Page 71 of Gone With the Wine

I don’t like seeing her like this. She’s always so full of life. Unstoppable.

I rub my stomach, feeling like I just ate some bad shellfish.

I look around the room again in the dim light. There isn’t a lot of Bianca’s personal style, although I’m not sure what that is. I run a hand over the soft, well-washed quilt made of fabric squares in shades of green, pink, and cream. The rug next to the bed has similar colors. On the dresser sit a bottle of lotion, a hairbrush, a stack of folded towels and…a black and white bear. My gaze snags on the plush toy and stays there.

It’s the panda I won at the fair that night. A slow smile tugs one corner of my lips up.

I get up to lay my hand gently on Bianca’s forehead. Still warm. I go run the cloth under cold water, squeeze it out, and gently lay it on her forehead again. Then I sit on the edge of the chair, gnaw on my lip, and watch her more.

When Rosa shows up, her forehead creased with concern, I tell her that Bianca’s had Advil and juice. “Jesus,” I mutter, rubbing my mouth. “She looked terrible.”

She gives me a strange look, then shoos me out. “I’ll take care of her.”

I stand at the bedroom door for one last look before I leave. I don’t want to go, but there is work to be done.

I jog back to the lab. Bianca’s a stickler for notes and I grab one of the binders where she makes plans. I quickly find the notes she made yesterday about what needs to be done today. Then I go find Antonio and we get busy.

“Which tank do you want to move this pinot noir to?” he asks me.

I almost panic.

No. I got this. I read Bianca’s notes, and remember what she’s said about the chardonnay. They’re going to a stainless tank and with as much confidence as I can muster, I direct Antonio.

I keep checking my phone to see if Bianca’s texted. By lunch time, I haven’t heard anything, so I head back to her place. I knock before opening the door, and Jake appears.

“Hey,” I say. “I came to check on Bianca.”

“Rosa’s with her,” he says. “Come in.”

“Can I go up?”

He gives me a crisp look, then shrugs. “Okay.”

I take the stairs two at a time and knock on the bedroom door even though it’s open. Bianca’s still out flat on her back and Rosa, bless her, has a thermometer.

“She has quite a fever,” she says to me.

“I thought so.” I run a jerky hand through my hair and move closer. “Hey, beautiful.”

Rosa gives me a pointed look not unlike Jake’s. Right now, I don’t care.

“Jansen.” Bianca lifts a hand. “I’m sorry.” Her bottom lip trembles.

“It’s okay. I told you, we got this.” I stroke her hair off her face.

“I called the doctor,” Rosa says. “I think she has a UTI. She’s had them before.”

“Oh.” I turn to Rosa, frowning.

“He’s going to call a prescription in to the pharmacy.”

Okay, good, good. “I’ll go get it.”

“That’s okay, I can do it.”

“Okay.” I blow out a breath. “Medication will help, right?”

She smiles. “Yes. It should make her feel better pretty quickly.”

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