“I asked you here so I could be really honest with you and tell you it’s not going to happen. I’ve been avoiding the conversation, but I can’t anymore. I have Lucy now, and I have my own demons I am battling. I have too much work to do on myself.” As soon as I say it, I relax, relief flooding my muscles.
“I see,” Melanie mutters, refusing to meet my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Melanie. I am. It’s just?—”
A text from Sophie interrupts me, then quickly, another.
Sophie: Liam, I think Lucy is sick. She’s really warm. I was going to give her a bath but then I realized she definitely has a fever and she has a red rash all over her belly.
Sophie: What do you want me to do? I can give her some Tylenol to lower her fever but I’m not sure about the rash. Does she have a pediatrician I can call?
I tipmy head back in frustration and look at the ceiling, pinching the bridge of my nose. Of course she has a pediatrician. Do I know who it is? Nope. Have I taken her at all in the almost six months Leah has been gone? Nope. I’m barely surviving. It’s a damn good thing I’m not starting a relationship. I quickly type back.
Me: Uh…I’m sure she does have a pediatrician but I don’t know who it is.
Sophie: What? Okay. What about urgent care?
Me: I’m coming home, I’ll be right there.
“We’ve gotto get the check,” I say hurriedly.
Melanie takes a bite of her food and frowns. “I’m not done eating,” she says, even though not five minutes ago she pushed her plate away.
“Lucy is sick.” I raise my arm to get the server’s attention to ask for the bill and some boxes. “I’m sorry.”
“Right. Sure.” Melanie pushes her plate away. “Okay, let’s go then.”
7
SOPHIE
I’m pacing around the upstairs hallway, attempting to soothe Lucy and waiting for Liam to get back. I’m trying to remember, but I think my brother’s wife, Laura, told me once before the twins got rashes with viruses. Maybe that’s what this is. It must be so overwhelming for him to be in this new role. But he has to figure it out. I will help him if he’ll let me.
I hear the front door open and close, and I shout to him that we’re upstairs. He bounds up the stairs and grabs Lucy from me, holding her up so he can look her over. “She’s fine,” he says abruptly, taking me aback.
I look at him as if he has three heads. “Uh, no, Liam, she is not fine. She is sick. It’s probably just a cold or a virus, but she has to go to the doctor,” I say firmly.
I watch Liam carefully as he walks into his room with Lucy in his arms. I wait a moment before following. I’m not sure what to say to him so I don’t set him off. He seems a little edgy, perhaps because his date got cut short. When I walk in, I find him sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Lucy close and stroking the back of her head.
I lean in the doorway and wait for him to notice me.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admits, his voice raspy. “She’s never been sick before.”
I sigh, my empathy for him growing. I walk over and sit down next to him, so close our thighs are touching. “I can help you,” I tell him.
He shakes his head vigorously and scoots over so I can no longer feel the heat coming off his body. “No. You’ve done enough.” It doesn’t sound outright mean, but it sounds like he really doesn’t want my help.
“Maybe we should call her doctor. I’m sure we could look in your sister’s boxes…” I trail off when he stands up and walks out of the room.
I follow him and find him rooting one-handed through Lucy’s pajama drawer while he holds her with the other. “I told you. I don’t know who her doctor is,” he growls. “I will figure it out.”
“Liam, why don’t you let me help you? It’s Cape May, it’s small. How many pediatrician’s offices could there be?” I try to take her back from him, but he turns away, surprising me with his unwillingness to accept my help.
“With all due respect, Sophie, this is my problem. Not yours. It’s 8 p.m. on a Friday night. No pediatrician would be open anyway.” He walks away from me, back into his bedroom, and lays Lucy on the bed to dress her.
“They have doctors on call. Or we can try an urgent care. This qualifies as urgent.” I push harder and right away I realize that’s a mistake.
Liam is visibly frustrated, but I don’t think it’s with me. Not directly anyway. Maybe he’s frustrated with the situation. I’m trying not to take it personally.
