Twenty minutes later, the doctor issitting next to me on the bed, listening to my heart. “Have you had anyshortness of breath, nausea, upset stomach?” he asks.
“A little nausea. I’ve been really tiredand had a couple of dizzy spells, and some general lightheadedness.”
He puts a thermometer in my ear to takemy temperature. “It looks like you have the flu. You’ve got a fever of 101 andyou’re dehydrated. It’s not surprising given what you’ve been through.” I knowthat he’s referring to last weekend when I was kidnapped.
“When the body’s stressed, our immunesystems get low and we become susceptible to infection. If you’re not feelingbetter in the next few days, give me a call. I’ll leave a prescription for anantiviral. Is there a chance you could be pregnant?”
“It’s funny you ask, I don’t think sobut…” I tell the long story that I used to think was funny about the pregnancytest.
“Those tests are about eighty percentaccurate. Let’s take a blood sample, which will also tell us for sure if yourinfection is bacterial or viral.”
“Okay.” Cole sits next to me and Isqueeze his hand, putting my head on his shoulder. While the doctor takes twovials of blood, I tense, biting his shoulder.
“That should do it.” The doctorreassures, placing a Band-Aid in the crook of my arm.
Cole rubs his shoulder. When I sit up, hehas a sly smile on his face. “I didn’t realize you were a biter.”
I blush and turn to the doctor. “ThanksDr. Geist. I’m sorry you had to come all the way here so late at night.”
“It’s no problem at all. Get feelingbetter. I’ll contact you tomorrow afternoon at the latest about the tests. Andif you need an antibiotic.”
“Thank you.”
Cole stands up. “Thanks, again.” He turnsto me. “I’m going to walk Doug out. I’ll be right back.”
I nod and crawl into bed, pulling thecovers up under my chin. There’s a small knock on the door, “Kate, can I comein?”
I sit up, smiling at Laura with relief,glad she’s finally willing to talk to me. “Yeah, sure.”
“Is everything all right? Was that adoctor?”
“Yeah, I’m a little sick. He said it’sthe flu. He took some blood to make sure and to make one hundred percent surethat I’m not, as my grandmother says, ‘knocked up’. Cole has had enough withthe drama, so he called the doctor.”
“I’m really sorry about this morning.”
“Me too. What I said was out of line. Youknow how I feel about you telling me stuff. It’s always when you’re ready totell me.”
“Thank you. I was looking for a way toforget about Ben. I know what Race means to you and Cole. He’s like yourfamily. Like you and me are family.”
I reach over, dragging her into a hug, “Ilove you, Laura. A hundred times more than a fat kid loves cake. A hundredthousand times more than I love cake.”
“I love you too, chick. I can’t breathe,”she laughs. “Get some rest.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Laura passes Cole on the way out,punching him in the arm. “I’m sure you deserve that for one reason or another.”
He flinches at her punch, but thensmiles. “Goodnight, Laura.”
“Night Cole.”
“Here.” Cole holds out a glass of waterand two ibuprofens for me.
“Thanks.” I swallow the pills, taking acouple sips of water. Cole changes his clothes and crawls into bed, wrapping mein his arms, and I curl myself into him. “Promise me things will be bettertomorrow?” I plead.
“How about I promise that no matter whathappens tomorrow, I’ll be here for you. That I love you, and good or bad, Iwill never leave you.”
“Even better,” I yawn, falling asleep.
