Page 98 of Never Fall Again
He went back downstairs and made a pot of coffee. He could hear his mom’s alto murmurs but couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. Based on the pauses, he assumed Landry answered.
When he did hear something five minutes later, it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He poured another glass of water and took it to the bathroom. He tapped on the door and pushed it open a few inches but didn’t look inside. “I have some water.”
“Thank you.” His mom opened the door farther, and he could see Landry slumped against the wall, pale, wiping her mouth with a washcloth. When she took the glass from his mom, the water sloshed so violently he wasn’t sure she’d be able to get it to her mouth.
“Mom?” He loaded all his concern and fear and frustration into that word. “What’s the verdict?”
“She’s sick, but it’s nothing we can’t fix. I brought a rapid strep test with me, and it’s positive.”
Cal felt simultaneous relief and frustration. Strep was no joke. It was fixable, but it was misery waiting for the meds to kick in.
His mom tossed something into the trash can, then washed her hands. “She’ll need antibiotics, but there’s no point in starting them until we get her nausea under control. I’m going to run to my office and get something for her. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“That sounds great, Mom. But will she be able to keep it down?”
“She will because I’m going to give her a shot. It should settle her stomach and knock her out. Once we get her stomach settled, we’ll be able to get her into bed. She’ll rest so much better there. I’ll call in the antibiotics as soon as Heather opens, and you can pick them up for her.”
That wouldn’t be happening. He’d send Mo.
“Eliza,” Landry whispered.
“I’ve got her.” He tried to give her his most encouraging smile. “I’ll take her to school. She’ll be fine.”
“I can—”
“No.” The word came from Cal and his mom at the same time.
“Landry, you can’t get off the floor. And after Mom’s through with you, you won’t be able to keep your eyes open. You’re going to bed and nowhere else.”
She looked so very small and lost, and when she swallowed, her entire body contorted.
“Mom, what about the pain?”
“I’ll take care of that too.” She patted his hand. “I should be back in the next forty-five minutes.” She ran a finger across Landry’s cheek. “Hang in there, sweet girl.”
At the affectionate remark, something that looked suspiciously like tears sprang into Landry’s eyes, but Cal pretended not to notice.
“Cal, walk me to the door. Landry, don’t even think about getting up.”
Cal obeyed. When they were outside, his mom turned to him. “Her throat is a mess. I’m not sure how she isn’t sobbing in agony. Probably trying to be brave for Eliza. I’m going to give her a shot of nausea medicine, pain medicine, and antibiotics to jumpstart the healing process. Then you’ll need to be sure she gets the rest of the meds throughout the day.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I would do it for anyone, but I especially don’t mind doing it for your girl.”
“She’s not mine, Mom.”
His mother rose on her tiptoes, he bent down, and she kissed him on the cheek. “You don’t have to trust me with the details yet, but don’t lie to me or to yourself.”
“It’s beyond complicated—”
“You thrive on complicated.”
Twenty-Seven
Cal sat with Landry until his mom returned. She was only with Landry for a few minutes and when she came out, she handed him a piece of paper with written instructions for Landry’s care.
“Once the meds kick in and she can keep something down, she has to drink. She won’t want to, but she has to. I’ll call around lunch. If she hasn’t been able to keep any fluids down, we’ll need to start an IV.”