Still, once the cab driver dropped me off, I sped home in my car only to find Aurora perched on the couch watching her favorite Disney movie,Sleeping Beauty. I fixed her soup and placed some bread on a small plate, then went and sat beside her as Suri kissed the top of my head.
“Thank you so much,” I whispered.
She smiled down at me. “Not a problem. Same time tomorrow?”
“Nope. I start full-time tomorrow. Can you be here around seven-thirty?”
She nodded. “You know it. I’ll be here. But, if you need me at all tonight—like if she gets worse—don’t hesitate to call.”
I sighed. “I love you so much. Thank you for everything you do.”
She giggled and squeezed my shoulders. “I love you, too. Don’t forget to get some rest yourself tonight. Okay?”
I leaned forward and set Aurora’s soup and bread down on the coffee table. “I’ll get some rest, I promise.”
“Good.”
Aurora stirred next to me. “Mommy?”
I leaned over and kissed her forehead as Suri quietly left. “I’m right here, princess. I’m home.”
She sat up and cuddled close to me. “Is that mine?”
I kissed her warm little forehead as I pulled her into my lap. “Yes, it is. Wanna try some?”
She nodded softly. “Yes, please.”
I fed my poor, tired, snotty little girl a few bites of soup before dipping some bread into the broth. I was happy with the few bites she took, but it worried me when she passed right back out. Something in the pit of my gut told me this was a little bigger than just her allergies, and part of me was prompted to work from home tomorrow so I could get her to a doctor.
Then, as if the heavens heard my whispers of worry, Aurora sat upright as if she’d been struck by lightning before she whimpered.
“Sweetheart, what is it?” I asked.
Aurora gagged. “I don’t feel so good.”
And as I scooped her into my arms, scrambling to get her to the kitchen sink, she projectile vomited all over my clothes. All over the floor. Even all over the counter before I got her over the kitchen sink to catch the last of the remnants.
“Mommy?” she asked through her tears.
I scrambled to find my phone. “It’s okay, honey. I need you to stand here, all right?”
She nodded but continued dry-heaving into the sink as I stripped my clothes off my body. I threw them onto the piles of throw-up that had accumulated from the couch to the kitchen, and I practically threw myself at my purse. I scrambled to get out my phone. I shot Suri a quick text message asking her if Aurora had thrown up at all today. And when Suri called me instead of messaging back, I knew it was bad.
“Suri, just answer the question,” I said.
I heard Suri’s car engine on the other end of the line. “No, she hasn’t thrown up all day. Just the fever. She had an appetite and everything. Is she throwing up now?”
“Mommy!” Aurora cried out through her tears.
I drew in a deep breath. “I need you to get back here. I know this is gonna be gross, but she’s thrown up everywhere. She needs a doctor, and I can’t be in two places at once.”
I heard the squealing of tires before the phone call went blank. I shoved my phone into my purse and rushed to scoop my daughter into my arms as I made my way for the front door. I plucked my robe off the wall next to my coat, wrapped my almost-naked body up, and then slid into my house shoes.
And when Suri burst through the front door, she picked Aurora up into her arms. “Let me get you guys in the car. I’ll clean, then I’ll be right behind you.”
Aurora started gagging. “Mommy, where are we going?”
I palmed my keys. “We have to go to the hospital, honey. Nowhere else is open.”
