And now, he’s a dad and he’s in the NFL and he’s grown up to be this really amazing man and the crush I think everyone—myself included—assumed would fade, only intensified. I still look at Chase like he’s hung the moon, even after all these years. And as he stands in the doorway of my ER giving me a scolding look as he watches two men carry a bigger, more comfortable chair into his daughter’s room, I wonder if that’ll ever go away.
“Summer!” he says with chomped molars when I walk by, and I happily stop at the door. “I said I didn’t need another chair.”
“I think you meanthank you, and with that I’ll sayyou’re welcome.” I smile and walk past him to where CeCe is sitting up on the bed.
“Hey,” I say softly, taking a seat next to her.
She smiles at me just as the night shift doctor comes into the room and introduces himself. I rarely work with him, since I’m on the day shift, but he’s quick and professional, exactly what Chase needs right now. He pulls out his stethoscope and explains to CeCe and Chase that he’ll just take a quick listen to her breathing. I give him space, but stay close by and continue smiling and nodding at her as her sweet brown eyes look to me for assurance. He then takes a look in her ears and I hear him make a humming sound as he does, causing Chase’s head to pop up.
“She has a double ear infection, but this happens with kids, it’s common. It’s what’s causing her fever. Antibiotics will help clear it up,” he tells Chase before he swiftly leaves the room as if he were never there. I nod in the doctor’s direction and stand to type information into her chart.
Chase sighs, still on his feet, probably making a stand against sitting in the more comfortable chair I arranged for him.
Before I walk out, I nod at him to follow me to the doorway.
“Listen, Chase. I get you’re…you. But I’m here to help, I’m trying to help, so let me do that. Believe it or not, I’m very good at my job. Rave reviews from all the kids.” I prop a hand on my hip and the smallest bit of a smile tries to creep up on his face before he quickly looks annoyed again. I get that nobody wants to spend their evening in an ER, but for what it's worth, he’s making record time being in and almost out. “If you would relax for five seconds, you’d see that CeCe is okay. She’s resting, in fact, and I’m going to get your discharge papers and everything settled now. Happy thoughts, Chase.” I tap his forearm lightly, knowing it’ll affect me far more than it annoys him.
“Are you this demanding with all of the parents who bring their kids in?” His arms cross over his chest as he stands in front of me like some kind of bouncer at a club. Although, he doesn’t intimidate me.
I smirk, beginning to take a step back. “Only when they’re being a pain in the ass.”
CeCe sits up when I walk back into the room barely ten minutes later, poor kid still looks exhausted, but at least she’s on her way to feeling better.
I wave at her when I notice that Chase is passed out in the chair I brought him. I should really take a picture to prove to him that I was right and he was wrong.
“Daddy’s tired,” she whispers when I sit down next to her. She stares at him for a moment before looking back at me. For a three-year-old, sometimes I think she’s wise beyond her years. Her daddyistired. But he’d never want her to know that.
“Maybe he just needed a quick nap, but I bet he’s excited to get you home.”
“Daddy,” CeCe says seconds later.
When I look up, Chase’s eyes are open and he stands immediately.
“Wow, really lucky you had that chair, right?” I tease before handing him the discharge paper. “She’s going to be fine, Chase. You can take her home.” I smile softly, letting my eyes linger on a very tired, but very good dad standing across from me.
“Thanks,” he breathes out.
Last night was the longest night I’ve had with CeCe since she was a baby. I can’t help but feel a little ridiculous taking her into the emergency room for an ear infection, but I was out of options and running on no sleep.
By the time we finally got back home and she got settled into bed, it felt useless for me to try and sleep so I stayed up watching a documentary on the animal channel about sea lions. I fully expected for it to put me to sleep, but it managed to keep my attention and I now know a ton of facts about them I’m sure I’ll never need.
My sister’s knock on the front door stirs me out of my thoughts as I stand against the kitchen island holding a room temperature cup of coffee.
“You look like hell… did you sleep at all?” Her steps slow with each one she takes toward me.
“Barely. I brought CeCe to the ER. She has a double ear infection so I was up all night just making sure she was okay.”
“Oh no, really?” Abby reaches into the cabinet pulling out a coffee mug for herself. It’s the green one with a sloth on it that I found at the dollar store. CeCe thought it was funny, so I had to buy it.
“Summer was actually there.”
“Well, yeah. She works at the hospital, you knew that.”
“Yeah, I just didn’t expect to see her there so late.” My fingers pinch the bridge of my nose as I recall our conversations last night. “She’s a real piece of work,” I say. “But she was helpful and I—well, CeCe, I think appreciated her help, so I’m glad she was there.”
“Imagine that,” Abby remarks and sets her cup down on the island.
I had half a mind to call my coach and explain the situation to him and why I needed to stay home with CeCe today. I know he’d understand if I need to stay home. Despite his all business attitude lately, he constantly preaches that our family and our kids should always be our number one priority. But I know I need this meeting and I know—and trust—that CeCe is in good hands with my sister.
