Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Phoebe
It’s been two weeks since I handed Cami over to Eli and I honestly didn’t expect to miss her as much as I do.
To fill in the time, I’ve taken extra shifts in both ICU and the emergency department.
While my bank account will enjoy the extra cushion of money, it doesn’t replace the time I spent sitting on the floor playing with her or feeding her new foods per the pediatrician’s recommendations.
It seemed as though every day, her personality shone through; a happy, contented little girl with the world at her feet.
Because I work in two different departments, my scrub sets are not like everyone else’s; in that ICU nurses usually wear either a light sage or lavender because the color is considered to be soothing and calming, while the emergency room nurses wear burgundy.
Since I have been known to pull doubles, working half in one department and half in another, I wear black scrub pants and the appropriate top, which means I have a shit ton of scrubs hanging in my closet.
Well, not right now, anyhow, since I’ve been working so much that my boss insisted I take the next few days off.
So, I’m currently doing my mountain of laundry that’s piled up in the basket and cleaning my house, although it’s more along the lines of dusting and wiping counters down than anything.
You actually have to be home to make a mess, who knew?
I also need to make a trip to the grocery store since my prepped meals need to be replenished.
Sighing, I switch the loads around and quickly hang the tops from the dryer, so they don’t wrinkle.
The fabric on these typically doesn’t unless stuff is left unattended for days, which I don’t do as a rule.
Lately, though, I have had to toss a load in before I go to bed then swap it out before I leave, so it’s kind of nice to see everything looking fresh and crisp.
I hear my phone chime and grin, hoping it’s a text from Eli with an updated picture of Cami.
He’s been sending me regular updates, which I appreciate more than I can explain.
Opening up the text thread has me moving toward my bedroom to change out of my housecleaning clothes, which consist of a pair of booty shorts and a tank top.
As I change, I hit the button to call him and when he answers, I ask, “Do you know what her temperature is?”
He clears his throat a few times then replies, “No, not really. She woke up from her nap all flushed and hot, and she’s been really fussy. I reached out to you because you’re a nurse and I was hoping you knew what was going on.”
I grin even though he can’t see my expression over the phone line because most people who are not in healthcare will do that to those who are, presume that we automatically know what’s wrong without seeing the patient in person.
“She has a tendency to get an ear infection whenever she’s about to cut a new tooth,” I explain.
“Can you see if her gums are red and irritated?”
Placing the call on speaker, I set my phone on my bed and finish getting dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before I slip my boots on over my fuzzy socks. “Yeah, they look different than they did last night when I was brushing her teeth.”
This time, I laugh out loud because he makes it sound like she’s got a mouthful of teeth when in actuality, she’s got three so far. I know Rosa asked the doctor at her last visit if that was normal and she was assured that Cami was smack dab in the middle of the road as far as her development goes.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, sounding a bit more growly than he originally did.
“Okay, so bear with me here, alright?” I question. When he verbally agrees, I continue and say, “You made it seem as though she’s already got all her baby teeth in, and it presented me with a visual as far as brushing her teeth goes. So, do you want me to meet you at her pediatrician’s office?”
“She needs the doctor?” he asks anxiously.
Great, now he’s alarmed so I work to allay his fears.
“Like I said, her first two teeth, she ended up with an ear infection and that’ll require a doctor visit.
Plus, if she is teething, they have a topical gel that you can get to put on her gums that’ll help ease the discomfort.
The over the counter one is okay, but Dr. Goldberg has a compounded prescription he’ll give you that works so much better. ”
“Then yeah, if you don’t mind?” he queries.
“Not at all or I wouldn’t have offered,” I reply, keeping my voice calm and steady.
“See you there. Do we need to call ahead?” he asks.
“You can, but they have walk-in availability for kids who wake up sick and this applies as far as I’m concerned.
We may have to wait a few minutes longer, but the way Dr. Goldberg’s office runs, he’s got several nurse practitioners who handle the unscheduled visits, while he does the appointments.
Of course, the NP will defer to him if necessary, so don’t feel like you’re getting shafted or anything,” I caution.
