Page 59 of Despite It All
“Hey, I’m headed your way.”
Wyla yawns. “Hey, sorry… but Stevie’s been up since four this morning. She’s sick.”
“What? Is she okay? Do we need to take her to the doctor?”
“She’s okay, I think it’s just a stomach bug, so the only thing we can do is let it run its course. I’m not going into work today so you don’t have to worry about watching her.” Wyla’s voice is soft, she sounds exhausted.
Like hell I won’t. “Don’t worry about it, Wy. I’ll still come over. What do you need from the store? Soup? Sprite? Wait, can she have Sprite?”
“You don’t have to do that.” Wyla yawns again.
“Wyla, I’m coming over to help. No doing everything on your own anymore, remember? Tell me what to get or I’ll buy a whole bunch of stuff that she probably can’t have.”
“Jett…” I hear Stevie yell for her through the phone. “Oh, she’s getting sick again. Okay, I’ll send you a list.” Wyla hangs up.
After a few minutes, she sends me a list of stuff to get and that she would leave the door unlocked for me to come in whenever I get there, but I still knock before walking in.
Stevie sits on the couch curled up in blankets with a little trash can in her hands. I set the stuff down on the floor and kneel in front of her.
“Hi, Daddy,” Stevie says pitifully.
“Hey, Little Bee. How are you feeling?”
“Not good, my tummy hurts,” she cries.
The look on her face brings physical pain to my chest. “I know, sweetie. I’m sorry.” I look around but don’t see Wyla anywhere. “Where's your mom?”
“Mommy is in the bathroom, I think she’s sick too,” Stevie sniffles. “I didn’t want her to get sick with me.”
“Oh, it’s okay, sweetie. Your mom’s going to be alright, I’m going to go check on her real quick. Are you feeling okay right now?” Stevie nods her head and snuggles back on her pillow, still clutching the little trash can. “Okay, yell for me if you start to feel sick.”
She nods again. Poppy rests at the side of the couch staring up at Stevie. I give the dog a look almost wishing she could understand my wish to bark if Stevie starts to get sick again.
I knock on the bathroom door, but it’s drowned out by the sound of her throwing up. I open the door and find her bent over the toilet. I kneel beside her, pulling back her hair as she goes again.
“You’re okay, baby.” I rub her back as she gets the last of it out.
“Sorry.” Wyla sits up and flushes. “You didn’t have to come in here.”
“It’s okay, Wy. How long have you been sick for?”
“I just started… Jett, you better go, I don’t want you catching this either.”
“Not a chance. Come on, let’s get you to bed.” I help her stand, she’s wearing some green plaid pajama pants, a black tank top, and very much isn’t wearing a bra…Focus, you dick, she’s sick, stop staring at her boobs.
“I can’t go to bed, what about Stevie?”
“I’ll take care of her. You need to get some rest.” Wyla opens her mouth to protest so I hold up a hand stopping her. “Wy, baby, you’re sick. You need to get some sleep. I’ll stay with Stevie.”
Wyla debates it for a moment, but relents. “Okay, maybe try small sips of Pedialyte, I don’t want her getting dehydrated. If she can hold that down after an hour, she can maybe do a saltine cracker if she’s up for it. Just don’t let her—”
“I promise I won’t let her overdo it. Come on. Bed.” I walk her to her bed and pull the covers over her. “I’ll be out there if you need me. Get some sleep.” I brush her hair out of her face and my hand hesitates for a moment, even sick she’s beautiful.
“Thank you.” Wyla smiles softly and closes her eyes.
Back in the living room, neither Stevie nor Poppy have moved. “You want to try something to drink?”
“Yes, please.” Stevie sits up and sets down her little trash can. “Is Mommy okay?”
