20. Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
“I hear you’re quite popular.”
Kai picked up a handful of pebbles out of the water and threw them. They landed a foot in front of him with multiple splashes, making him giggle and clap.
“Okay, that’s one way to do it. Remember how I skipped a rock for you last week?” Abe watched Kai throw another handful of pebbles. “I guess it’s a little too early for that lesson.” He picked up a flat stone and sent it skidding across the clear water.
Kai wasn’t impressed. He was sitting in five inches of water a foot from the river bank, and he looked up at Abe and slapped the water next to him.
“You want me to sit down and get as wet as you? I’m not so sure about that. I think I’ll stay dry.” The water was cold on his ankles, and the thought of sitting in it wasn’t too appealing. Kai didn’t seem to mind at all, though.
“Papa sit.”
“Um…no.” Kai scowled, and Abe pointed at him. “I’ve learned to ignore the scowl, buddy.” The shady spot they were in was moving with the sun, and he’d need to move Kai soon to keep him in it.
“Apple.”
“We’ve had enough apples. Besides, you ate them all with your crackers and cheese.”
Kai picked up more pebbles and threw them.
When a large German Shepard came running out of the brush and barked at them, Abe picked up Kai and moved a few feet further into the water. “Go on now.”
The dog stopped barking and wagged its tail.
“Yeah, I don’t buy that. Get out of here.”
Kai kicked his feet. “Dog.”
“Yeah, buddy, that’s a big dog.”
“Big dog.”
A young couple came up behind the dog, and the man grabbed the dog’s collar. “Sorry. He’s harmless.”
“You should probably keep a leash on him.”
The woman smiled. “He usually stays close. He likes kids. He probably heard your son.”
“Hmm.”
The man pulled a leash from his pocket and snapped it onto the dog’s collar. “Have a good day.”
Abe nodded, and the couple walked off. He looked at Kai. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to freaking out anytime some danger or perceived danger shows up.”
“Big dog.” Kai struggled to get down. “Down.”
Abe carried him to the shore and set him down. “I think it’s time to call it a day, kid. You missed your nap today.”
Kai headed for the water, and Abe picked him up again.
“Time to go home.” Kai scowled, and his lower lip quivered.
“The lip thing doesn’t work on me anymore either.
” Abe picked up the towel, which sent Kai into a full-blown meltdown.
“I’m not giving in. I know you’re just tired.
” He dried off the squirming child, then picked up the backpack, which had become part of his outfit, and headed for the car.
By the time they reached the car, Kai’s tears had subsided, and except for an occasional dramatic whimper, he was quiet.
Before they hit the main road and headed home, Kai was asleep.
When they arrived home, Abe took advantage of the sleeping child and removed the car seat, setting it on the workbench in the garage.
He was nearly finished with Maggie’s car.
If Kai slept for a couple of hours, he might get it put back together.
Kai woke up just shy of two hours later. He was grumpier than usual, but Abe attributed it to the day at the river. Once inside, Kai returned to his normal self, though he seemed more subdued than usual. He played quietly while Abe made dinner, then didn’t seem to have much of an appetite.
“I think I wore you out today, buddy. I’m sorry.
Next time, we won’t stay so long.” Kai picked up a fistful of apple pieces and dropped them on the floor.
“Okay. Yeah, we’re not doing that.” He cleared the tray, picked up the food from the floor, then took Kai out of his high chair.
“You go play while I clean up the kitchen. Then we’ll take a nice long bath and go to bed early tonight. ”
Kai toddled off, and Abe looked at the few dishes in the sink. He’d settled into a routine, and the kitchen was generally pretty clean. He shook his head. “I’ve been domesticated by a two-year-old.”
As he set the last clean dish in the dish drainer, his phone rang.
He dried his hands, then checked the caller ID.
It was Maggie, and he sighed. He’d tried to keep things casual between them, but it had been hard.
She wanted to help, but having her around felt too comfortable, and he wasn’t ready to accept those feelings yet. He needed time to just be Kai’s father.
He answered the call. “Hey, Maggie.”
“Hi. Did I catch you right at dinner?”
“Just finished the dishes.”
“How’s the little prince doing? Did he have fun at the river?”
“It was great. He didn’t want to leave. We threw a hundred rocks, chased some minnows, and nearly got eaten by a dog.”
“Goodness.”
“The dog didn’t really want to eat us. But I wasn’t sure at first. How was work?”
“Semi-busy. Not too bad. I was wondering if you and Kai wanted to escort me to Memorial Day in the Park?”