“Their practice was highly recommended which is why Cami’s a patient there. ”
“Okay, then I guess I’ll see you shortly,” he states before hanging up the phone.
I quickly lock up my house since I had several windows open to let some fresh air in.
It might still be considered winter, but the temperature today is closer to sixty than the normal forty, so I opted to take advantage of the unseasonable warmth.
Hopping into my SUV, I make a beeline to the doctor’s office, anxious because Cami’s sick, but excited because I’ll get to see her and Eli.
Not that I’ll examine why that matters too closely.
I mean, he was my cousin’s long-time boyfriend and my interest in him goes against the sisterly code.
Well, maybe that’s not quite accurate and there’s some wiggle room where their past relationship is concerned since she broke up with him on a regular basis, but I’m sure there’s some kind of line that I’d be crossing if I let him know I was the least bit interested.
“Well, this little punkin is trying to push three teeth through, Daddy,” Tracie, the nurse practitioner, says as she looks up at Eli.
He certainly looks imposing today. Dressed in black, from his T-shirt down to his jeans, he even has his cut on, which I saw him put on once he had parked and stopped the truck he was driving.
His hair is pulled back in a low ponytail, the shaved sides showing his chiseled jawline with its five o’clock shadow.
“Three? Is that normal?” he asks.
“Honestly, when it comes to little ones, there’s no normal versus abnormal.
Some kids get their teeth early, some late, and some like Miss Cami here want to get them in bunches.
She does have an ear infection as well. I’ll send the prescriptions over to the pharmacy for you, and if you’ll give me just a few minutes, I’m going to put together a new parent package for you,” she says.
When she leaves the room, he looks at me and asks “What’s a new parent package? She’s eight months old, do I really need that?”
“So, it’s going to have a book that details what a parent can expect during the first few years of a child’s life, as well as an age-appropriate thermometer, coupons for things she either uses now or will in the future, that sort of thing.
Rosa got one when Cami was born, of course, but I’m glad Tracie is putting one together for you as well. ”
“It’s that obvious I’m in over my head, huh?” he questions, smirking at me, which has my heart fluttering in my chest.
“I mean, you’re asking questions which is never a bad thing, especially since you’ve recently been thrust into the role of a parent, but that’s just another reason why I like this particular practice.
They knew about you beforehand, because I brought up the documents the day before I found you so they’d realize that change of care would transfer to you instead of Rosa or me. ”
“I don’t have a problem if you’re ever watching her, and she needs to be seen.” His voice is low, rough, and very intimate sounding, sending a different sensation coursing through me.
“Then when we check out, just let the clerk know your preferences. They’ll update her file. Do you… I can go pick up her prescriptions for you so you can take her back to the clubhouse. I know for a fact she’ll be out for a little bit thanks to the shot they gave her,” I say.
“It’s too noisy there, are you okay with us following you back to your place? Then I’ll go get her medicine, pick up her pack and play, grab us some food, and come back. Is that okay?” he questions.
My heart squeezes in my chest and I briefly wonder if I’m experiencing a cardiac event, then I realize I’m still standing, albeit with a heavy little girl who’s drooling on my shirt as she snuffles in her sleep.
“That’s perfectly fine, Eli. She’ll probably rest better anyhow, but I don’t want to keep you from anything.”
“You’re not, I need to check my client schedule but if I have to push anyone back, I’ll do it. She’s more important,” he decrees.
“If you have one you can’t change, I’m happy to keep an eye on her. I’m off for the next few days.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose on your downtime.”
“Do you know what I was doing when you called to tell me she was sick?” When he slowly shakes his head, I grin then state, “Laundry. I was doing laundry, Eli. I’d rather take care of a fussy little miss who’s not feeling her best than fold another pair of scrub pants or hang another top.”
He chuckles at how vehement I am, but he doesn’t understand just how many loads I’ve washed, dried, and folded today alone, and I still have at least three loads of regular stuff to do. “Then we have a plan, Phoebe.”
“Yes, yes, we do,” I tell him.
I’ll do whatever I have to in order to spend time with him and the little girl who stole my heart the first time I heard her heartbeat on the doppler.