Page 47 of Love Me Again

"Mr Hoult?" I hearDoctor Gilescall out to me.

"In here!" I answer and see him pop his head around the door, probablyto checkif we were decent before he enters. "You can get her out now. Can youwrap her upandlay her downonthe bed?" He instructsme,and I nod, turning the water off.

"Would you pass me that towel from under the sink," I request and take it when he hands it to me. I wrap it around Shayla, and we stepout ofthe shower. I scoop her up into my arms, walk her to the bedroom, and gentlylay her downonthe bed. I brush her hair out of her face, andsheopens hereyesand looks at me, still shivering uncontrollably.

"Cole."

"I'm right here," Ianswer,kissing hertemple. "The doctor is here. He's going to examine you. You're going to feel better real soon, okay." I tell her, and she barely nods.

"Shayla. I needto checkyour temperature and have a quick listen to your chest."Doctor Gilesinforms her, and she nods coughing again.

"How long have you had this cough?"

"Last night."She whispers.

"Okay, you're running a remarkablyhigh feverShayla, andyourchest is all congested.Are you feelingany aches and pain? Headache?" Shayla nods.

"Everything hurts." She complains, coughing.

"Is she going to be okay? What's wrong with her?" I question, and he nods.

"She'sgotaviralinfection. It's nothing that won't clear up in a few days. I'll give her some paracetamol through an I.V. That will bringhertemperaturedownquicker, and then you can give it to her orally every four hours. Because she's pregnant, we can't give her medication, so her body will have to fight the virus on its own, and the paracetamol will ease some of her aches and pains." He explains,pulling hereyelids open and checking her pupils. "You'll need to get her out of these wet clothes, and I canputthe driponfor her." He adds, looking atme,and I nod. I watchDr Gilesas he leaves the room so that I can undress her.

I lift Shayla up gently, remove her bra, and toss it aside before taking her skirt off along with her underwear.Shaylahisses whenthecool air hits her damp skin. I dress her in a pair of my boxers and one of my t-shirts. "You can come in Doctor, she's decent," I inform him, and he comes in a second later and proceeds toputthe driponher hand. I look down at her pale face and brush my fingers through her damp hair. "You're going to feel better real soon, sweetheart," I whisper,kissingherforehead.

"She needs plenty of fluids for the next couple of days. If her condition doesn't improve orher temperaturedoesn't drop, you must take hertothe hospitalimmediately." I lookdownat Shayla and nodin response. "The dripshould take about ten minutes. Am I okay to hang around?"

"Of course, thank you so much for coming out so quickly. I was honestlyworried sick somethingwas wrong with her or the baby." I declare uneasily, looking down at her, and he smiles.

"No problem at all. A man's first and most important priority is always his family."Doctor Gilesstates, his smile warm and paternal. "She's fortunate to have a husband who loves her as much as you do."

I stare atDoctor Gilesfor a long moment before I lookat Shayla. Love? Was that love, though? His words had me questioning quite a bit in my head the rest of the night. Oncethe dripwas finished,Dr Gileshanded me the prescription for some tablets for Shayla to take before he left. I sent Gerald out to get themedicine. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving her side for a second.

* * *

I lether sleep for a couple of hours, only waking her up to drink some water. Around ten 'o clock, her phone was ringing in her purse. It was Aimee. "Hey, Aimee," I answer it.

"Cole?" comes her surprised reply. "Shay's with you?"

"Yes, she's with me," I tell her. "She's sick. I brought her to our house, so she's not alone at your place."

"What do you meanshe's sick? What's wrong with her? Is she okay?"

I rubmy forehead, "Doctor saidshe'sgotaviralinfection, he's given her medication, and she's asleep right now."

"Why didn't you call me? I'm coming over."

Ishake myhead. "She'll be out for the rest of the night. I'm keeping an eye on her, don't worry. I'll let you know how she's feeling tomorrow." I reassureher,andshe sighs.

"Okay, call me if you need anything." I nod, lookingoverat Shaylawhen she coughs.

"I will." I hang up and move over to sit on the bed beside her. Itouchherforeheadand frown when I notice she's sweating. I pick up the cold compress and press it againsther forehead. Shayla gasps a little against the coldness of the compress against her warm skin.

"Cole.."Shewhispers, opening her eyes a little to peer up at me.

"I'm right here, sweetheart," I whisper back,brushing my fingers throughher hair as I press the cloth to her neck.

"It's hot."Shegroans,closing hereyesand pushingthecoversoff, but I stop her.

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