Page 92 of Absolute Certainty
“Love you more. Did you eat? Are you hungry?”
Jay sauntered over to the kitchen sink and washed his hands there. “I’m fine. Thanks, though.”
“Was the final cut of the movie good?” He heard Alex ask.
“Yeah, it was. I think you’ll like it. Sahar did,” he answered.
He dried his hands on the dish towel hanging from the stove and turned to go see Eloise.
“Nice,” Alex declared.
Their mother didn’t say anything, and he was glad for it. Apart from stating that she thought Sahar was sweet after their initial meeting, she hadn’t mentioned the unplanned lunch. A part of him hoped that it meant his feelings for Sahar weren’t obviousthen. But to hell if they were now. Or tomorrow.
He walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs, finding the door to the guest bedroom where Eloise usually slept left ajar. He peeked inside first, then quietly tiptoed in. She was asleep, thankfully. Placing his palm gently on her forehead, he tried to see whether she was still feverish. He found her a little hotter than normal, but she wasn’t burning up.
Jay stood there for a moment, staring, trying to convince himself that she was indeed fine. As he was about to walk out, her eyes fluttered open. She blinked once, twice, three times, trying to orient herself. “Dad?”
Leveling himself with her, he squatted beside her bed. “Yeah, baby. I’m here. Do you need anything?”
“Are we home?” she asked, croaking.
He brushed his fingers gently over her hair. “No, we’re still at grandma’s. But I’m staying here, too, tonight.”
“Okay,” she said, wincing. She tried to swallow. “Can I have some water?”
Jay eyed the glass of water next to her bed, noticing it was empty. “I’ll go get more for you. Is your throat feeling okay?”
“A little scratchy.”
“Does anything else hurt?”
“No,” Eloise replied drowsily.
He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Okay. I’ll be back with your water in a sec.”
Jay beelined back into the kitchen, filled the glass with water from their filtered dispenser, and headed back. His mom and sister had dispersed, likely to their own rooms. Or, maybe at the front porch.
Walking back into Eloise’s room, he found her sitting up. He passed her the water cup, and she took a few small sips before giving it back to him.
He set the glass down and tucked her back underneath the mermaid-themed comforter.
“You’re gonna be here in the morning?” she asked again.
“Yeah, baby. I’ll be right downstairs on the couch.”
“Can you stay in here? Until I fall asleep?”
“Of course.”
He sat on the mustard-yellow velvet armchair in the corner of the room and watched as Eloise dozed off. His stomach was still in knots. When shewas fully asleep, he picked up his phone, remembering to update Sahar.
JAY
I’m home. Ellie seems okay. Thanks again for coming with me today.
She answered almost immediately. It was comforting, helping the knot in his chest slowly uncoil.
SAHAR
