by Faye Byrd
I roll to my side and trace her stomach, pushing her oversized T-shirt up as I go. “Are you sure that’s all?”
She stops my progress and tilts her head toward me. “Yeah, that was all. I have to get dressed for work.”
“I guess,” I say, glancing to clock on the bedside table. “Maybe I can repay you in the shower?”
She rolls, pressing her front against me and hooking a long leg over my hip. “While the shower would surely be hot, I’m in a hurry this morning. I’m meeting Mom and Amelia for breakfast, remember?”
“Shit!” I say, rolling onto my back and dragging her over to straddle me again. “I did forget.” My hands move up her thighs. “I can be quick.”
Her eyes fall closed, and I internally fist pump, but the celebrating is a bit premature. She snaps them back open and lays her hands on mine, stopping my upward progress. “I will take a raincheck, though.”
“I’m not sure I can top this, but I’ll damn sure try,” I reply, giving her a cheeky wink.
“I love you,” she says, leaning down and pecking me swiftly before starting to move away.
I keep my hands on her until she’s completely out of reach. “I love you, too.”
Propping my hands beneath my head, I stare at the ceiling as the shower in our ensuite flows. Imagining her naked does nothing to curb my ever-growing desire. In fact, it only makes me more desperate.
Desperate enough to defy her wishes.
Tossing the blanket aside, I grab a condom from the bedside drawer and march to the bathroom. I’m full of determination to keep her on time and fulfill my responsibilities as her lover.
Forty-five minutes later, I’m slipping her designer bag onto her shoulder and sending her on her way with a toe-curling kiss. She floats out the door with a secret, satisfied gleam in her eye.
Since Easton left earlier than usual, I take the extra time and start on a special breakfast for the boys. I spend the next hour caramelizing bananas, making crepe batter, whipping cream and heating chocolate sauce. Just before I start the crepes, I head to the bottom of the stairs and call up to the boys. They’re usually awake by now so that should get them headed down soon. Back in the kitchen, I pour the first scoop of batter into my skillet.
I set the bar, and by the time the crepes are ready, I hear footsteps pounding down the stairs. Blake enters the kitchen with Blue hot on his heels. I open the back door to let out the dog, and my brows furrow as I look past Blake. “Where’s Cam?”
“He not feel good, Daddy,” Blake says, his eyes dropping to the floor.
Ice runs through my veins, and I freeze in my steps. “What!”
I don’t wait for a reply. I rush past Blake and practically trip up the stairs. The pounding in my chest has only gotten faster as I race toward his room. By the time I enter, I’m in a panic, rushing to where he is still lying in bed.
“Cameron!” I call, my mind racing with worry. “What’s the matter, buddy?”
He moans as he rolls to face me, and I sigh in relief. “My thwoat hurts, Daddy.” His voice is scratchy, and his eyes are tired, but otherwise, he seems okay. No excess bruising, throwing up or extreme sleepiness. I feel his head, and though it is a little warm, I’m not sure he has a fever. If he does, it’s a small one.
“Okay, dude,” I say, taking a deep breath. “How about I call Dr. Logan and get us an appointment, okay?”
He nods his little head but doesn’t speak, as Blake enters then, and he’s already talking. “He needs a cough drop, Daddy. ‘Member when you gaved me some?”
“I do, buddy, but I think Cam needs to see the doctor,” I say as I stand and reach in my pocket for my cell.
“We was just there yesterday,” Blake says, climbing up to sit beside Cam.
“I know, dude. I know.” I take a deep breath and hold up my pointer finger. “I’m going to step into the hall. I’ll be right back.”
Cam nods, but Blake watches me with a confused little expression. He doesn’t quite understand the urgency here, and I’m at a loss as to how to try and explain it to him.
“Trystan? What’s wrong?” Easton says, instead of a greeting. This is her cell, and I’ve never called her on it at work before.
“Calm down, baby,” I soothe, keeping my voice low and even. “It’s nothing drastic, okay?”
