“Babe, please come sit back down.” Sam patted the chair next to her in the waiting room. She had a patronizing smile on her face.Why wasn’t she as freaked out as I was?
“This is bullshit. I just saw a kid walk in with ice wrapped around his thumb. Bella's actually sick and they still haven't called her name.” I shook my head and put my head in my hands, ready to bang it against the wall.
Sam rubbed my back and leaned over to kiss my shoulder.
“Aren’t you cold? You can run home and get another jacket. Doesn’t look like you’re getting this one back anytime soon.” Bella had my jacket wrapped around her like a blanket.
I wiped the hair off Bella’s face. Her forehead was still hot and damp.
“I’m fine,” I told Sam, still looking at Bella. I was still agitated from my altercation with Marc, and the snail’s pace the doctor seemed to be going at didn’t help.
“Not that I don’t love staring at your muscles, but we don’t need you sick, too.”
I wore a sleeveless shirt, and actuallywascold—but I wasn’t going anywhere until a doctor said Bella was all right.
“Why are you so calm? I love you, but you’re getting on my nerves.”
Sam laughed and rubbed my back.
“I’m ninety percent sure this is strep throat. Bella just told me it hurt to swallow. For the past couple of years, she’s gotten it right after Christmas. I’m surprised it took this long; I was hoping maybe she avoided it this year. They’ll swab her throat and give her some antibiotics. She’ll be better in a week or so.”
I shrugged. I was probably overreacting, but seeing Bella sick and Marc completely ignoring her still infuriated me. I wasn’t going to calm down until the doctor looked her over.
“You know,” Sam kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, “kids get sick. Especially when they go to school and share new germs with each other. It’s scary and hard not to panic every time. You’re new at this, but you’ll get used to it.”
I turned my head and gave her a soft peck on the lips. Sam was right, I needed to learn to keep cool in times like this, and not act like a nutcase. I needed to find a way to reel it in.
“I actually love that you’re this worked up. Marc never came with us to the doctor. He was always more annoyed at the inconvenience whenever Bella got sick, as you may have noticed today. Bella never had a real dad who worried about her so much before.”
I looked over at Sam and noticed her eyes were a little watery, it usually didn’t take much to make my girl cry. She rested her head on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. “Do you want to come home with me?”
I laughed and kissed her forehead, before giving her a shrug. “Sorry, I already live with someone.”
Sam giggled. “She must be pretty.”
“No.” I kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “She’sbeautiful.” I took her hand and intertwined our fingers.
“I texted Robyn and let her know what happened with Marc. She wants to talk to you to get the details. Could you give her a call once the doctor calls Bella in? I know you want to see the doctor, too, but I can handle it.” She winked at me, and I laughed. Our roles were reversed for the day. Usually, I was the calm one.
“Isabella Christensen.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Sam handed me her phone before she carried Bella to one of the exam rooms. I strolled outside to tell our lawyer I did the exact opposite of her advice. I felt like I was reporting to the principal’s office for bad behavior.
“Samantha? How’s Bella?”
“Hey, Robyn. It’s Lucas. Sam told me to call you.”
“Oh, hi. Yes, I felt it was better getting all the details straight from you. Tell me what happened.”
I took a deep breath and prayed I hadn’t made this already horrendous situation we were in even worse.
“Not much to tell. I was sitting in a coffee shop and noticed Marc flirting with one of the girls who worked there. Bella had her head down on a table like she was sleeping, and he had his back to her the entire time. I went over to her and realized she was sick. I told Marc she needed a doctor and he blew me off, so I carried her out and waited for Sam in the car. I also . . . had some words with Marc.”
“What words?”
I cringed and put my hand to my forehead. “I called him an asshole and told him he was fucking stupid.”
I braced myself for her reaction and was surprised to hear her laugh.
