Chapter 22

Milo

 

 

“I’m fine,” I grumbled again.

“You don’t have to sit with her. She’ll tell you if she needs you,” Liza said, for what had to be the tenth time.

“It’s okay. I have nowhere else I need to be. We’re going to read the new Curious George book, aren’t we, sweetie?” I cooed to Ainsley as she was sitting beside me, sucking on one of the frozen Pedialyte popsicles.

She nodded her head. “Yes, Daddy.”

Liza had been hovering—telling me I’d been hovering—for the past thirty minutes. I wasn’t going to leave the girl. I could tell she felt miserable and I wanted to be there. I wanted her to know I wasn’t going anywhere. When she had called me Daddy my heart had grown so big I thought it would explode. She knew exactly what to say to wrap me around her little finger, and I didn’t care one bit.

“Fine, I’ll go find some chores to do,” Liza mumbled, turning and leaving us alone in the living room.

Ainsley crawled up in my lap and settled back against my chest. I opened the new book and began to read.

“Daddy,” she groaned, seconds before turning into something I remembered from the exorcist.

I jumped off the couch, holding her body in front of me as she spewed vomit.

“Liza!” I shouted, but she had already appeared and dashed down the hall and back with a towel in the time it took me to get her name out.

I held the girl in front of me and when the volcano of vomit slowed I put her on the ground and rubbed her back while Liza wiped her mouth with the towel.

“You’re okay. It’s alright,” I said, gently rubbing her back. “Do you feel better?”

Liza stood up and looked at the mess spread out over the carpet.

“I hope she does,” she mumbled, shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, it came out of nowhere. One second she was fine and the next,” I shook my head in disbelief, still traumatized. “It was like Mount Vesuvius. I didn’t even have time to go for the trash can.”

Liza giggled. “Don’t worry about it. This isn’t the first time this has happened. It’s actually why I have a carpet shampooer. Unfortunately, I don’t know if the Pedialyte vomit stains, so I need to shampoo this rug now before it has a chance to set in. Are you okay watching her while I take care of this mess?”

I nodded my head, not sure at all.

“Actually, let me go clean her up first. She’s got it all over herself—and maybe a little on your shoes,” she said, pointing down at my feet.

I smiled, “Yep.”

“You’re smiling? About puke on your shoes?”

“Yep. This is another first for me. I can’t wait until she’s older and I can tell her about the time she threw up on my shoes—right in front of her boyfriend.”

Liza started laughing. “Glad you’re taking it so well. I don’t think I ever smiled after she vomited on me. Let’s go get changed, honey,” she said, taking Ainsley by the hand and deftly avoiding stepping in the mess.

Walking into the kitchen, I used a few paper towels to clean off my shoes. Then, grabbing the roll and the trash can, I headed for the living room. I stared down at the mess and realized I would rather wear gloves. Back in the kitchen, I started opening cupboards but didn’t find anything I could use. I headed for the small linen closet in the hall I remembered seeing and struck gold. All the cleaning supplies I could need were right there in front of me.

I grabbed a few things and headed back out, ready to do battle. I had managed to get most of the puke up and was reading the instructions on the carpet shampooer when Liza came back out.

“What are you doing?” she asked in surprise.

I shrugged, “I figured it’s probably my turn to clean up after our daughter.”

She smiled, and I could see how tired she was. “Wow, thanks. If you got this handled, I’m going to give her a quick bath then, if that’s okay?”

“Yes, I got this. You take care of her, and I’ll take care of this. Anything special I need to know about this thing?” I asked, gesturing to the machine.

She gave me a quick rundown, and I felt confident I could do the rest on my own. I got right to work and was very proud of myself for a job well done. That little machine was a miracle worker, and I couldn’t even tell where the stain had been. I made a mental note to get one of these for my house, whenever I found one.

I put all the cleaning stuff away, took the trash out and had just finished tidying up the living room when Liza came back out. She had showered as well. The thought of her naked in the shower only moments ago sent heat racing through my body. She was wearing a pair of black tights and a long, loose t-shirt that covered her butt.

“Where’s Ainsley?” I asked.

“I put her to bed. The hot bath really helped relax her, and some sleep will do her some good,” she said tiredly, heading to the kitchen.

I picked up the washcloths and towels that were in a pile at the end of the couch and headed towards the washer and dryer I had seen earlier. I started a small load of laundry and headed back into the living room, only to find Liza standing there sipping a glass of wine. She turned and handed me a full glass that she had already poured.

“Thank you, Milo. Really, you didn’t have to clean up, but I appreciate it,” she said, flopping down on the couch.

