I alternated between watching television in the living room and checking on Carmen until there was a knock at the door. I turned the alarm off and looked through the hole in the door to see that it was Mom before opening it, smiling at her. “Thanks so much.”
“It’s nothing. I’m retired and you know I love to cook. I made some brownies for when she feels better too.” Mom walked to the kitchen, looking around as I closed and locked the door.
I went into the kitchen and poured her some coffee as she pulled a stockpot out of her bag, followed by a large Tupperware container. “Are you tired, sweetie? Want me to take over for a while so you can nap?”
I yawned and smiled at her. “I’d love that. I was up and down all night, and I am too nervous to sleep too deeply when I’m alone with her.”
“I understand,” she replied as she gave me a hug. “I remember when you were sick and your dad would walk in after work, take one look at me, and send me to bed. Everything will be okay for a couple of hours.”
I thanked her and went upstairs, peeking at Carmen before I went to my room and dropped into my bed. I wasn’t a parent, but I loved Carmen, and I was worried about her. It was hard to drift off to sleep for a little while, but I remembered how safe I was as a kid and smiled. Mom treated her like a granddaughter, so Carmen was in good hands.
When I woke up a couple of hours later, I stretched and got in a quick shower before pulling on some leggings with a sweatshirt. I walked downstairs and found Carmen on the couch, watching a movie as she snuggled under a blanket. “Feeling better?” I asked as she looked at me with sleepy eyes.
“Nana Brooke gave me some soup and juice when she brought me downstairs. I feel a lot better, but I want to sleep some more,” Carmen told me as she smiled weakly. I loved that she called Mom that, especially since both sets of grandparents lived in other states and didn’t see her on a regular basis. I went over to kiss her forehead before I went to find Mom in the kitchen, smiling at her.
“Thanks, Mom. How was she?” I asked as she looked away from a book that she was reading at the table.
“I got some soup into her and a bit of juice, so I think she’ll perk up. Nick called your phone while you were sleeping, so I answered and brought him up to date. He sounded so worried.” She smiled in a way that I recognized as being affectionate. “He’s a good Daddy.”
“He is,” I replied as I walked over to the table and sat down. My stomach growled, and Mom grinned. “Is there any soup left?”
Mom got me some and poured some more coffee before she sat down again. I ate it slowly, enjoying a brownie when I was done as we talked about Carmen. Mom stayed for the day, enjoying a walk on the beach for a break as I checked Carmen to find that her temperature was returning to normal.
I was surprised to hear a key in the door in the late afternoon, and we both looked up to see Nick walking into the house. “You’re not due back until tomorrow,” I said as he set his luggage down and glanced at Carmen curled up on the sofa.
“I was worried about her,” he told me as he walked right over and knelt to feel her forehead. “I can’t work when she’s sick.” For a moment, I wondered if he didn’t trust me and looked down at the floor.
Mom offered him some soup as he looked past me to see her, blinking. “I came over to bring the soup and thought I’d stay and help.”
“That was sweet of you,” Nick said as he looked into my face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I replied quickly as he searched my face. “Her soup is so good. You should have some if you’re hungry.”
He walked past me into the kitchen as I took a deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent. I was happier that he was home than I cared to admit, and it wasn’t just because Carmen was sick. Mom went home after he ate, telling us to call her if we needed anything.
Nick said that he was going to take a shower and asked me to keep an eye on Carmen, to which I nodded. I glanced at the little girl and walked over to feel her skin, smiling when she felt like she was returning to normal. I checked her temperature even though Nick already did, knowing that she might be going to school tomorrow.
Once Carmen was bathed and tucked in, I noticed Nick headed into the basement dressed for a workout. I gave him a few moments, fighting the urge to go and watch him just for the simple fact that I missed him so much. I had listened for a bit before I walked down the stairs and around the corner where I could look in to see him running on the treadmill, his chest glistening as he moved steadily. I remembered what he’d said over the phone and wondered why he was happy here now, apart from having a nanny to help him. I stared at him for a long moment before he turned his head, making me hide against the wall so that he wouldn’t catch me.