Chapter Twenty-One
Maddox
The next morning, after a night of a home doctor visit and staying up with Abby as she turned and twisted each and every way in bed before waking up to puke on the floor, I lay in bed and spent a moment to myself. I glanced at the clock. Nearly 8 in the morning, which meant I had finally put Abby to rest in her bed and fell asleep myself maybe three hours prior. My bed felt bigger for some reason, and as my hands ran down the clean sheets, I couldn’t help but think about Everly. She had run off so quickly after Nick and Abby showed up, and I hadn’t had time to text or call her once. She had gotten home and sent me a quick text wishing Abby well, and then our communication had gone dark.
Was she regretting what happened after dinner?
I checked in on Abby and found her with a slight fever. She was getting better, but I decided to take the day off and take care of her myself. It had been a while since I spent a weekday with her, and a part of me was excited to rewatch “Frozen” and sing along and make her banana pancakes in a smiley-faced shape.
I left her in bed and started on breakfast in the kitchen. The doorbell rang, and for a split moment, I expected to see Everly on the other side. Instead, it was Nick.
“How is she?” His face scrunched up with worry. So, he hadn’t gotten much sleep either, which didn’t surprise me
“Better,” I said with a yawn. “Still sick though. I took the day off. You’re welcome to watch royal princess sisters and a snowman with us all day.”
“Technically, one is a queen,” he said. “And I think I’ll leave before the first showing. Let you go through that torture once and see how you like it.”
I finished breakfast with him beside me.
“Sorry we just sort of rushed over,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare Everly off like that.”
“I think she was just caught off guard,” I said, hoping it was true. “Seeing a sick kid covered in mucus isn’t exactly the way to get someone to like them.”
Nick laughed and left to get Abby ready for breakfast.
“My head hurts,” she said as we sat in the dining room.
“I know, baby. Just eat these and then we’ll go lie down.” I cut her pancakes and fed them to her.
“You don’t feed me like that,” Nick complained and made Abby laugh.
“Uncle Nick, why would Daddy feed you?” she asked.
“Because your uncle is lazy and useless,” I said. Abby giggled as we finished our breakfast.
“Get comfy on the couch, sweetheart. I’ll put on your favorite movie.” I walked to the table for the remote and then to the player to insert the disk.
“Are you watching?” she asked Nick with her doe eyes. I grinned and watched as he struggled to find his words.
“Yeah, I am,” he relented, and we all took our seats on the couch. Abby watched in silence, which was how we knew she wasn’t feeling okay.
Nick left after the first showing and promised to check on Abby later.
“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Abby said, and she followed me into the kitchen as I made her chicken noodle soup. “Are you mad at me?”
“What? What for?” I asked and poured her a bowl. She sat on the kitchen counter and ate.
“Because I’m sick, and because Everly left.” Her little head bowed, and she stared at her hands as she stirred her spoon around her bowl. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“No, honey. I’m not mad at all. I just want you to be better, okay?” I said. She nodded and finished her soup. “I just have to make a quick phone call, okay? And then we’ll watch TV the rest of the day.”
“I’ll be on the couch.” She hopped out of her seat and headed for the living room, where her movie was waiting for a replay.
After a moment of hesitation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Everly.
“Hello?” she answered on the third ring.
“Hey,” I started. “I wanted to apologize for last night. Abby had a fever, and she didn’t mean to scare you away like that.”
“Oh,” Everly said. “No, it’s okay. I just didn’t want to intrude. Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s better. But we’re not in the clear yet, so I’m going to have to cancel for tonight, and I’ll have you come back when she has a clean bill of health.”
“Of course,” she said. “Just let me know when to come back.”
“Thanks, Everly.” I paused, wanting to mention what happened before Nick showed up. “I put money in your account for the week,” I said instead.
“Thanks. I have to get going; my mom is on the other line, and if I don’t answer, she’ll show up at my door in five minutes.” Her voice faded, and a quiet giggle sounded through the phone. “Bye, Maddox. I hope Abby gets better soon.”
“Me too.” I hung up the phone and stared a moment, unsure of what to think.
So, Everly wasn’t going to bring up what happened, either.
I returned to Abby and helped her pick a movie for us to watch. She cuddled against me, and I slipped an arm around her.
“Daddy?” she asked as she turned toward me. The movie began playing, and I tried focusing on both her and the screen.
“Yeah, honey?” I brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her warm forehead.
“Everly’s pretty,” she said almost dreamily. I smiled.
“She is.” I nodded my head and agreed. The movie was a new kids’ movie that had been released recently, and while I’d never admit this to anyone, I enjoyed watching them. Sometimes I found myself watching them when Abby wasn’t even around.
“Do you like her?” Abby asked. She was starting to sound like a broken record, but then I realized she didn’t understand dating.
“Haven’t you asked this before?” I tried paying attention to the movie. The characters were singing a very catchy song, and this would have normally been Abby’s favorite part.
“Do you?” she asked again.
“Of course,” I said.
“Oh.” She grew quiet for a moment. “Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Is Everly my mommy?” she asked it so innocently that it took me a moment to realize what she had said.
“What?” I stammered. “No, honey. Why would you think that?”
“Because she would be a good mommy. I think.” Her little face turned up to mine, and her eyes widened a bit as if she wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure?”
“She’s not your mother,” I said. Abby settled back down, and just as I expected the song captured her attention. But it was useless for me to try and focus on anything else now. All I could do, at that moment, was pray that Abby wouldn’t start asking questions about her real mother. That was the last thing any of us needed.