I took the wine and sat at the other end. “I wanted to do it. Look, I want to help, even when it is the gross stuff. I don’t mind. I can make your life a little easier, Liza. I’m here to share in the responsibility of raising a child, even when she blows up like a violent little volcano.”

She giggled, “Amazing, isn’t it? She’s little, but that child can really puke.”

“Yeah, she can.”

“I hope wine is okay. I’m guessing you’re more of a beer guy, but I don’t have any.”

“Wine is fine. My tastes have become a bit broader and more refined over the years, but I still do love an ice-cold beer,” I grinned.

She leaned her head back against the couch and took a long deep breath before releasing it. “It’s going to be a long night.”

“Why?”

“These stomach bugs tend to last about twenty-four hours. She was fine when I took her to school this morning, so that means we’ve got still have another twelve to fifteen hours or so to go,” she explained.

“Oh, poor thing. I don’t like seeing her feel so miserable,” I muttered.

“Me either. It’s sad, but she’s a trooper.”

“She gets that from me,” I said, with pride.

Liza guffawed and finished her wine. “I’m going to agree with you there. She also has a stubborn streak a mile wide. I blame you for that. You and that red hair.”

I laughed, then stood and took her empty glass from her. “Want more?”

She looked at me carefully, and I thought she would say no, but then she gave a brief nod of her head. “Sure. Thank you.”

I refilled her glass and delivered it to her. She looked so pretty, all fresh and natural. I wondered how she would take it if I leaned over and kissed her. I didn’t want to press my luck. I had gotten away with the kiss last time only because Ainsley had requested it.

“Does she get sick a lot?” I asked. “I mean, you seem to be pretty experienced in this area?”

“Not a lot. This is the second bout with a stomach bug since she started preschool, though. I expected it, but I hope her immune system can fend off whatever else comes her way. This is not my favorite thing about parenting,” she joked.

“Good. I’m glad she’s healthy. Has she ever been really sick? Broken a bone? Anything serious?”

I felt like I knew nothing about my little girl, and I wanted to know everything. Four years was a lot of time for things to happen. I wanted to know it all, even mundane things that were in the past. If she fell off a swing or had a friend, I wanted to know.

Liza took a sip of her wine and looked thoughtful. “No. She’s never been truly ill. She had a few ear infections when she was little, but nothing major. She’s never broken a bone, had stitches or been in the hospital. She’s a healthy little girl. Thank God. I can’t imagine if she weren’t. I don’t think I could handle it.”

“Me either. I won’t let that happen,” I said as if I had any real control over the situation.

That drew another laugh from her. “Good luck with that.”

“You look tired,” I pointed out.

She nodded her head. “I am.”

“Go to bed.”

“I’m fine. I need to stay up in case she gets sick again,” she said, covering her mouth as she yawned.

“I can listen for her,” I argued.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” she protested.

I sat back and drank my wine, listening to the TV drone on. The lack of conversation wasn’t awkward at all. At some point, I looked over and saw she had fallen asleep. I stood, gently removed the wine glass from her fingers and put both glasses in the kitchen.

“Liza, come on, it’s time for bed,” I whispered.

Her eyes fluttered, “What?”

“You fell asleep on the couch. Ainsley hasn’t made a peep. Come on,” I said, tugging on her arm, “Go on to bed and get some rest.”

She yawned again. I helped her stand up and escorted her down the hall. I hoped she wasn’t getting sick as well. I remembered where her bedroom was and pushed open the door. She walked to the bed, but I managed to get there first and pull back the blankets. Once she crawled in, I covered her up and kissed her forehead.

“Thanks,” she murmured, already falling back to sleep.

“Sure.”

Leaving her room, I went in to check on Ainsley. She was sound asleep as well. I felt her head with my hand and then did the fingers on her cheeks as Liza had shown me. Ainsley felt about the same temperature as she had earlier. I kissed her on the forehead, tucked the blanket around her and headed out to the living room. After rinsing out the wine glasses and putting away the crackers and juice cup, I decided I was going to sleep over.

I would be there to help Liza, just in case she ended up coming down with the virus as well. I found a blanket in the linen closet, fluffed up a couple of pillows on the couch and made myself comfortable. 

As I lay there in the darkness, I thought about these two girls down the hall. I liked being there to take care of them if they should they need me. It made me feel useful, needed. It was a new experience. No one had ever needed me in my life. Football didn’t count. This was far more important than winning a game. This is what life was about and, surprising as it was, I realized I wanted every bit of it. I wanted a family. This family?