreciate you meeting the ship. It’ll be much easier getting her and the bags to my truck with an extra set of hands.” Mr. Dahl laughs. “Shall we go get Carina?”
“Lead the way,” he says before he follows me to the bunks.
Although I’ve only been gone ten minutes, Carina’s already curled into a ball with her eyes closed, resting on a heated sock.
She looks angelic despite how she feels.
Leading Mr. Dahl into my bunk, I push her blonde hair out of her eyes when I reach her side.
Her light-blue eyes flutter open, and she smiles.
Then she sees her dad, and it grows wider.
“Dad,” she says, still talking louder than usual. He snickers because I warned him about that last night when we’d texted. He also knows she can’t hear well, so he gives her a wave.
Slowly, she sits up and readies herself.
Climbing off the bed, she looks at me for help.
I give her my arm for extra balance. Her petite frame wavers a little before she’s steady.
We exchange a smile before she turns to her dad.
He opens his arms wide and she walks into them.
“Thank you,” he mouths to me, and I nod in reply.
When they’re done with their hug, Carina steps back and her dad mouths something to her.
She nods and turns to me. “Ready?” I smile and point to the exit.
We slowly make our way back to the deck.
I touch Carina’s shoulder, give her the one-minute finger, and run to the ladder leading to the wheelhouse.
Climbing the rungs like a lumberjack in a tree-climbing race, I reach Edgar and Kai in seconds.
Double-checking that they’re fine, I return to Carina and her dad for the walk to my truck.
With her arm tucked in her dad’s arm, I follow behind with our bags.
I’ve got the easier job. With Carina’s dizziness, Mr. Dahl has to overcorrect every few steps so they don’t end up in the water.
Once we’re loaded in my truck, Mr. Dahl reminds us to message him once we’ve seen the doctor.
Driving a little faster than the speed limit, we arrive at the ER in minutes.
Thankfully, the waiting room is mostly empty because I have a feeling possible ear infections are a low priority.
Twenty minutes after we arrive, we’re taken to a room.
After Carina is examined, I hand Dr. Samson the notepad, and he writes the diagnosis.
Double ear infection.
Carina nods. “What’s the treatment and recovery time?” My girl doesn’t like to miss work. Especially because she now has so much information to process from the survey. The doctor writes his answer for her as he speaks aloud to me.
“I’m going to prescribe some antibiotics to be taken two to three times a day for ten days. They should kick in and start reducing the symptoms around day three. Any questions?”
We both shake our heads. He looks at me. “I’m going to get the prescription and discharge paperwork, and then you two are ready to go.”
“Thank you, Dr. Samson,” I say.
Once he’s gone, I pick up the abandoned notepad.
Since you’re going to miss work for a few days, will you please stay at my place so I can monitor you?
“Okay, but I need to stop and get the prescription and some things from my apartment.”
Nudging her chin up, I place a soft kiss on her lips. When I pull back, I mouth “Thank you.”
While Carina is sitting at the pharmacy waiting for her prescription to be ready, I cruise around the grocery store to grab everything I need to make homemade chicken and rice soup and more of those orange smoothies she enjoyed on the boat.
I make it back to her with minutes to spare before her name is called by the tech. After paying, we’re sent on our way.
Dizzy and exhausted, Carina opts to wait in my truck while I run into her apartment with a list of things she needs.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into my drive.
Helping her out, I grab her meds, the bag I packed at her apartment, and most of the groceries.
When I get her upstairs, I help her change into some pajamas and settle her in bed.
She isn’t hungry, so we share a protein yogurt so she can take the first dose of her antibiotics.
“Do you want a warm compress?” I mouth. She nods, and I head to my kitchen to grab a fresh one I keep on hand. While it’s heating in the microwave, I pull up my text with Carina’s parents.
Me
Just wanted to let you know the doctor at the ER diagnosed her with a double ear infection.
I will reach out to her boss to let him know she’ll be out for a few days and why.
I’m betting he’s probably already heard something about it through the grapevine.
Their group is pretty close. She’s staying with me for a few days so I can keep an eye on her.
I’ll have her reach out soon. She’s in bed now.
Bringing her the heated compress and a bottle of water, I see my gorgeous girl is already asleep.
I set the compress over the exposed ear and then make my way to my truck to finish unloading it.
An hour later, everything is unpacked and I’m washing the first of many loads of dirty clothes.
I put the groceries away, leaving out everything I’ll need to make the soup.
Once that’s made, I head upstairs to check on Carina.
Standing in the doorway, I see she’s sleeping peacefully.
My heart squeezes. I’m so grateful she isn’t sicker than she is.
I turn back to the hallway just as my phone dings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see it’s Carina’s dad, thanking me for taking care of his daughter and how much he and Mrs. Dahl appreciate everything I’ve done.
It’s then I remember I need to reach out to Carina’s boss.
Me
Hi, George. This is Henrik, Carina Dahl’s boyfriend. I know my contacting you isn’t standard practice, but Carina will be out of work for the next few days. We just returned from the research study, and she has a double ear infection. We went to the ER today, and she’s on an antibiotic.
George
Thank you for contacting me. I’d heard some chatter about Carina being sick, and I texted her earlier. Just ask her to keep in touch over the next couple of days, and we’ll work it out.
With my girl asleep, and nothing left to do, I head to the living room to finally take a few moments to rest after the trip and the stress of Carina being sick.