47. Chapter Forty-Seven | Theo
Chapter forty-seven
A noise jerks me from my sleep and without thinking, I’m up and crossing the guestroom to check on Gigi first. The guestroom she’s sleeping in is connected to mine by a Jack and Jill bathroom, and I can see she’s still asleep.
I hear the odd noise again and as soon as I step into the hall, I hear a faint cry.
“I know, baby. I’m so sorry, just give me a minute, please. ”
That’s Savannah’s voice. My steps quicken as I turn the corner and see Savannah at the end of the hallway, bent over, with one arm bracing herself up against the wall, holding some type of blue bag up to her face.
Lucy is lying on the floor crying, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the stomach bug going around the girls’ school has hit their household.
It’s a fast-working bug, but it’s a brutal twelve to twenty-four hours.
Gigi had it last week and it’s a good thing I have an iron stomach.
“I’m here, Sav. It’s okay,” I tell her in a soothing voice as I assess the situation. Savannah just points to Lucy and I follow her directions.
“Hey kiddo, not feeling so hot, huh?” I squat down and check her temp with the back of my hand. She definitely has a fever and the poor thing looks miserable.
“I need more ice water.” Lucy’s voice is small and her eyes are filled with tears. I scoop her up in my arms without hesitation.
“Then let’s do that, and get you in bed, then I’ll take care of your mama, okay?”
“And Emily, but she only puked once.” How long have they been up dealing with this? “But she got it all over her bed and it was a big mess. ”
“And Emily, of course.” I carry Lucy to the kitchen, get her a fresh water bottle with ice, and take her back upstairs to tuck her into her bed. “I’m going to check with your mama, and I might be back with Tylenol, okay? But until then, you just rest, kiddo.”
Lucy nods and mumbles a thanks.
Savannah has moved into her bathroom and is currently in the fetal position next to the toilet. “I’m so sorry, I just need a minute.” She braces her hands on the floor like she’s going to push herself up. I grab a rolled towel from the shelf and gently guide it under her head to use as a pillow.
“Baby, it’s fine. Stay there until this wave passes. Has Lucy had any Tylenol? She has a slight fever.” Savannah shakes her head. “Okay, I’ll get her some and check in on Emily. Has Olivia been hit yet?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’m sorry, this is too much. I just need a minute.”
“I’ll pop my head in her room to check and be back with fluids and meds for you. Hang tight, Sav. I’ve got you.”
She mumbles a thanks and closes her eyes.
If I hadn’t been here, Savannah would have been handling all of this—and her own sickness—on her own.
That’s unacceptable. She’s a strong woman, but she doesn’t have to handle everything on her own.
It’s not a burden to take care of her and her girls, in fact, it’s more like an honor.
Maybe our temporary roommate situation needs to be explored further … like forever.