“Aren’t we working the booth?”
“We’re on the same shift. Eleven to two. After that, we’re free to enjoy the festivities.”
“Um…sure. Yeah. Kai would love that.”
“And how about you? You sound hesitant.”
“No, I’m not. It sounds fun.”
“Okay then. It’s a…plan.”
“You could’ve asked me tomorrow at work.”
“I know. I just thought about it and wanted to…have first dibs.”
“Right. I do have a pretty long list of people wanting to spend Memorial Day with me.”
Maggie laughed. “I hear you’re quite popular.”
When a crash came from the living room, Abe went to investigate. “Um…I need to go.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, Kai just knocked the table with the lamp over.”
“Is he okay?”
Kai looked up at him with a confused look on his face. “Yeah. He’s deciding whether he should cry or not.”
“He’s waiting to see what your reaction is.”
“I guess. I need to take care of this.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
Abe ended the call, then knelt beside the table.
The lamp didn’t seem broken. “What happened here, kid?” Kai’s lip quivered, and Abe smiled.
“It’s okay. I’m not mad.” Kai held out his arms, and Abe picked him up, then stood.
“Everything is fine.” He kissed Kai’s forehead, which felt a little warm.
He rested his cheek against it. “Hmm. Let’s get you in the bath.
You’re probably just warm from playing.” He set the table upright, returned the lamp to its place, then headed for the bathroom.
He poured a lukewarm bath, but Kai didn’t seem interested in staying in for long. When he was in his pajamas, Abe took him to the couch to read his bedtime book. Kai leaned against him and listened quietly instead of wanting to turn the pages.
“Okay, let’s get you to bed, kid. We had a pretty full day.”
Kai went to bed without a fuss and hugged Dog tightly as Abe put the blanket over him. “Goodnight, buddy.”
“Papa hug.”
Abe hugged him. “Love you, kid.” He patted Kai for a few minutes until Kai fell asleep, then he turned on the baby monitor and left the room. He had another hour or so of work left on Maggie’s car.
He retrieved the speaker half of the monitor and took it to the garage, then got to work on the car.
Forty-five minutes later, he got behind the wheel.
“Okay, here goes.” He turned the ignition, and the car started, idling quietly.
Abe went to look at the engine compartment. “Perfect.” He dropped the hood. “Done.”
He texted Maggie. Your car is finally done.
She responded a few moments later. Yay!
You can come and get it in the morning before work if you want. Or wait until after. Doesn’t really matter.
I’m excited. I’ll see you in the morning.
Abe went inside, took a shower, then checked on Kai. Kai’s breathing sounded strained, and Abe felt Kai’s forehead. “Dammit.” He lifted Kai’s shirt and felt his chest. “You’re burning up, kid.”
Abe went to his room to grab his phone, then returned to Kai’s crib.
Allie sounded sleepy. “Honey. Is everything okay?”
“Kai’s running a fever.”
“How high is it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know if I have a thermometer.”
“I bought you one. It’s in that bag I bought with medicine and stuff.”
“Okay, I’ll go get it.”
“If it’s under a hundred, give him some of the baby Tylenol and then check on him in an hour or so. If it’s over a hundred, call me back.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He ended the call and returned to his room to check the bathroom for the bag containing the thermometer.
It didn’t look anything like he’d expected, and it took several minutes to rip it out of the impenetrable plastic packaging.
“What is this damn stuff made of?” When he finally freed it, he opened the battery compartment. Empty.
He checked on Kai, who was stirring, then went to the kitchen to find the right sized batteries. After spending more time digging through the junk drawer, he returned to Kai with a working thermometer.
“Okay, kid, let’s see what this thing says.” He swiped Kai’s forehead. 103. “Shit.” He did it again. 103.2. Kai woke up and started to cry. Abe picked him up and called his mother.
“What’s the temp, Abe?”
“103. I really need you, Mom.”
“Give him some Tylenol. I’ll be right there.”
Abe took his crying son to the bathroom and dug the unopened box of baby Tylenol out of the bag. He ripped open the box, wrestled with the childproof lid, then poured the correct dosage into the plastic medicine cup.
“Okay, here you go. This will make you feel better.” Kai turned his head. “Come on, buddy. You need to take this.”
When Allie arrived fifteen minutes later, Abe was still trying to get Kai to take the medicine. Kai was crying, and Abe wasn’t far from tears. Allie came into the kitchen, where Abe was pacing the floor in full panic mode. She took Kai from him.
“Take a breath, honey.”
“Me or him?”
“Both of you.”