“But it is something, right?” she asks, her voice still anxious as hell.
I sigh. “Cam has a sore throat this morning. I’m going to call David’s office as soon as we’re done and get him in to see him today. I thought you’d want to know right away, though.”
“Does he have a fever?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Nauseous?”
“Nope, not at all.”
“He’s alert?”
“Yes, baby,” I reply, trying to reassure her. “I think it may just be from the temperature change. We had an unusually cool rain a few days ago, and we went grocery shopping that day.”
She blows out a breath. “Okay. Okay. I trust your judgment. Once you get him an appointment time, text it to me, and I’ll meet you there.”
“You don’t have to get off work,” I say, not minding if she does but also wanting her to know that I can take care of him.
“Yes, I do,” she says firmly. “And not because I don’t trust you to handle it, but because that’s my baby and he needs his mama.”
I smile as I prop against the wall. “He does. I’ll text you in a few.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
As soon as I pull the phone away, I hit speed dial number eight—Dr. Logan’s office. His personal cell is number nine, but I think a call to Mrs. Sanders will be just as effective. She understands the seriousness of Cam getting any kind of sickness.
The call is short and our appointment is set for eleven o’clock, and that’s mostly due to it being after nine now. I still have to get both boys ready before we can leave the house. I shoot Easton a text and rejoin the boys in the bedroom.
Cam’s sitting up now, his voice a little less croaky as he talks with Blake. “Do you think you can eat something? I made a special breakfast.”
Blake nods. “Yeah, I hungry.”
Cam shrugs. “If it don’t hurted my thwoat.”
I chuckle and nod toward the door. “Come on so we can get done and get ready to see Dr. Logan.”
Almost two hours later, we pull into the doctor’s office parking lot where Easton is already waiting for us. I haven’t even put the car in park before she’s tugging at the back door, which is locked. I hit unlock as soon as I switch off the ignition and get out, going to Blake’s side to help him.
Cameron’s snuggled into his mama’s shoulder as she waits for us to join them. As soon as we’re close enough, she holds her free hand out for Blake. Taking his other hand, as a family, we make the walk across the parking lot. I hold the door for them to enter and head up to Mrs. Sanders while they find seats.
After signing in, I join the rest of my crew, the mood much more somber than usual. Even Blake doesn’t ask if he can go play. Feeling bad, I lure him over to the toys and spend the minutes until Cameron’s called trying to inject some normalcy into this visit.
When we get to the exam room, David enters right behind us, the urgency clear in the way he goes straight to Cam. “Was this morning the first sign of any illness?” he asks without even a hello.
“It was,” I answer with a nod. “He says his throat hurts.”
David’s fingers go to his throat, and Cam winces when he touches it. “His glands are swollen. Open wide, buddy.” David presses his tongue down and looks into his throat. “It’s possibly strep.” He gets up and goes to the door. “Estella.” When she steps into the room, David says, “Can you get an RST. No, two please.” While she’s gone, he turns to us. “Easy, as you know he’s had it before, but any illness will be amplified with his condition. I may be premature in suggesting this, but a night or two in the hospital may be for the best.”
“If th
at’s your professional opinion, then I agree,” Easton says, glancing at me for my thoughts.
I give her a nod. “I’m with Easton. If you think he needs to be admitted, then he needs to be admitted.”
Estella walks in with several items. She opens and hands David a long swab. He turns to Cam. “Can you open up again?”
“Is it gonna hurt?” Cam asks, shrinking away from the swab.
“I’ll be very gentle,” David explains. “I just need to wipe it in the back of your mouth. Be very still, okay?”
David takes Cam’s sample and returns the swab to Estella before removing his gloves and donning a fresh pair. Taking the second swab Estella holds out for him, he turns to Blake. “Can you also open wide?” David asks him.
Blake’s eyes get big, but then he shrugs. “Yeah. I a big boy.”
David swabs his throat and passes it to Estella. She props against the counter and does several things to the samples, which end up as two tubes with a test strip inside, each labeled Blake and Cameron. She passes them to David. “The results should show in five minutes,” she says before exiting the exam room.
