Page 36 of Weatherman

I wokeup to a dark room with my skin covered in a sour sweat. My head ached, and my body was weak, but I was alert. Panic set in when I noticed Pearl was not in her crib. She was ready to move from that to a toddler bed soon, but I hadn’t gotten one for her yet.

Shit, where is my daughter?

Visions of her wandering around the apartment and getting outside by herself sent me into a frenzy. I jumped out of my bed and almost fell to the floor from the dizzy black spots that appeared in my vision.

Focus, Opal. Slow down and focus.

A low male voice came to me from the living area. I peeked out and spotted Weatherman on the sofa with Pearl next to him. Hergay-tohsat smushed between them while she jabbered and pointed to the pictures in the book he was reading to her.

“Yes, that’s the blue fish. Can you show me the red one?”

She blew bubbles and slapped at the page. “Bisssssssh!”

I held back a laugh, but it came out anyway.

“A-ma!” My little girl grinned at me but kept her position next to Weatherman. He raised his eyes to me, and for a moment, I got lost in their hazel hue.

“I reheated the fries and nuggets a little while ago. She ate well, and I cleaned up her face and hands but that was it. If she needs changing or bathing, I can do that, but I thought it would be a little too personal right now.” Weatherman rose from the rocking chair and carried Pearl to me. He must have moved it when I was out of my head. His hand reached out to check my forehead. “I talked to Emma, Mom’s caregiver. She said the bug going around is a bad one. It hits hard and fast but leaves just as quickly. I think Pearl avoided it this round, and you shouldn’t be contagious anymore.”

A frisson of alarm hit me. “Uff-da, I hope you didn’t catch it!”

He shook his head. “I got a flu shot so I could be around my mom. In her state, she can’t afford to catch anything. Just to be safe, I’ll spend a couple days in my place at the Lair so I’m sure not to take anything home to her.” He looked at me with contemplation. “You should probably stay home tomorrowtoo. I imagine you feel pretty weak right now. Your roommate around?”

I glanced at the wall clock. If she wasn’t home by now, she probably wouldn’t be. “I haven’t seen her since work.”

He pressed his lips together. “I’ll stick around until you eat something.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can handle it.”

His eyes got very soft. “Opal, there’s nothing in this world you can’t handle, but you are allowed to have some help from time to time. Think you’re up for a shower?”

That sounded heavenly. “If you’re okay with watching Pearl?”

His eyes cut to me with an are-you-serious-right-now look in them.

I sighed. “Okay. Let me change her first, and then I’ll go.”

It took more energy than it should have to take the old Pampers off my daughter and put a new one on. She wasn’t a squirmer, but that simple task still took a lot out of me. I went into the bathroom, carefully removed my clothes so I didn’t fall over, then stepped under the hot spray. The shower was great but exhausting. I’d never been like this, and I hoped I never would again. It sapped what little energy I had, and all I wanted to do after drying off was crawl into bed and not move the rest of the night. As a single mother, that wasn’t an option, but having Weatherman here was a big help. I came out of the bathroom in my warmest pj’s and slippers to a sight that sent a thousand mixed emotions racing through me.

Weatherman sat in my rocker with Pearl on his lap. The chair’s soft creaking from his movements was the only sound in the room. She was asleep, curled into his firm body.

Safe.

Secure.

Trusting.

My throat clogged, and I had to swallow several times as my eyes filled with water.

“Love has no limits, sweetness. You’re allowed to do it more than once.”

“Is that true?” I asked the universe.

Of course, it was silent.

Weatherman looked up from his seated position, and his eyes met mine.

No. No, I was not ready for this.

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