Chapter Twenty-five

EMILY

Logan bringing over the dogs on Monday did a lot to lift Juniper’s spirits. I’d hoped that would be the worst of her strep. Then Tuesday came, and things grew worse. It was harder to control her fever, and her coughing sounded awful.

Now it was Wednesday morning, and though my little sweet pea managed to get some sleep, it seemed like she was having trouble breathing. She’d also started vomiting.

I’d already called work to take rest of the week off, which thankfully, my boss had no problem with. That allowed me to devote all my time to taking care of my sick little girl.

“Mama,” Juniper said from her spot on the couch, sweat covering her face. “I don’t feel good.” She followed with a hacking cough that made her entire little body shake.

I bit my lip, trying to think about what I should do. She was on antibiotics, but they didn’t seem to be helping much if at all.

She coughed again, and I sucked in a deep breath.

No more hesitation. I wouldn’t let my baby end up worse because I was too worried about some doctor thinking I was overreacting. I was tired of seeing her suffer.

“We’re going to the hospital, sweet pea. The doctors will make sure you’re all better.”

 

* * *

 

“Severe pneumonia, Mama,” I said over the phone. “She’s going to need to stay overnight, maybe a couple days. They have to try out some antibiotics to make sure they can clear the infection causing the pneumonia.”

Juniper slept in the hospital bed in front of me, an IV hooked up to her arm. I could almost not bear to look at my daughter in such a state. The worst thing for any parent is to see their child suffering and not be able to do anything about it. I took some small solace in realizing that at least I’d not made her suffer through another day at home before taking her to the hospital.

“Oh, my poor little Juniper,” Mama said. “And she wasn’t sick on Sunday?”

“No, Mama. Why?”

Mama grumbled something under her breath. “I just wonder if that no-good ex-husband of yours let her get sick. If he did, I’ll never forgive him.”

“I wouldn’t forgive him, either, if that were the case, but I have to be fair. I doubt he let her. Maybe he didn’t pay a lot of attention, but the more I think about it, it probably wasn’t his fault. Like I said. Have to be fair.”

“Fair? You don’t have to be fair to that man.”

“We’re all sinners, Mama.”

She scoffed. “Well, he’s a sinner and a cheater. I still don’t understand why you didn’t destroy him during your divorce.”

“I wanted it over quickly.”

“Providing that evidence you had of the cheating and the drugs would have made it quick.”

“And I also had to think of Juniper.”

Mama scoffed. “Now look at her.”

I sighed. “Look, Lionel’s many things, and a bastard, but I doubt he’d let Juniper get sick and not mention it. So, I can’t be mad at him for that. She didn’t say anything, and I didn’t notice anything either.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say, dear. Sometimes you take Christian charity too far.”

The comment made me laugh. I’d spent a lot of time yelling at Lionel and thinking bad things about him. The last thing I thought anyone would ever say was that I was too charitable toward him.

I had other things to worry about anyway. Lionel being a cheating son of a bitch in the past didn’t mean anything right then and there with my daughter in a hospital bed.

“Mama, I need a favor.”

“Anything I can do, Emily, just let me know.”

I furrowed my brow, trying to remember the last time Mama had actually been to my house instead of the opposite. “You still have my spare house key, right?”

“Yes, dear.”

I let out a sigh of relief. That made things much easier. “Please go to my house and pick up a bucket of LEGOs for Juniper to play with and her favorite blanket. It’s the one that’s on the couch right now.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll head over there right away.”

“Thanks, Mama. I really appreciate this.”

“Oh, Emily. That’s what family is for.”

“I just didn’t know if you would be comfortable in a hospital again.”

“Your father is in Heaven now, and the doctors did everything they could. I miss him, but don’t go thinking this is the same thing.” A few beats of silence passed. “It’ll be all right, Emily. She’s in the hospital, and the doctors will make sure she gets better. She’s a young girl, and she’s strong. You overthink things. You always have.”

“I know, Mama. I know. I… no. You’re right. Thank you, Mama.”

“You’re welcome.” She hung up, and I glanced back over at Juniper. At least she was getting the rest she needed for now. Mama was right, of course. She was in a great children’s hospital, surrounded by trained doctors and nurses. They’d make sure she’d get better.

I was just panicking because I’d never dealt with her being sick like this. It had to happen at some point. I understood that in my head, but my heart didn’t seem to want to agree.

I shivered for a moment. Juniper had gotten sick before but had never ended up in the hospital. As much as I didn’t want to call Lionel, her father needed to know. She’d probably want to see him if she had to stay for more than a day.

I took one last look at the sleeping Juniper before stepping into the hallway and closing the door. I dialed and waited. The phone rang and rang. I prayed it’d go to voicemail. He needed to get the message, but that didn’t mean I looked forward to talking to him. I doubted I could get off the phone without saying something nasty.

I’d thought it was about to go to voicemail when Lionel finally picked up.

“What?” he said, irritation in his voice. I could hear a lot of background noise like he was at a busy restaurant or party or something. I guess I’d interrupted him.

“Well, hello to you too.”

“I’m waiting for my next plane in Houston. I don’t exactly have time to chat, Emily.” His voice was so snotty, I imagined he must have rolled his eyes when he started speaking. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow? Or better yet, until I get back from my trip?”

I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Yes, he was being a bit of ass, but he still deserved to know.

“No, it can’t. I wanted to call and let you know Juniper’s sick.”

“That’s what you’re calling me about?” Lionel grunted. “You already told me about this. Kids get sick, and then they get better. You can’t call me every time she sneezes. Don’t be so overprotective, Emily. She’ll grow up with issues if you don’t learn to let go.”

