Page 37 of Power Forward

“It’s okay,” I quickly reassure her. “Daddy has known Hayden for a very long time. He’ll even let you watch cartoons later if you feel better.”

“Bluey?” she croaks.

“Yeah, he’ll let you watchBluey.”

She slumps further into her pillow. “’kay.”

“I’ll bring him up to say hello when I bring your water.”

Her eyes flutter closed, and she mumbles, “’Kay, Daddy.”

Quietly, I head out of her room and into Ryan’s. He’s fast asleep with the covers kicked off to the bottom of the bed. I carefully place my hand on his forehead to check his temperature. His skin is still feverish, but he’s not as warm or pale as Isabela. Hopefully with him resting, it’ll help kick thisbug. I bring his covers back up over him, then pick up his cup before heading back downstairs.

I wash them up, then wash my hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Hayden walks into the kitchen as I’m mixing up some Pedialyte to refill both of their cups.

“Is there anything I can do?” Hayden asks.

“No, it’s all good. They haven’t been sick for a few hours, so I’m hoping the worst has passed now, but they might want toast or something later. The bread is in the pantry.” I show him where I keep the loaf of bread, then where anything else is kept that they might ask for.

“Ryan was asleep when I went up, but do you want to come with me in case he’s awake now?”

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

Hayden’s slow to follow me up the stairs, and when we reach the second floor, his face is strained like he’s in some pain.

I frown and ask quietly, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says quickly, but his smile is forced.

I stare at him for a second, waiting to see if he’ll tell me the truth, but he doesn’t.

Hm. Okay then.

Peering my head around the door to Isabela’s room, I smile when I see she’s still awake.

“Hey, peanut. This is my friend Hayden.” He follows me into her room, and she watches him with big blue eyes. I place her cup on the side where she can reach it, then sit on the edge of the bed.

“Hayden’s going to stay here while Daddy goes to work. You can sit with him and watch TV if you want, or you can go back to sleep.”

She doesn’t take her eyes off him as she nods.

“I hear you likeBluey.” Hayden smiles. “Me too.”

There’s a flash of excitement in her eyes before she shyly hides half of her face under her blanket.

I grin, knowing the reason why Hayden likesBlueylights something up inside me.

“I’m gonna go check on Ryan. Did you want to stay here or go downstairs?” I ask her, handing over her cup. She takes a drink, then lies back down, giving me her answer.

I tuck her back in and sit there for a few minutes while she falls back to sleep. When I look in Ryan’s room, I’m pleased to see he’s now awake.

“Hey, Dad,” he says around a yawn.

“Hey, bud. How’re you feeling now?”

“Okay,” he says, then does a double take when he sees Hayden. “Who’s that?”

Laughing softly, I look at Hayden before turning back to Ryan. “This is my friend Hayden. We played together in Boston many, many years ago. He’s going to look after you while I’m at the arena because Gigi and Gramps are also sick.”

---