Page 23 of Dangerous

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, Mr. Taylor closed the classroom door and motioned for me to walk a little further away. When I was far enough, he tapped my shoulder. “Didn’t want your classmates to rush the door to try an eavesdrop.”

I nodded, but his words did nothing to calm my racing heart. What could he possibly need to say that would warrant such discretion?

“That was the daycare. I guess Liam’s having some problems settling and they were wondering if you could come and soothe him. Peter told me how good you are with him. He calls you the Liam whisperer. I just didn’t want to announce it in front of your classmates in case you hadn’t said anything. I know they can be a little much and create stories that affect reputations, so I wanted to give you the option since you’re doing something so nice to help someone else out.”

Over the past year or two I’d had a couple of interactions with Mr. Taylor, but they’d been in passing. Outside of his help withsome math issues last year before exams when he’d dropped by Peter’s house, I really didn’t know much about him. So, to have him look out for me and my reputation like this made me look at him in a new light. He was more than just another hot, young, male teacher at the school whom the girls and single, female staff flirted with. He was truly someone who cared about his students.

“Thank you. And yes, I haven’t said anything, but not because I’m worried about what people will say. I just didn’t want to deal with all that’s associated with it. I already deal with enough stuff whenever something comes out about Mr. Evans since he lives next door.”

Mr. Taylor nodded and then squeezed my shoulder as he started to head back to his classroom. “If Liam settles down, but doesn’t want you to leave him, feel free to bring him back to class if you want. I’ve always had an open-door policy for my students who have babies in the daycare. And if you don’t make it back, I’ll keep your school stuff for you until you’re able to come back and get it.”

Before I could thank him, he walked back into the class, asking them to raise their hands if they were able to complete the question. I stared at the closed door for a second before remembering that Liam needed me.

As I walked through the door into the daycare, I could hear Liam’s pitiful, whimpering cry, breaking my heart. The sound, so full of pain, nearly brought tears to my eyes.

“Ahh, good, you’re here, Katy. We’ve tried everything with Liam, but we can’t get him to settle.” Susan held open the door for me before leading me to the reclined swing. “I know you said he’s not happy in the swing, but this has been keeping him calmer. He really didn’t like the crib, and he cries harder any time Missy, or I hold him.”

Poor little guy. I could understand exactly why he cried whenever Missy tried to hold him, I would, too. I might have been in Junior High when Missy attended the High School, but I remembered her. She was one of the seniors who tried to befriend me once they found out that Peter was my next-door neighbour and that we were friends. So, it was hardly surprising that she’d jump at the chance to use Liam to get closer to his father.

I stroked the reddened side of his face as he continued to sniffle and whimper. Tears coated his skin. “Susan, does he seem a little warm to you?”

“Let me grab the thermometer?” She reached into a drawer and pulled out one of the newer forehead ones so that she didn’t have to touch him with it. I adjusted my hold on him so that his external temp could cool a little before she used it. The tears and a soft, tired cry started again.

“It’s okay, buddy. I’m still here. I’m not letting you go.” I pressed soft kisses to the top of his head, trying to soothe him. Drool ran from his mouth. Another newskillhe’d started on the weekend much to Jarrod’s dismay. At the fair, he’d been holding Liam against his chest, without a blanket, and when Jason and Peter returned to pick him up and take home, Jarrod had discovered that his left shoulder and chest are had been covered in drool splotches. And as sexy as Jarrod always looked, that hadn’t been.

Susan scanned his forehead, watching as the screen blinked yellow. “You’re right. He’s running a low-grade fever.”

“What do we do? What caused this?” During the time I was home alone, when I’d been avoiding everything people related, I’d been reading more about developmental milestones. But fevers and what to do for them in infants this age hadn’t been in the list.

Susan patted my hand before leading me over to the change table. “He’ll be perfectly fine, Katy. Babies often run slight fevers for various reasons. The key is to help cool the body down gently. Since it’s a warm day and he wants to be cuddled by you, we’ll strip him down to just his diaper and onesie. As he cools, you can add layers by wrapping him in light receiving cloths.”

