Page 78 of The Summer Arrangement
Jax steps away, and I assume he’s reaching out to someone at the label, but the moment Milli moans again, my focus is on her.
Rocking her in my arms, I brush the hair from her face. “I’m here, sweet girl.”
“It hurts, Iz.” Her voice is weak and miserable and utterly heartbreaking.
“We should be seen shortly. Just a little longer,” I promise.
My family talks around me, but my focus is on keeping this poor girl calm and comfortable. She’s got her blanket wrapped around her and although she’s like a personal radiator in my arms, I just rock and do my best to soothe her.
Relief washes through me a few minutes later when we hear, “Emilia Kruse?”
“Right here,” I say, attempting to stand, but my feet don’t feel steady, so I sit down and readjust her before trying again.
Finn offers, “Want me to carry her?”
“I’ve got it. But could you get her bag?”
“I’ll get it,” Lanie says, catching up to me. “I’m going back with you.”
“Right this way,” a man in his early thirties says as I approach. “I’m Daniel. I’m a pediatric nurse. I’m gonna get you into a room where we can further assess what’s going on. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
Milli’s voice is weak, and my heart aches as she explains, “I’m sick. My tummy hurtsreallybad.”
“Can you tell me what’s been going on?”
I quickly go through her symptoms, starting with when it happened and how long she’s been sick. By the time we get to the room where they’ll examine her further, he knows the entire story.
“Let’s get her lying on the bed. Can you show me where it hurts?”
With one hand, Milli reaches for mine as the other rubs along her lower abdomen. “Right here.”
“Mind if I have a look?”
As Daniel goes through the motions of completing his exam, I feel utterly helpless. Milli’s cooperative and answers his questions. That is until he presses lightly on her stomach. Instantly, her tiny body contorts, and I’m sure my family can hear her cries from the waiting room.
“I’m so sorry.” He quickly pulls his hand back. “I won’t touch you there again. Is it better now that I’ve stopped?”
Milli nods but keeps her grip on my hand tight.
“I need to start an IV and get some blood work started. I’ll also page the pediatric doctor on call to get things rolling.”
In a well-practiced move, he pulls things from the cabinet beside us and says into his radio clipped to his shoulder, “Page Pediatrics. I need Dr. Wilks to room seven, STAT.”
Holy shit. This is more serious than I thought.
Glancing to my sister to ensure she heard the same thing, panic sets in when her wide eyes meet mine. Needing to keep my reaction under control for the sake of the precious girl beside me, I force myself to close my eyes and breathe slowly.
“Emilia?” Daniel says, reaching for an iPad on his cart and handing it to her, “I need to place an IV in your arm so we can get you the medicine you need. Do you want to watch a show while I do this?”
The iPad is loaded with various cartoon icons. Seeing one of her favorites, I point out, “Do you want to watch Bluey?”
Emilia nods and presses the icon herself.
“Great,” Daniel says. “I’m going to spray your arm to numb it. Then I need to step out for just a sec to grab a smaller needle. It seems they don’t have one for someone her size in this room. While I do that, would you mind changing her into this?” He holds up a pink hospital gown.
“Okay,” Milli says quietly, already interested in the show.
Before Daniel leaves, he hits us with another hard truth. “I’m going to personally make sure Dr. Wilks is on her way. Once I get the IV started, she’ll likely have some tests she wants me to run.”
