Page 52 of Trust Me Always

“Aw, Big Guy.” I reach for him with one hand, and instantly, Abby starts wailing again. “Shit. I mean crap.” I shift her, picking up Deaton in my left arm, and stand, trying to bounce them both. “Baby boy, what happened? You okay?”

He buries his face in my chest, and Abby lifts her head, pushing at his shoulder to try and get me all to herself.

“Abby, honey, be nice to Deaton. He’s your friend.”

She starts kicking, her cries getting louder.

Thankfully, Junie walks in two seconds later. When her eyes meet mine, wide and begging for help, she chuckles and walks over.

“Is that my friend Abigail I see?” Junie softens her tone, and slowly, Abby looks over at her. Junie smiles, putting her hands on her hips. “It is you! I’m so happy you came back to play today.”

Abby’s cries start to soften, though now she’s hiccupping from crying so long. Poor baby nearly breaks down every time her daddy drops her off for day care, which seems to happen more than her mama dropping her off lately. She’s been here for twenty minutes, and this is the first deep breath she’s taken.

Junie comes up with her arms outstretched, and after only amoment’s hesitation, Abby leans over into her arms. “And now what happened to this little man, huh?” She rubs her hand along Deaton’s back, and I hoist him higher, kissing his temple.

I freeze, rubbing my cheek along his forehead before quickly pulling back and pressing the back of my hand to his face. “Junie… please tell me he doesn’t have a fever.”

“Okay, don’t panic on me, Cameron. Babies do get sick, often this time each year and when they’re in day care.”

“But he’s never been sick before.”

“I’m sure he has. Like I said, children get sick.” Junie looks him over and hums. “His cheeks are a bit flushed. I’ll get the thermometer, poor guy.”

Deaton tucks his arms in, hiding his face in my chest, and I lower into the rocking chair with him, patting his back. “It’s okay, D. Marley, honey, no throwing toys,” I call out.

Junie is back as fast as she disappeared, and Abby finally lets her put her down, all tears forgotten as she runs over to play with the plastic kitchen set.

“Okay, let’s see.” Junie presses the button, rolling the little ball across Deaton’s forehead. The machine beeps, and she frowns at it. “Definitely a fever. I’ll grab him a Popsicle and we’ll need to call his parents. Unfortunately, he does have to go home.”

I nod. “And he can’t come back until he’s fever free for twenty-four hours, right?”

“Good job. Now should I call, or do you want to?”

I scoff. “I don’t want to. Payton is in the middle of a shoot with the cross-country team, which means she’s tagged Mason in while she has to have her phone off.” An idea sparks. “Oh! I’ll just call?—”

“You are not calling Arianna, Cameron.” She frowns. “Parents. Always parents, your family or not.”

She starts to walk off to get that Popsicle, so I shout, “Hey, remember you said that when he shows up with an ambulance!”

Now she scoffs, disappearing through the door.

I bite the bullet, dial Mason, and prepare my most peppy voice possible.

“What’s wrong?” he answers on the first ring.

“He’s fine?—”

“Cameron.”

“Okay, he has a little fever so?—”

“I’m on my way.” I hear some shuffling, then the sound of a door opening and closing. “Can I talk to him?”

Junie comes back in then, and I look up at her, unsure what the protocol is on this but wanting to let him anyway. Thankfully, Junie nods, peeling open the Popsicle and handing it over to Deaton.

“Sanks, Jujie.”

We both chuckle at his pronunciation, and I think I hear Mason’s exhale at the sound of his son’s voice.

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