The sad part about having a fancy smartphone was that you didn’t have a receiver you could slam down in a fit of anger. Instead, I imagined what it’d be like to bop Lionel over the head with my phone. It was kind of satisfying, but not enough.

“This isn’t a cold, Lionel,” I said. “She’s in the hospital. She’s got pneumonia. It’s serious.”

“So? What do you want me to do about it? I’m not a doctor.”

I groaned. Did he care about his own daughter? He wasn’t acting like it.

“I think you should consider coming back,” I said. “In case she wants to see you.”

He burst out laughing, which was unbearably loud over the phone. “Come back, seriously? Didn’t you hear me? I already left Tennessee. I’m in Houston.”

“Yes, I heard you, but your daughter is in the hospital.” Despite trying to control my temper, my voice grew louder. “This is the first time she’s been in the hospital since being born, for crying out loud. So, stop acting like I’m overreacting to something that happens all the time.”

“Oh, I see how it is. You get to run off to Japan with Logan Hawkins, but the minute Juniper gets a little sick, I have to cancel my vacation and come running back, disappointing my girlfriend.”

“She wasn’t sick when I left, and I would have never left if she had been. You know that.”

Lionel snorted. “Like you would have come back anyway.”

“How dare you,” I said through gritted teeth. “If Juniper got sick when I was in Japan, I would have come home on the first flight I could. You’re not even outside the country yet. I’m sure you can get a refund, and if your girlfriend cares about you or Juniper at all, I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“That’s not fair, and it’s easy to say when you don’t have to face that choice.” Lionel chuckled. “You know what your problem is, Emily?”

“That I married a good-for-nothing son of a bitch who cheated on me?”

“No. It’s that you’re selfish.”

“What did you say?” My fingers tightened around my phone until they ached.

I could hear the sneering in his voice and only regretted there was no way to slap him over the phone. Someone needed to make an app for that. Maybe I’d ask Logan to fund it.

“I said you’re selfish,” Lionel said. “I’m sure Logan will figure that out soon enough, and then he’ll get smart like I did and go looking for someone else to sleep with who isn’t so selfish.”

“I divorced you, Lionel, not the other way around, and I went out of my way not to destroy you, which I’m regretting with each passing day.”

“Whatever.”

I took several deep breaths. “Besides, I’m…not with Logan. He’s just a friend.”

“A friend you go on overseas trips with. Without your daughter? Give me a break.”

I reconsidered smashing my phone on the ground. “He wanted Juniper to come. The timing didn’t work out.”

“Well now. That’s mighty convenient for you now, isn’t it?”

I ground my teeth. “Will you not be a bastard for one minute?”

Lionel snickered. “You see, all you ever think about is how things affect you. Even during our marriage, you never understood my needs. It’s why I had to stray.”

“Screw you, Lionel. Besides, this isn’t about you and me. It’s about your daughter.”

He let out a short groan. “I have to show my new girlfriend a good time. I promised her, and a man’s got to keep his promises. Just because Juniper’s a little sick doesn’t mean I need to cancel my trip. Pneumonia? Big deal. It’s not 1918. She’ll survive. It’s not like it makes a difference if I come and visit her. She’ll get better either way.”

“I can’t believe you. I called you to let you know your daughter is in the hospital, but you’re more concerned about screwing some twenty-year-old on a trip. Why do you even care? It’s not like you’ll be together with her in a month.”

“She’s twenty-one, by the way, not twenty.” Lionel clucked his tongue. “And remove that log from your eye, Emily. Like you didn’t sleep with Logan Hawkins on your trip.”

My pulse thundered in my ears. “Shut your damn mouth. I’ve hated you for a while, but I always at least thought you gave a damn about your daughter. Go on your trip, and if your daughter asks for you, I’m going to make it clear where you are, you damned piece of garbage bastard. I hope they lose your luggage, and your new girlfriend gives you a disease right before your house burns down.”

“Now, you listen to me—”

I ended the call and dropped the phone into my purse. Leaning against the wall, I tried to calm down. My heart thundered, and my breathing remained ragged.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I willed my tears not to fall.

Someone cleared their throat, and I jumped to the side, startled.

“Sorry to scare you,” said a familiar voice.

Logan stood before me, a colorful bouquet of flowers in a glass vase in hand. “Also, remind me to never make you mad.”

I shook my head and then looked away. “I-I was calling Lionel, and I was surprised by some of his rude attitude.”

Logan shrugged and shot me a smile. “I’m not exactly his biggest fan.” He spread his arms out for a hug.

I rushed into his arms, and he wrapped them around me. The familiar warmth of his chest calmed me, reminding me that not all men were like Lionel. He rubbed my back. I only barely held back my tears.

“Am I stupid for being scared?” I whispered into his chest.

“You’re her mother. It’d be strange if you weren’t scared.”

“She’s never been in the hospital before, and she’s so young.” I exhaled onto his chest as he continued to rub my back. “She’s everything to me. I’d give my life for her.”

“I know, Emily. I know. I’ll talk with the doctors. If there’s anything they need, equipment, medicine, specialists, I’ll make sure they get it, but this hospital does have a good reputation.”

“I know, I know.” I sighed. “And thank you, both for your offer and for being here. Mama’s coming soon, but it’s hard to be alone when my little sweet pea is so sick.”

Logan nodded. “I’m here now. We’ll go in together and wait for your mother.”

He pulled out of the hug and then turned and took my hand. “I’m here for you and Juniper. Always remember that.”

I managed a smile as he opened the door, and we stepped inside.