Showing her skill and compassion, she swiftly undressed him while I continued to stroke the side of his face and talk to him. “Didn’t you say that he’d been a little fussy over the weekend?” I nodded. “And drooling is a new skill?” I nodded again. “Then I think I know what’s wrong.”

She tilted his lower lip down, allowing us to see his, reddened and slightly swollen gums. “Poor baby. He’s teething. It’s a little young since he’s not quite four months old, but not unheard of.”

“Teething? Already? But…” My voice trailed off. Didn’t babies get teeth when they needed to start eating solid food? But he wasn’t ready for that. I thought he was supposed to be fed only formula until he was six months old.

She patted my hand before scooping him up and placing him back in my arms. “Sometimes their baby teeth like to move around in their gums. It doesn’t mean he’ll get his teeth anytime soon. It could still be a month or two before we see any teeth. But until then, when they’re moving around, it can hurt. I have just the thing to help.”

As I sat in the glider rocker, Liam fisted the neckline of my shirt. I could feel the drool begin to seep through since I’d forgotten to put a blanket over my me. Like before, he settled once he could hear my heartbeat. His little eyelids fluttered as he fought going to sleep.

“This will help.” Susan handed me a cool, damp facecloth. “Wrap it around your finger and let him suck on it while you rub his gums. It’ll help numb the area.” She nodded approvinglyas I followed her instructions. “You’re a natural with Katy. It’s almost like he sees you as his mom.”

My heart jumped and I forced myself to keep breathing normally, to not react, to not let her see how her words affected me. It had been bad enough in Winnipeg, but here, in this small town where gossip flourished and spread faster than a prairie wildfire during a drought… it was even worse.

“What classes do you have this afternoon? It may only be the first day, but I don’t want you to miss class if possible.”

“I’m in Mr. Taylor’s class right now and then I have Mr. Evans for last period.” With Liam’s suction on my finger slowing, I glanced down to find him sleeping. While the proper thing to do would be to put him back into his crib for his afternoon nap, I didn’t want to leave him alone. Not when he wasn’t feeling well. Susan might have been awesome, and I could tell how much she cared for the babies in her care, but she was new. Liam didn’t really know her yet. Mr. Taylor had told me I could bring Liam to class, and it would solve my problem of not letting him be by himself, but was I ready to out myself to the student body like that? Was I ready for all the comments and snide innuendos that would be sure to follow? People would think that he was mine, that I’d given birth to him and that Peter adopted him to protect me from scandal. Not that we didn’t have teenagers giving birth and keeping their children which was part of the reason why we had a daycare on site, but still, people liked to talk.

As I stared at Liam’s little face, still marred by tear tracks, and not completely relaxed in sleep, I decided. “Do you know if Mr. Evans packed Liam’s body carrier? Mr. Taylor said I was welcome to bring Liam back to class if he wasn’t disruptive.”

“I’m not sure, but I have something even better.”

As Susan walked over to a tall cabinet, I carried Liam over to the cubbies where I could see Liam’s diaper bag. While he shouldsleep for the next few hours, it wouldn’t hurt to bring a prepared bottle with me. That and a spare diaper and extra clothes, and… I rolled my eyes. With everything that I’d need, I might as well bring his diaper bag with me. It’d be that much easier.

“I have it.” Susan held up a long piece of blue fabric. “This is a body sling. It’ll keep Liam cradled to you, like he’s in a hammock, while allowing you to use your hands. It’ll be perfect for while you’re sitting in class. And Liam will be able to continue to hear your heartbeat and feel your skin.”

It took a little maneuvering, but soon, Liam was strapped to me. Despite my hesitation, she had me release my hold on him to prove that the sling kept him safe. She placed the packed diaper bag on my shoulder. “There. You’re all ready. Have fun in class. And remember that we’re here and open until five so if he wakes and you need to leave class, you can always bring him back.”

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