Sitting in Daniel’s bathroom is surreal. He didn’t say that he loved me, but he said he loved my kind of trouble. I’ll take it.
There’s no possible way we could love each other so quickly. I mean, I knew Jay for eight months before I said the magic words. Look what happened.
Trying to get up from the toilet, I almost fall. I’m able to steady myself while holding on to the sink. Moving slowly, I make it back to Lucy’s bed without incident.
Just as I cover myself up, Daniel shows up with my juice. If he didn’t make my heart melt before, he sure does now.
“Sorry it took me so long. Lucy wanted some juice too once she saw me getting some for you.”
“She must be so confused as to what I’m doing here.”
As Daniel begins to tell me how he explained my being here, Lucy walks into the room.
“Daddy? I’m scratchy.”
Poor thing has chicken pox all over. I can’t believe that’s going to be me in a day or two. I can tell that she’s trying not to look at me in her bed but she can’t help it.
Daniel glances at his watch. “It’s time for more calamine lotion. Why don’t you go get back in my bed, and I’ll be in soon.”
Lucy is looking at me out of the corner of her eye. I know she’s curious, so I speak up.
“Lucy, let me see you.”
She looks at her father for permission. He gives her a nod, so she moves to the edge of the bed where I’m lying.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry you’re scratchy.”
I’m not sure what happened, but Lucy bursts into tears. Looking at Daniel, I hope to get a sense of what I said to upset her.
Daniel sits down in the rocking chair and lifts Lucy onto his lap.
“Why are you crying, sweets? Does something hurt?”
I raise up on my elbow so I can see her better. Poor thing is sobbing.
“Lucy, calm down and tell me what’s wrong so I can try to fix it.”
“It’s just…” she begins with a quivering chin. “I got Miss Russell…I got Miss Russell sick. She hates me now.” Lucy looks over at me.
Daniel looks at me as well. With a little smile, he shakes his head behind Lucy.
She’s breaking my heart. Reaching out to her, I ask her to come sit on the bed with me.
Lucy looks a little scared, so I try to ease her mind. I have to lie a little to do it. She’s probably the one who got me sick, but there’s a slight chance it was someone else.
“Lucy, you probably weren’t the one who got me sick, but even if you are, I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. Maybe if I had washed my hands better, I wouldn’t have gotten sick.”
Her little chest is still heaving, but the crying has stopped.
“Really?” she asks.
Daniel looks at me, acknowledging my effort.
Touching the tip of her nose, I try calm her a little more. “Really. In fact, I think I’m feeling a little better already.” At that, Daniel coughs. I guess it’s his way of calling me a liar.
“I want to thank you for letting me use your room tonight. I didn’t want to be sick all alone.”
Lucy crawls up on the bed with me. Daniel tries to intervene, as if he knew what was coming next. “I think we should have a slumber party,” she says with a face full of little red splotches.
“Lucy, I think we need to let Miss Russell sleep tonight. Maybe if you are both feeling up to it tomorrow, you can watch a movie together.”
“Yes, that would be fun Lucy,” I say, hoping she goes for it.
“OK, Daddy, but can we watch the movie in your bed?”
Oh, god. I can’t.
Daniel and I lock eyes. I clear my throat while he tries to stifle a smirk.
“Lucy, Miss Russell probably would be more comfortable on the sofa. You can even get your sleeping bag out and show it to her. But right now you need to go back to bed.”
She definitely has that little girl pout down. Daniel stays strong and gives her the raised eyebrow. It’s a battle of wills at this point. I try to help out without overstepping my bounds.
“Lucy, you do know the quicker you go to sleep, the quicker we can watch that movie tomorrow.”
“OK, I’ll go to bed if I can pick the movie.”
Gosh, this kid drives a hard bargain.
“Deal,” I say as I stick out my hand so we can shake on it.
After giving Daniel a kiss goodnight, she heads back to his room. Lucky girl.
“Thanks for easing her mind,” Daniel says from the chair across the room.
I can barely keep my eyes open at this point, but I had to fight through it for Lucy.
“It breaks my heart that she could think I’d hate her for getting me sick,” I mutter as my eyes close. I feel the bed dip. Certain that Daniel has moved next to me, I allow myself to let go.