Page 54 of No Greater Love
I stood up slowly, my legs feeling unsteady. I needed to find Sophia. I needed to call Dr. Lee. I needed to... I needed to go back to Room 8 and somehow explain to Jessica that her daughter's infection wasn't what she thought it was.
My hand flew to my mouth, bile rising. I swallowed hard, fighting it down.
Sophia. I needed Sophia.
I found Sophia at the charge desk, reviewing staffing assignments for the next shift.
"Sophia," I said quietly. "I need to talk to you.Now. It's about Room 8."
She looked up, immediately reading something in my expression. "What's wrong?"
"Lab just called with critical results. The fifteen-month-old with UTI symptoms." I lowered my voice. "She's positive for gonorrhea."
Sophia's face went perfectly still.
"Have you told the mother yet?"
"No, I... I just got the call."
"Okay." Sophia stood up, her expression shifting into the controlled competence I'd seen her use during mass casualty events. "Let's get Dr. Lee involved. I'll page him now. And we'll need to call Child Protective Services."
My stomach clenched tighter. "The mother... she's going to ask me how this happened."
"I know." Sophia's voice was gentle but firm. "We'll handle it together. But first, let's make sure we have all the facts straight."
Dr. Lee arrived within minutes, his usual easy demeanor replaced by professional gravity when Sophia quietly explained the situation. Together, the three of us approached Room 8.
Jessica looked up hopefully when we entered. Mia was sleeping in her arms, finally peaceful after the Tylenol had brought her fever down.
"How are the results?" Jessica asked. "Is it what we thought?"
I glanced at Sophia, who gave me an almost imperceptible nod.
"Jessica," I said, pulling up a chair so I could sit at eye level with her. "The lab results showed that Mia does have an infection, but it's not the typical UTI we were expecting."
"What do you mean?" Jessica shifted Mia slightly, protective instincts already kicking in.
"The culture came back positive for an infection called gonorrhea," Dr. Lee said gently. "I know that's probably not a word you were expecting to hear in relation to your daughter."
Jessica blinked, confusion clear on her face. "Gonorrhea? But that's... how could Mia have that?"
I watched her mind work through the implications, saw the exact moment when the pieces started to fall into place… and then the desperate scramble to find another explanation.
"Oh!" Jessica's face brightened with sudden understanding. "Oh, I bet I know what happened. I had that same infection recently. My boyfriend, he..." Her cheeks flushed. "He cheated on me. We worked things out, but before I knew I was infected, I took a bath with Mia. She loves playing in the tub with me. That has to be how she got it, right?"
The hope in her voice was heartbreaking.
"Jessica," Sophia said softly, "I understand why you'd think that, but unfortunately, that's not how this type of infection spreads. Gonorrhea can only be transmitted through direct sexual contact. It can't be passed through bath water or casual contact."
"But then how...?" Jessica's voice trailed off, her eyes growing wide with dawning horror.
"We need to ask you some questions," Dr. Lee said gently. "Has your boyfriend ever been alone with Mia? Even for short periods?"
"I... yes, but..." Jessica's voice became smaller. "He babysits her sometimes when I work late shifts. He's good with her. She likes him. She never seemed scared or..."
The words died in her throat as the full implications hit her. The color drained from her face.
"No," she whispered, almost inaudibly. "No, that's not... he wouldn't... he loves her. He tells me how much he loves her all the time."
