After standing and pouring myself a Scotch, I moved to the patio and smoked a cigar before falling asleep in a lounge chair.
Hours later, I woke up with a stiff neck, a raging boner, and my phone vibrating in my pocket.
“Hello.” My voice was ragged and hoarse.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Drew. Did I wake you?”
“Jules.” I sat up straight. “It’s good. I needed to get up and go to the gym anyway,” I said like an idiot, looking at my watch.
It was seven in the morning. I hadn’t slept in like this since I’d moved to Florida. I moved my hand in front of my eyes, shielding my aching head from the sun.
“I felt bad about rushing you off last night, and I didn’t say thank you. Sometimes I forget not everyone is up at this hour.”
“No, I’m always up. I just—”
My phone beeped with call waiting, and I took a quick peek at the screen. The gym. Yep, I told you; if I missed a workout, they’d be worried. I let it go to voice mail.
“Jules, you don’t have to thank me. How is Darla?”
“She’s sleeping. I double-dosed her with ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and that seemed to give her some relief.”
“Can you do that? Double dose?” I ran my hand over my face. I didn’t know shit about kids, but this was my daughter.
“Yeah, it’s how to take a big fever down. I’m hoping it will break and she can go back to school tomorrow, but you never know. She could get a rash or sore throat. I guess I’ll see when she gets up.”
“Why don’t you get some rest while she’s sleeping.” I opened the slider, and the air conditioning slapped me in the face as I walked back inside.
“I have to try and find coverage for work. Molly’s not feeling great now either. I think by tomorrow, they’ll both be better, and she’ll be fine to stay with Molly. I can’t take off all week.”
Bingo. I hated to admit it, but I had my “in” with a sick Darla and Molly.
“I know how much you want to work, and need to. How about I stay with Darla tonight?”
“I don’t know. She hardly knows you. Won’t it be awkward?”
“We’re going to tell her eventually I’m her father, right? Let me do this now, help take care of her. In fact, I can work from home today, and you could even bring her here. Maybe some fresh air later will do her good.”
“Drew, I think it’s too much.”
“Jules, please.” I paced my living room, begging to take care of a sick little girl like it was my last dying wish. And it was.
“Do you even know what you’re doing?”
“You’ll tell me.” I kicked my shoes off and started undressing. Sleeping outside in the humidity had left me funky, and I needed a shower. “I’ll call for groceries too. What should I get? Some broth? Applesauce?”
“And some popsicles.”
“So that’s a yes? What time will you be here?”
“I hope this goes okay. See you at three.”
And like that, she hung up.
At quarter after three, I watched from my upstairs office window as Jules pulled into the driveway.
She looked nothing like that put-together, tight-ass server I saw the first night at the Southern. Her hair whipped around her face as she threw open the driver’s door. With her shirt untucked and no tie in sight, she walked around the car and opened the back passenger door. She leaned in and helped Darla out.
I wanted to keep watching, but decided to go open the front door. I was there as soon as Jules hit the threshold.
