She waved a hand. “It’s a tree supplement thing. The farmers are using it. Totally legal, but we have to know what’s in ourproduct so we can be transparent about it, and it’s Dave’s job to make sure that happens.”
I’d have to ask Josh if he’d heard of it. We used a variety of management methods on our trees, including supplementation when necessary. But he was the science guy. I just did the labor.
She picked up her coffee and took a sip, immediately wincing. She must have finished the cold brew I sent Elijah over with this morning. Before I could offer to warm it up for her, Vincent fussed in my arms.
“I know, buddy,” she cooed. “It’s past lunchtime. Let me get changed, and then you can eat.”
She strode down the hall, using one thumb to tap at her phone screen while she used her other hand to unbutton her blouse.
Damn. It hit me then. The weight of the expectations she was carrying. She was navigating motherhood while kicking ass at her job. She’d mentioned once that her family was unsupportive, and I certainly hadn’t seen them in town to help. That meant she was doing everything but the few things I forced her to let me help with. Because this woman would rather walk through fire than ask for help.
When she returned and took Vincent out of my arms, I held her gaze. “You don’t have to do everything yourself.”
She let out a dry laugh, patting Vincent’s back. “Course I do. That’s the only way it gets done.”
Chapter 15
Evie
My hands shook as I tapped on the name in my contact list.
“Evie?” The low voice washed over me, but it didn’t settle my fears. “Is everything okay?”
“No,” I said, my voice reedy. “Vincent has a fever. He’s burning up and won’t stop crying.”
The phone clicked, and seconds later, he was lightly tapping at the back door, like he’d sprinted from the tent without hesitation.
Vincent wailed as I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Immediately, Jasper took him from my arms and cradled him, making soothing shushing sounds. He was barefoot and wearing shorts and an old T-shirt. His hair was stuck to one side of his head like he’d been sleeping when I called.
Right away, having him here, I felt a bit better.
“Little guy,” Jasper crooned. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling good.”
“What do we do?” I asked, my thoughts spiraling. “Should we take him to the ER?”
“No. Let’s assess him first. See if we can figure out what’s going on.”
My heart thundered in my ears. “What about Dr. Chao?”
“It’s one a.m. The office is closed,” he said, frowning. “But maybe she uses an after-hours answering service.”
“He’s in pain,” I cried. “We’ve got to do something.”
He rubbed circles on Vincent’s back, swaying from side to side. “Take a breath. I’m a paramedic, remember? Let me get my bag from my car.”
Carefully, he transferred our little guy back into my arms. Then he darted out the front door, still barefoot, and returned with his medical kit in a matter of seconds.
First he scanned Vincent’s forehead with his fancy thermometer. “One hundred point one”
My heart sank. My poor baby.
“His temperature would have to be above 100.7 to be considered a fever,” Jasper explained. “So this is a good thing. Let me check his lungs.”
It was comforting, knowing that Vincent’s dad had a decent amount of medical knowledge and was here to help. It was tempting to ask him if he’d consider going to medical school just so he could handle this kind of situation again in the future, but I’d probably sound out of my mind if I did.
He took out a stethoscope and instructed me to turn Vincent around so his back was to my chest. Then he listened to his breathing, the most serious expression I’d ever seen from him on his face.
