“But you—”
“No one holds my hand.”
Jeez, whatever.Libby stood back and watched him drag his body to the bed, like he’d done last night after falling through the door.
“Do you feel more alpha now, big man?”she drawled.Oblivious to her sarcasm, he curled into a ball and continued to shiver.“You’re a mess.If you’re still like this in an hour, I’m calling someone.”
She’d tell Serita and Mr.Hehu or call Tupapa Outpatients.
Careful not to wake Karim, Libby searched under the stroller for the rehydration powder she’d bought from the drugstore and then tipped one into a fresh glass of water.“Drink this.”
Cranky sat up, downed the entire contents of the glass in one go, then flopped back onto the bed.
“That better now?”
He mumbled some random words, his teeth chattering.
“What’s that you’re saying?”Libby leaned in, but Cranky had shut his eyes, trembling.“If you’re feeling cold in this heat, you must have a fever.”She reached for the shiny silver honeymoon blanket and placed it over him, then searched in her bag for the thermometer she kept in her first aid kit.“I’ll take your temperature.”
“I’ve got to go,” he was saying.“I’m gonna go.”
“Go where?”She stuck the thermometer into his armpit.
“You’re leaving, so I’ll leave too.”
What was he talking about?
“Hey,” Libby said, “do you even know where you are?”When he didn’t answer, she pressed her hand against his forehead.It was hot and clammy.She pulled the thermometer out from under his arm.His temperature was high, but not dangerously so.She studied his features.His brow was puckered—like always—but his eyeballs flickered beneath his eyelids.“Can you tell me your name?”
He grunted, slurring words she couldn’t make out.His trembling turned into jerky movements, as if he was trying to dodge something.
“Okay, I’m calling someone,” she said.
Libby opened the front door.Two backpackers stood talking by the main house.She asked them to call Serita.When she returned to the bed, beads of sweat were running down Dan’s cheeks.Libby ducked into the bathroom to soak a wash cloth in water.As she dabbed Cranky’s face with it, Serita walked in.
“You wanted something, hon?Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure.Mr.Jones is sick and has a fever.He’s all shivery and hot, and he’s confused.I think he’s caught my son’s bug, only my son wasn’t this bad when he had it.Maybe he’s got it worse because he’s on meds?He was involved in an accident a few months ago.”
“I’ll call my sister,” Serita said.“She’s a nurse.”
“That would be amazing if she could check it’s nothing more serious.”
Serita left, and Libby dabbed Daniel’s forehead again.
As she pulled her hand away, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist.
“Is…?”he murmured.
“Is what?”
“Is…”
“Shhh.Save your energy.A nurse will be here soon.”
He pulled her hand against his chest.His heart beat against her fingers.“Why’d you do it, Is?”
Oh.Libby stilled.“I’m not Isa—”
