Page 34 of Into the Fire
EMERY:I’d say sweet dreams, cowboy… but you’re clearly already dreaming if you think I’m giving your pillow back.
LEVI:I guess I’ll have to come home and fight you for it. STILL not a cowboy
EMERY:Ok, sweet dreams… Daddy
LEVI:Easy with that Em.G’night, sunshine.
Emery smiled at her screen, locking it before tucking the phone beneath her pillow. June shifted beside her, curling in closer. Emery smoothed a hand gently over her back and stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts spinning like wind through a field.
She had no idea where this was going.
But… it felt like somewhere worth going.
12
The sun rose slowly, casting a warm glow over the room, but Emery barely noticed. June was curled tight against her, her little body hot to the touch and damp with feverish sweat.
She’d stirred a few times in the night, mumbling nonsense in her sleep, her forehead wrinkled like she was trying to shake off a bad dream. Emery had soothed her each time, pressing a cool cloth to her skin and whispering gentle words.
But this morning? She looked worse.
June’s face was pale, her cheeks flushed red with fever, and her eyes seemed glassy and heavy-lidded. She hadn’t touched the toast or watered-down juice Emery had made her. Just laid her head on the table and whimpered.
Emery didn’t hesitate. She scooped her phone off the counter and shot off a quick message.
EMERY:Hey… June’s still feeling rough this morning. She’s barely eating, and her fever hasn’t broken. I think I should take her to urgent care just to be safe. I don’t want to miss anything.
The typing dots appeared almost immediately.
LEVI:Damn.
LEVI:I was hoping she’d bounce back today.
LEVI:I hate that I’m not there.
LEVI:I’m gonna try and wrap this up and get home by late afternoon. Will you keep me posted?
EMERY:Of course. I’ll take good care of her. Promise.
LEVI:I know you will.
LEVI:Thank you, baby.
Emery sighed, tucking her phone into her back pocket and turning her attention to June, who had managed to shuffle herself over to the couch and now lay there quietly under a throw blanket.
“Hey, June bug,” she said gently, kneeling beside her. “We’re gonna go see a doctor, okay? Just to help you feel better faster.”
June blinked up at her with dull eyes and gave the smallest nod.
The urgent care office was busy, but the staff had ushered June in quickly thanks to her high fever. Emery sat beside her on the crinkly paper of the exam table, running her fingers through June’s hair while answering questions from the nurse practitioner.
When the exam confirmed a case of strep, Emery was relieved—not because June was sick, but because there was something they could do now. Antibiotics. More popsicles. Rest.
After picking up June's prescription, Emery settled June back into Levi’s bed with a cool washcloth, a movie queued up, and a pink plasticmeasuring spoon resting on the nightstand beside her bubblegum-flavored meds for the next dose that was due in 6 hours.
She texted Levi again after sitting down on the edge of the bed.
EMERY:Confirmed strep. Got her antibiotics. She’s resting now and already looks a little better. No worries, she’s in good hands.