“Do you think Blake’s sick, too?” I ask, since strep throat is not something I have experience with.
David shakes his head. “I don’t think so. Though it is contagious, it’s one of those things that you’re either susceptible to or you’re not.” He reaches over and works his fingers over Blake’s throat. “Nothing’s swollen. I just did the test as a precaution. It’s best we know for sure.” He takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes before leaning closer and speaking in a low voice. “If Blake has it, he won’t be allowed to visit Cameron in the hospital. Even if he doesn’t, his visits will need to be kept minimal.”
“What?” Easton says, the alarm obvious in her tone. “David, that will break their hearts.”
“I’m sorry, Easy,” he replies, shaking his head. “We’ve been lucky so far with Cam’s illness, but anytime his immune system is overtaxed, it makes him even more susceptible to germs. I don’t want him spending any longer than necessary in the hospital, and the best way to prevent that is to cut down his chance of exposure.” David sighs and replaces his glasses. “I know we haven’t discussed this yet, but there are serious rules when it comes to the transplant, and most likely, it’ll be weeks before Blake is allowed to visit.”
“Oh no,” Easton says, placing her hand on her chest. “What are we going to do?”
I clasp her hand and give it a supportive squeeze. “We’re going to do the best we can. We’re a family, and we’ll figure it out. Together.”
David gives us a sad smile. “It will be hard, but you have a wonderful support system, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.” He rolls his little stool over to the counter, and I hold my breath.
The seconds feel like long, torturous hours as we await the results. The last thing a parent wants to hear is that their child is sick, but it’s even more painful to realize a simple sickness for a normal kid could be life-threatening to your already ill son.
The sound of the wheels rolling across the tile causes my blood to thunder in my veins. “As I suspected, Cameron’s test is positive and Blake’s is negative.”
“So what now?” I ask, though it’s only to have something to say. We’ve already discussed the next step.
“You go home and pack a few things while I call Dr. Sen and have him start the admission process. He’ll probably receive another transfusion along with intravenous antibiotics. We want to get ahead of this and get him well as quickly as possible.”
A couple of days in the hospital have turned into three so far, and with our current situation, things have been stressful. One parent is at the hospital, refusing to budge, while the other has no choice but to stay home and give our other child much-needed attention. Blake and I do go for a visit each day, submitting to a new strep test before entering. We’re taking every precaution to ensure Cam’s well-being with everyone who enters his room, and so far, it seems to be working.
My heart feels like it’s torn in two. One piece knows it has to be here for Blake, but the other desperately wants to see Cam through this since I missed so much the first time. Not that Easton’s willing to leave, anyway, but I get it. She showers Blake with attention when we visit, the guilt so evident, but as much as she’s allowed me to take on the role of father, this is one area where she’s just not ready to loosen the reins.
After placing Blake’s lunch, chicken strips and sweet potato fries, on the bar, my phone chimes with a text. I sit my own plate down and hold up a finger. “Give me a sec, okay, dude? You can go ahead and eat.” He frowns and picks up a strip, dipping it into his homemade honey mustard sauce.
I step into the dining room and pull out my phone. It’s Dr. Scott.
I know you have important things going on, but we need to talk. Call me when you can.
The first thing I feel is irrational anger, but at least I know it’s irrational, and I tamp it down. The next thing I feel is dread. Katherine stays abreast of Cameron’s case, and she’s aware of what we’re going through at the moment, so this can only be bad news. I sigh and peek at my son, who just looks sad and unhappy as he toys with his lunch. Seeing he’s okay, I hit dial and place the phone to my ear.
“Thank you for returning my call so quickly,” Dr. Scott says, and her voice is low and soft. “I wouldn’t bother you unless it was important.”
I scrub my hand through my hair. “I think I actually believe you … this time.” I frown to myself as I consider all the ways in which we’ve taunted each other in the past. “It’s not good, is it?”
