The Good Life

*Alex*

Ever since yesterday Izzy has been running a high fever, she’s also been coughing, and throwing up. Jack and I were going to take her to the doctor tomorrow, but she seemed like she was getting worse and since its 8pm the only place we can take her is to the hospital. Jack carried Izzy, who was lightly crying, to the car so I could drive us there. I did my best to calm them both down cause Jack was stressing since he thought something was seriously wrong with Izzy and Izzy was upset because she didn’t feel well. I’m pretty sure it’s just like a cold or something minor…I hope.

I parked in a parking spot semi close to the door and we got out and ran Izzy to the emergency room. I went to the counter to explain to the nurse what was going on and she gave me some paper work to fill out. She told me it would be at least five minutes before they could bring Izzy to a room. So I went back to Jack to tell him what she told me. Jack simply nodded and we went to have a seat while we waited.

“Shhh you’re okay, princess.” Jack tried to comfort Izzy, but she continued to sniffle and cry uncontrollably. I ran my fingers through her hair and covered her up more with the blanket Jack had wrapped around her.

“I wish they could treat her right now.” Jack complained.

“Yeah me too, but they probably have patients who are on the verge of life and death back there.” I said.

It was eight minutes later when a nurse finally came out and said “Isabella Barakat Gaskarth.” Jack and I got up with Izzy and followed the nurse so that she could take Izzy’s weight and height. When she finished she took us to a room and closed the door behind us. From there she checked Izzy’s ears, nose, throat, and temperature. She said Izzy was running a fever of 102.1 which means she probably has the flu. The nurse asked them the symptoms that Izzy was experiencing and wrote them down for the doctor. She left and said the doctor would be in to see us in a few minutes.

“I feel horrible, Alex! Our daughter is in pain and there’s nothing we can do about it.” Jack whined.

“She’s a fighter she’ll get through this.” I said and kissed them both on the forehead. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I took it out to see who texted me. It was Oli.

To Alex:
Hey do you want to go grab a beer?

To Oli:
I can’t. I’m at the hospital. Izzy has the flu.

To Alex:
WHAT?? Why didn’t you call me? I’m coming to check on my niece

I laughed at how defensive Oli got and texted him okay.

“What happened?” Jack asked, wondering why I was laughing at my phone.

“Oh Oli wanted us to hang out, but I told him I was at the hospital with you two and now he’s on his way.” I explained.

“I think you should tell her godparents too. They’d probably be angry if you don’t.” Jack said referring to Rian and Cass.

“Oh yeah I’ll text Rian real quick.” I said and pulled out my phone to text him.

The doctor finally came in and introduced himself to Jack, Izzy, and I. “Hello, I’m Dr. Kent the emergency pediatrics doctor.” He shook our hands. “I heard Isabella here might have the flu.” He said as he took out his stethoscope.

“Yeah she was sick all day yesterday, but not as bad as today.” Jack answered.

“Well I will do everything in my power to make you feel better, okay?” He said looking down at Izzy.

Then he put the earpiece of the stethoscope in his ears and the chest piece on Izzy’s chest to listen to her heart. Izzy started to play with the cord of the stethoscope and Dr. Kent laughed as I tried to untangle her hands from it.

“It’s okay, all the children do this when I try to check their hearts. I’ve learned to ignore it.” Dr. Kent said and he moved it to check her stomach and to her back to listen to her breathing. “I can hear her wheezing as she inhales and her stomach doesn’t sound like its doing so well either. So what I’m going to do is try to help those symptoms and get her fever down. Once we accomplish that she’ll be able to go home with some other medications.” Dr. Kent told us.

“Okay. And do you think it’ll be fine for her to have visitors?” I asked him.

“Only if they’re over the age of fourteen.” He said. “Do you two have any other questions for me?”

“Um if she starts running a fever again after we take her home, do we bring her back here?” Jack asked worriedly.

“Yes and we’ll try to help lower her temperature again.” He informed.

“Okay thank you doctor.” I said and he shook our hands again and left the room.

Rian and Cass beat Oli to the hospital because they lived closer to it than he did, but he showed up only minutes after they did.

“So what did the doctor say was wrong with her?” Cass asked frantically.

“She has the flu.” Jack said.

“Well I went by the gift shop and brought her this.” Oli said holding a big plush bumble bee. “I would have gotten her a bear, but they were all out.” He handed the bee to Izzy and she snuggled into it.

“She likes it.” Jack smiled up at Oli.

“So are they going to give her medicine to help get her fever down?” Rian asked.

“Yeah that’s what the doctor said, but you don’t think they’ll have to give her any kind of shot do you cause I don’t know if I can stay in here for that part.” I wondered out loud.

“It’s not like you’re getting the shot.” Jack chuckled. “But no he didn’t say she needed a shot.”

“Are you still afraid of needles?” Oli asked laughing.

