June, of course, did not give a shit if her mother was ill, but it was nice to pretend that she did, to entertain the idea of their relationship having some reciprocity. It occurred to Gwen that it would probably never be that way, that this was what motherhood was, that this was what she’d signed up for.
She caught Jeff looking at the clock. She knew he had to go. Judge Barkley also did not take kindly to tardiness.
“Will you call if you need me?” he asked.
She definitely would not call him out of court.
“I will,” she lied.
He kissed her on the forehead.
“Wait,” he said.
He went back into the hallway and returned with the bottle of Tylenol.
“In case you need more,” he said, shaking it like a rattle before setting it on the nightstand with a satisfied tap. She had no plans to take more of this possibly damaging medication, but she thanked him anyway.
“We’ll see you when you’re home,” she said.
He kissed June and said, “Be nice to Mama,” and then he was gone.
Gwen stared at the clock, wondering how she was going to get through an entire day with an infant while feeling like she’d been hit by a truck. She set June in the bassinet and went to find the “baby care kit” that someone had given her at her shower. She knew it included a thermometer because she remembered telling Jeff that if they ever had to take their baby’s temperature rectally, he would be in charge. They had laughed the way parents-to-be laugh when they have no idea what’s coming.
She unzipped the kit and found the thermometer, stuck it in her mouth. She felt dizzy standing up, so she crouched down on the floor, easing herself into child’s pose, resting her forehead against the cool hardwood. When it seemed like a couple of minutes had passed, she removed the thermometer from her mouth and willed her eyes to focus on the number.
104.
Did it really say 104?
She couldn’t remember ever having a fever so high. Was it possible she’d gotten something from Leigh and Belle? Could a virus transmit that quickly? She crawled on her hands and knees back to the bed, reached up for her phone.
Hey. Sorry to text so early, but are you sick? I’ve got some kind of virus going on
The three dots of an incoming response appeared right away.
Leigh: Girl, I don’t even know what normal hours are anymore. Ugh, being sick with a baby is the worst. Shouldn’t be allowed. We are ok over here. What are your symptoms?
Gwen: I’ve got a 104 fever, aches, etc
Leigh: Shit. That’s high. Do your boobs hurt?
Gwen: Ya they’re killing me
Leigh: Shit. You might have mastitis
Of course, Gwen knew what mastitis was. But like most people when it comes to bad things, she didn’t think it could happen to her.
Gwen: What do I do? Warm compresses? Cold? I can’t remember
Leigh: I think you gotta call your doc. Fever is too high
Gwen scrolled through her contact list until she found Dr. Blake. She made her way past various prompts before getting the emergency answering service. When she told them what was going on, they sounded alarmed by the 104 fever and said they would put the doctor through.
“Ms. Fisher?” Dr. Blake said.
“Yes?”
“If your fever is a hundred and four, you need to go to the ER.”
