I usher them back to my office and gesture for Maxwell to set his Little one down on the couch. Victoria whimpers softly as he lays her down, her nose scrunching in her sleep.
Opening the small duffel bag I keep ready for house calls, I pull out a digital thermometer and quickly scan her forehead, frowning at the results on the display.
“How long has she been running a fever?”
“Since last night.” Worry crinkles Maxwell’s brow as he stares down at his sleeping babygirl. “I gave her a cool bath, acetaminophen, did all the things the internet said to try and break it, but nothing seems to be working.”
“Any other symptoms besides the fever?”
“Not really. It all sort of happened at once. She was fine, and then she started crying and saying her throat hurt and when I picked her up she was on fire.”
“I see. Can you sit her up for me? You can hold her on your lap if you need to. I just want to check her throat.”
“Of course.”
While he gets himself situated on the couch with Victoria, I pull on a fresh pair of gloves and grab a sterile tongue depressor from the jar in my bag. Gripping Victoria’s face gently in one hand, I open her mouth and peer inside.
“Just as I thought. Your Little girl has herself a case of strep throat.”
“How the hell did that happen?”
Stripping off my gloves to dispose of in the portable medical waste container I keep in my go-bag, I shrug. “Most likely, from someone who’s been off island recently. Even if they didn’t get sick, they could still be a carrier. I’ll write her a prescription for an antibiotic and some steroids. Make sure she takes all of them, even after she starts to feel better. She should be fine in a day or so, but for now she just needs plenty of rest and liquids.”
With that worried crinkle still between his brows, Maxwell scoops Victoria up, holding her close as he sways gently from side to side. “You’re sure she’ll be all right? You don’t need to run any tests?”
“I could, but it would require us dragging both our babygirls down to my office. But considering she’s running a fever and her throat is covered in white spots, I feel very confident in my diagnosis.”
“All right. You know I trust you, I’m just worried.”
“I understand. It’s the first time she’s been truly sick since she came to the island. It’s natural to worry. And it’s your job as her Daddy.”
“It is.” Curiosity fills his dark gaze, chasing away some of the worry as he studies me. “So… you and Camilla. How did that happen?”
“She gave me an opportunity. I took it.”
“Uh-huh.” The bland look Maxwell gives me says that he knows exactly what kind of “opportunity” I took advantage of. “And how does she feel about the change in your relationship?”
My lips twitch as I think of how much of a fuss my Little girl put up this morning. “She’s coming around to the idea.”
“I see. So is she still working for you?”
“Unfortunately, no. I’ll be in the market for a new nurse, if you wouldn’t mind helping to facilitate that search.”
“Of course. And if you’d like, I can speak with Miss Evelyn and see if she could accommodate another Little in her program.”
Send Camilla to school? Without me?
Just the thought of not spending my days with her twists my gut with an emotion I can’t quite name. But it would be good for her to spend time with the other Littles, and there will be days I won’t be able to keep an eye on her myself. It’s the best solution,even if I don’t particularly care for the idea of being separated from her for hours at a time.
“I’d appreciate that.” I force myself to smile for Maxwell, since it was a rather kind offer. “But if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on my Little one and call in that prescription for you.”
“Of course. I can see myself out. I’ll let you know what Miss Evelyn says about adding Camilla to her class.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
After Maxwell leaves, I dispose of my gloves and make sure to thoroughly wash my hands before sending over the prescriptions for Victoria. I also spray down the couch in my office with an antibiotic spray and change my clothes.
No need to take unnecessary risks with my own Little one’s health.
