Page 17 of Heal Me One Night

“Why the hell not?”

It’safter midnight on Saturday. I guess technically that makes it Sunday. I left Dad’s house hours ago, but I’ve still not pulled the trigger. I’m just staring at my phone like it’s a snake about to strike.

I’ve not seen Silas in over a week. He’s texted me every single day without fail. That message he left, offering me everything I want and am afraid to reach out for–it’s haunting me. I roll onto my back and stare up at the ceiling, no closer to a decision than I was before I talked to Dad.

My bedroom door creaks open and the dim light from the hallway spills in. “Mommy?”

Karli sounds wrong. I know my little girl and that tentative sound in her voice is off. “What is it, baby? Did you have a bad dream?”

“Mommy, I don’t feel good.”

I get out of bed and walk over to her. I don’t even have to touch her to feel the heat rolling off her. She’s burning up with fever. “Does your tummy hurt?”

“No. But I’m itchy.”

I hit the light switch and see that she’s covered in hives. To the point that I’m terrified. I don’t care that I’m wearing only sweatpants and a t-shirt or that she’s just wearing a princess nightgown. I hoist her up on my hip, ignoring how bad it makes my leg hurt, and head down the stairs. I shove my feet into a battered pair of sneakers by the door and grab my purse. When I get her strapped into her booster seat, I get behind the wheel and shoot a quick text to Dad, telling him we’re headed to the ER.

I look back in the rearview mirror. Karli is just glassy eyed and lethargic, her skin red and angry. I know Silas is working the ER tonight, but this is not how I envisioned him meeting my kid.

“I want Daddy,” Karli says, then starts to cry.

I close my eyes for a second. I know she wants him. But she’s seven years old, sick as fuck, and there’s no way to break it to her gently that her dad doesn’t want her. “I’ll call him when we get to the hospital, sweetie. Let’s just get you to the doctor first.”

THIRTEEN

Silas

“What do we have?”

Cassie looks up from where she’s checking the intake sheet. “There’s a small child with a high fever they’ve tagged in triage.” She hands me the iPad so I can flip through the information that’s been taken.

Immediately my eyes go to the name. The responsible party is Britt, and sure enough, the patient’s name is Karli. “How high was the last temp?” I cross my arm over my chest, scanning for it.

Cass is a pro though, and she answers before I can find it. “Bordering on 104.”

“Get her back here. We need to get that down.” My heart is pounding in a way it doesn’t normally. Treating people you know is dangerous, but I’m one of two ER doctors on call at this hour, and the other one is tied up with a possible heart attack.

Cassie nods her head. “Taking her to room five?”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting.” I move over to the hand sanitizer, slather my hands, and use my back to open the door.

She raises her eyebrows, but doesn’t say anything. We both know that isn’t protocol, but I can only imagine how scared Britt is. I hurry in and spend what feels like a lifetime waiting for them to arrive. Karli is quietly crying, while Britt is whispering to her. She’s favoring her leg, and I have no doubt she’s in pain. “Sit down.” I tell her, pulling the chair closer to her. Her terrified eyes meet mine, and the relief evident is enough for me to give her a little smirk.

“You’re here.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be fine.” The words are said with a promise I don’t intend to break.

“Hey, Dr. Blake. I think I’d prefer to meet you outside this fuckin’ place once or twice.”

I glance over, seeing Britt’s dad. I don’t remember his name, but I recall the face. He looks like he could fuck you up, and I tend to commit those people to memory. “Agreed.” I chuckle, but then I turn my attention directly to the little girl in Britt’s arms.

“Karli, this is Dr. Blake. He’s a friend.” She makes the introduction, so that I don’t have to.

Cloudy eyes so much like her mother’s look up at me. “I don’t feel good.” She sniffles. “My body hurts, and I’m itchy.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna fix that.” I give her a smile. “Can I take you over here so I can figure out what’s happening?” I point to the bed.

She checks with Britt by turning wide eyes toward her.