“It’s not funny!” I pouted.

“He and Cass are terribly afraid of needles.” Rian added.

“They hurt like hell!” Cass whined.

“You two are overdramatic.” Oli rolled his eyes and Cass hit him on the shoulder jokingly.

A few seconds later a different nurse came with a box of medication in her hands. “Hello I’m Nurse Jenny and I’m to give Isabella this antiviral medicine it’s called Oseltamivir and it should help relieve some of the symptoms.” She took a syringe and placed it in Izzy mouth so she could drink the medicine. I was expecting Izzy to spit it out like she does every vegetable I try to feed her, but instead she just made a sour face and swallowed it all down. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes to see if the medicine is helping her any.” She said and we all thanked her.

“You’ll better any minute now.” Jack told Izzy.

I took Izzy’s bumble bee and made kissing noises to make it seem like it was kissing her. She giggled and kissed it back until she started coughing. Just hearing he make any other noise made me happier. She grabbed the bee from me and snuggled back into it as she laid her head on Jack’s shoulder.

“I think the medicine is making her sleepy.” Jack said.

“Hopefully she’ll sleep away the flu.” Oli said.

***

After two doses of medicine the doctor got Izzy’s fever down far enough that it we could finally take her home. Oli had left already and Rian went to go get the car because he parked far away and Cass didn’t want to walk so Jack and me stayed back to wait with her. Well Jack was standing a little bit away from us rocking Izzy back and forth while Cass and I talked.

“So how are the wedding plans coming along?” I asked Cass.

“Um great.” She said as she stared down at the ground.

“You don’t sound too happy about that?” I questioned.

“I’m just…scared I guess.” She whispered and looked around to make sure no one could hear her.
“Scared of what?’ I asked.

“What if we aren’t supposed to be together? Don’t get me wrong I love Rian, but I keep having what ifs run though my head.” She confessed.

“No no no you can’t. You’re just getting cold teeth or whatever it’s called.” I explained.

“It’s cold feet, Alex” She chuckled. “And I don’t know maybe I am, but I’m not for sure I want to do this.”

I was shocked to hear this coming from Cass, her and Rian love each other more than anyone I’ve ever known. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t want to do or say the wrong thing and ruin their relationship.

“You should talk to Rian about this. He can help you more than I could ever.” I told her and she nodded her head. Rian pulled up and got out to open the door for Cass.

“Can you do me a favor and keep this just between us for now, please?” She turned to me and pleaded.

“Of course.” I answered quickly.

As soon as they left Jack and I got into our car so we could go home and go to bed.

***

The next morning I woke up to Izzy trying her best to shake me. Jack was in the shower so I guess he brought her to lay in the bed with me while he showered. “Dada!” She whined as he tiny arms pushed my shirt forward and backwards.

“I’m up, baby.” I yawned and sat up. “Looks like someone is feeling a little better.” I said. She was still coughing a bit, but not as badly.

“Book!” She exclaimed. She was talking about this book that Jack has brought to help her learn her animals. She usually would look at the pictures, but this time I was going to read it to her. I got up to go get the book off our counter and got back in our bed so I could start it. I opened it and the first animal was a cow.

“This is a cow. Can you say cow? Cah-ow.” I annunciated the syllables so she could repeat it.
“Cow?” She said slowly.

“Yes mama! You’re so smart!” I complimented her and she smiled. “And do you know what noise a cow makes?” I asked knowing she didn’t know the answer, and she shook her head. “They go ‘moooooo’” I said and Izzy laughed.

“Moooo” She imitated me.

“Are you turning my daughter into a cow?” Jack asked, his hair was dripping wet.

“No I’m teaching her about animals.” I chuckled.

“Moooo” Izzy said again. I laughed and turned the page so we could learn the next animal.

“Okay now this one is a ho-“

“Cow!” she exclaimed before I could finish.

“No Izzy, this is a horse.” I said. She looked at me confused before shouting ‘cow’ again.

“No Izzy, this is a horse.” I repeated and Jack laughed.

“You have to point out the differences to her she’s going to think everything is a cow until you teach her.” Jack told me.

“Oh.” I said and continued to point out the differences between the two animals.

“She’s feeling seems like she feels a lot better.” Jack said.

“Yeah, but she’s still been coughing.” I told him.

“The medicine should help get rid of it in a few days.” He said.

“I cow!” Izzy giggled.

“No you’re a human, not a cow.” Jack said and kissed her on the cheek.

“Moooooo” She answered and we laughed.

“So is everything okay with Cass? I saw you two talking yesterday and she looked pretty upset.” Jack wondered

“Um yeah she’s fine. Everything is fine.” I too quickly.

“You sound suspicious, but if you say everything is okay then I hope everything is okay.” He told me.

“Yeah me too.” I mumbled.

Notes

I'm going to have the next chapter up by tomorrow!!