Page 47 of All of Me

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My knees weaken, and I grip the back of a chair to steady myself. “A fever? A rash? Adam, is she?—”

“She’s okay for now,” he interrupts. “But we didn’t want to take any chances. Katie noticed the rash when we were getting her ready for bed. Her fever was 102.8. We’re doing the right thing.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. The tightness in my chest grows as I try to focus on his words. “Keep me updated,” I whisper before hanging up.

The phone slips from my hand onto the table as I fumble to call Owen. He picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, dollface?—”

“Owen,” I interrupt. “Something’s wrong with Ruby.”

“What? What’s going on?” His tone sharpens instantly, the concern obvious.

“Katie texted me,” I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. “She said Ruby has a fever and a rash, and they’re taking her to the ER in Burlington.”

“Shit,” he mutters, and I can hear him shift gears. “Okay. Are you?—”

“I can’t drive,” I say, cutting him off, my voice cracking. “I’m too upset. I need you, Owen. Can you come get me? Please?”

“I’m almost home,” he says, his words steady and certain. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Just hang tight, okay?”

I let out a shaky breath, clutching the phone tighter. “Okay… please hurry.”

The call ends, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake. I try to focus on breathing, but the thoughts won’t stop. Ruby is so little. Too little to be sick like this. My chest tightens again as I glance toward the door, waiting for Owen. My baby girl needs me, and I need him to help me get to her.

The minutes drag like hours. Each one feels slower than the last. By the time Owen’s truck pulls into the driveway, I’m already out the door, warming up the van in case we bring the girls home tonight. I drop the diaper bag into the van and run toward him.

He jumps out and hurries toward me, his eyes scanning my face. “Callie,” he says gently, his hand brushing my arm. “We’ll get to her. She’s going to be okay.”

“I don’t understand how this happened,” I say as I climb into the passenger seat, my voice trembling. “She was fine earlier. She was eating, sleeping…”

Owen pulls back onto the road, his jaw tight but his voice calm. “Babies can get sick fast. We’ll get there, and we’ll figure it out.”

I stare out the window, wringing my hands in my lap. The knot in my stomach grows tighter with each passing mile.

“Callie,” Owen says softly, glancing at me. “Look at me.”

I turn to him, my eyes already stinging with tears.

“She’s going to be okay,” he says firmly. “Ruby’s strong, and so are you.”

His words ease the panic enough for me to nod, but the fear doesn’t subside.

The drive to Burlington feels endless. The roads stretch on forever, the hum of the engine the only sound between us. Every so often, Owen reaches over to squeeze my hand, grounding me as my thoughts race.

“What if it’s something serious?” I whisper, barely able to get the words out.

“Let’s not go there yet,” he says gently but firmly. “We’ll know more when we get to the hospital. Right now, she’s with the doctors, and they’ll take care of her.”

I nod again, though the worst-case scenarios keep creeping into my mind. Ruby’s so little, too little to handle something like this.

Nearly two hours have passed since Katie’s first text by the time we pull into the ER parking lot. I’m out of the van before Owen even shuts off the engine, rushing toward the entrance. The cold air bites at my skin, but I barely notice.

Inside, the receptionist directs us to the pediatric ER. My legs feel weak as we walk down the hallway, the sound of my boots echoing with each step.

We reach the waiting room and Adam is standing near the far wall, his arms crossed over his chest. Katie is sitting nearby, rocking a sleepy Sara in her lap.

“Where is she?” I demand, my voice trembling as I approach Adam.

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