“No, it isn’t,” she says with a sigh. “Kennedy has shown up at my office and demanded to see me. And while my responsibility to inform her has been lifted due to the paperwork your attorney forwarded, I’m in a tough position when it comes to refusing to see her.”
A rush of panic races over my skin. Kennedy’s been to MUMC? She’s in Atlanta? “When,” I demand, my mind racing. “When was she there?”
Katherine doesn’t answer right away, causing my heart rate to spike. “Yesterday,” she finally says. “She was here yesterday.”
“Fuck!” I roar, slapping my hand against the table.
“Daddy,” Blake calls, his voice a whine.
I rush toward him, regretting that I allowed my anger to show with him anywhere in the vicinity. “Sorry, dude. I didn’t mean to yell,” I soothe, rubbing his back.
“You said a bad word. Mama not like that,” he replies, shaking his head. “I not tell her.”
I chuckle because if I don’t, I might cry. “Thanks, bud. Are you finished eating?”
He nods, so I help him down and send him to the bathroom to clean up. Once he’s out of earshot, I get back to Katherine. “She can’t be anywhere near my family!” I bark into the line. “How are you going to handle this?”
“Me? The reason I called is to allow you to give input, not so I can be blamed,” Katherine responds tersely, and she’s right, but I’m not in the right frame of mind to admit it. “Since we’ve gone public about the switch, all I can offer her is confirmation. The hospital attorneys have suggested I take a meeting with her.”
I rub my temples, my head fucking pounding. “Does she know Cameron’s in the hospital now?”
“There’s no way to know for sure. I haven’t seen any reports in the papers,” she replies, trying to be optimistic. “How is that going by the way? Will he be released soon?”
“We’re hopeful for tomorrow.” I plop down into a dining chair and cradle my head. “Look, can you stall her until he’s home? I just can’t stomach the thought of her being near my family. It’s too close for comfort.”
“I’ll try, Trystan, but if she shows up again …” She trails off, but I understand what she means. She’ll have to take the meeting. “Maybe if I call her and set an appointment, she’ll steer clear. At least until Cameron goes home.”
“Maybe you can just get by with a phone
conversation,” I say, hoping like hell it’s possible, but knowing Kennedy, the money-hungry bitch that she is, it’ll never be that easy. “Just let me know. Whatever comes of it, let me know. Please.”
“I will,” she says and pauses before speaking again. “Look, I appreciate the open lines of communication you’ve kept with me. I expect this woman to be trouble, and the hospital attorneys will deal with her. However, if the time comes when you and Easy decide to file a suit against us, I hope you’ll give me the courtesy of advanced notification.”
I sit up straighter as Blake comes rushing back into the room, giving him the best smile I can. “You all clean, dude?”
“I am, Daddy. I ready to go see Cam.”
“All right,” I say, standing. “Go pick out your clothes, and I’ll be right up.”
“Look, Katherine, I have to go,” I say hurriedly, “but you can expect that at the very least. Honestly, Easton and I haven’t even discussed it. We’re pretty satisfied with how things turned out.”
“Is that a smile I hear in your voice, Trystan Ashby?” she asks with a big old fake gasp. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
My chuckle is genuine. “Can it, Miss Cryptic. Get in touch when you know something.”
After ending the call, I place one more. With Coop and Kari not set to arrive for another week, I turn to Easton’s family to help with Blake. I haven’t asked them before now because I didn’t want Blake to feel left out with two missing parents, but with Kennedy running loose, I need to be with Easton and Cameron for more than the hour Blake can visit. Melissa readily agrees to pick him up and keep him for a few hours afterward, giving me time to fill Easton in on my conversation with Katherine.
By the time I make it upstairs, Blake has already picked his outfit and stripped off his play clothes. I chuckle at his cute self. “Not bad, dude. I think Mama will approve of this look.”
He nods his head. “Her will. I wored it yesterday and she not say nothin’.”
I lean back to get a closer look. “This is what you wore yesterday?”