Page 69 of Undeniably Corrupt
I nod but already plan to call Stone and Liora the moment I leave here, though I don’t want to upset Liora. She already missed a day of clinical after she was attacked, and I know she can’t miss more.
“Hazel,” Bethany calls softly as another worker brings her out of a room. “Look who’s here to take you home.”
No one knows Liora or Hazel live with me, but I’ve officially let that cat out of the bag. Not the best thing to have done, but what choice did I have? If Bethany thinks it’s odd that I’m picking Hazel up and referred to her and Liora as mine, she isn’t letting on. Hazel looks up, her normally bright blue eyes dull, and her cheeks flushed bright red with fever. Recognition flickers across her face, followed immediately by uncertainty and disappointment. In the week she’s lived in my house, our interactions have been minimal at best.
“Mr. Vander?” Her voice is small and scratchy, and she pronounces words by putting Ws as almost every other letter.
“Hey, kiddo,” I say, approaching her with my best renditionof a warm, comforting smile. “Your mom is at the hospital helping people, so I’m going to take you home.”
Her lower lip trembles. “I want Mommy.”
“I know.”I want your mommy, too. Sigh. I push that away and kneel so I’m her height. “She’ll come home as soon as she can, okay?”
Hazel clutches her worn stuffed rabbit to her chest. It’s missing an eye and most of one ear. The thing should have been replaced ages ago, but she loves it.
“Can I pick you up?”
She eyes me, clearly still unsure about me, and who can blame her? Finally she nods, and I lift her into my arms and hold her against my chest. And wow, does she feel warm.
“Thanks,” I say to Bethany as she hands me Hazel’s pink Princess Peach backpack, and I head toward the exit holding Hazel. I rode my bike in today, but Liora drove the Porsche I got her and then took the T over to MGH. Thankfully, I have an extra set of keys for it with me. “I’m going to call Mommy from the car,” I explain. “Your body is hot, and unlike nearly everyone else in my life, I’m not a doctor and have no idea what to do to help you feel better.”
The walk to the private elevator bank is mercifully brief, and Hazel rests her head against my shoulder. My hand automatically comes up to hold her, my palm flat against her back where I can feel her rapid heartbeat.
I remember when Rory was this size, and if I can’t get in touch with Stone or Liora, I’m definitely calling Owen. I’m good at hanging out with kids. I even like them. But sick kids are off my radar, and this one barely knows me.
I reach the car and get her buckled into her car seat. The car starts up with a soft purr, and I call Liora, not surprised when her phone rings twice and goes to voicemail. Hazel whimpers when she hears it.
“It’s okay, kiddo. I’ll take good care of you until your mommy comes home.”
With a sniffly sigh that seems too world-weary for someone barely past her second birthday, Hazel looks out the window and leaves me to it. It hits me rather bluntly just how hard Liora has had it. How long she’s been doing this on her own with little to no resources. She may be a sexy pain in my ass, but any reservations I had about her working for me and moving into my house are gone.
As I pull out of the garage, Stone picks up. “This better be good. We’ve got two traumas about to roll in.”
“Hey. I have Liora’s?—”
He groans. “Dude, for real? Your obsession with this woman?—”
“One, you’re in zero place to judge obsession, and two, I have herdaughter, Hazel, with me, and you’re on speakerphone.”
“Oh. Why? What’s up?”
“I need a sick kid consultation.”
“Give me the bullet.”
“Two-and-a-half-year-old with a fever between 101 and 102, who seems to have a stuffy nose and a slight cough.”
There’s a pause. “Any shortness of breath or lethargy? Is she up to date on her vaccines? Is she eating and drinking okay?”
“Not that I can tell, and how on earth would I know that? I’m going to say yes to being up to date on vaccines since she’s Liora’s, but I have no clue about the eating and drinking stuff since I just picked her up.”
“Look at you, Daddy Vander,” Stone teases, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. “Playing house is just so cute and domestic for you.”
“Can you help or not?” I snap, instantly regretting my tone when Hazel flinches in the back seat.
“Any other symptoms? Rash? Vomiting? Diarrhea?”
“No. It seems to be just this, and she’s barely coughed.”
