Page 237 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Is he eating enough/too much?”

“That baby next door is already sitting up and Toby isn’t.”

“Is he breathing?”

“Why am I such a terrible father?”

So, Martin was my go to when Charlie reached or was supposed to have reached a milestone and when he wasn’t well. I’d placed my hand on the back of his neck and on his chest ‘cause the baby sites said that was the best place to check. Now I was heading to the kitchen drawer where we kept the thermometer and spare batteries.

“Maybe a little. I wouldn't worry about it, love. Look at his behavior. Is he drinking? That’s the most important, along with peeing.”

“He's doing all of those things and eating but he’s not himself.”

“Who is he? Toby snarked as he grabbed a cereal bar.

“You’re hilarious.”

“I know.” He bopped out of the kitchen and headed to his room.

After handing Charlie to Martin, I searched the drawer for the thermometer and checked the batteries. All working. While rectal thermometerswere recommended for babies to get an accurate reading, I usually used an ear one but we had one of the others on standby.

Charlie squirmed and I cuddled him while Martin put the probe in our little boy’s ear. “Ummm it’s slightly above normal.”

“Let’s take him to the ER.”

My mate cuddled both me and the baby. “Let’s wait and see, love. Babies often get fevers for no apparent reason.”

I could cope with an upset tummy, a rash, and a runny nose but fevers freaked me the fuck out. I wanted to go now, needing a medical professional to assure me our baby was fine.

“How about we wait thirty minutes and check his temperature again? If it’s still above normal, we’ll head to the hospital.”

I agreed but that was a long half an hour. I counted each minute and then some, and I was waiting with the thermometer when the time was up. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Charlie yawned and once again he clung to my shirt and whimpered as Martin checked. “No change.”

My phone, wallet, and keys were waiting by the door and I’d warned Toby so he had his tablet and a book ready to go. We piled into the car and I sat between my two boys. Toby, my darling older son, consoled me by repeating what Martin had said. “Babies often get fevers for no reason, TD.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” I gave him a kiss. I loved both my boys so much.

When Martin drove up to the ER, I took Charlie, leaving Toby in the car with his dad while they parked. “Baby with a high fever coming through,” I yelled. “Emergency!” I created a scene but I didn’t care. My child was ill.

Luckily there were few people waiting and no children. I hated being in an ER and listening to a child crying.

A nurse took one glance at Charlie and placed her hand on him. “He’s not burning up.”

“Well no. Not burning. But slightly above average,” I admitted.

He produced an ear thermometer, checked Charlie’s temperature and showed me the display. Normal. It was completely normal.

“But it wasn't when we left home.”

He nodded, a knowing look on his face, and he peppered me with the usual questions about whether Charlie had been peeing and drinking. Meanwhile, Charlie was reaching out for the guy’s clipboard and studying the people in the waiting area. He was gurgling and squealing at an elderly woman making funny faces at him.

“I understand fevers are scary for parents but he seems fine.”

Martin and Toby arrived only for me to admit that we were headed home again.

“That was interesting,” Toby admitted.

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