Page 35 of Caleb's Salvation
I couldn’t see that she was missing any basics, except, of course, medicine, which was impressive. Vivienne had figured out a system of caring for her boy and herself in this rustic cabin and she wasn’t careless about it.
I thought back to those first few weeks she’d been here when I found out she’d been hoarding the food I brought her.
She was fighter, my girl. And she was fighting for this way of life with everything she had. I looked at the bed and could see she was sleeping, despite how heavy her breathing was. I checked on the kid, too. I touched his forehead and I liked to think it wasn’t quite as hot.
Then I sat in the chair and watched over the two of them, listening to each of them breathe. Content that I had them both in my sight with some semblance of control over the situation.
* * *
Vivienne
I remembered things in spurts. Feeling Sammy’s forehead and realizing he was feverish. Nearly tripping as I made my way to the toilet to get violently sick. Trying to comfort Sammy by rocking him, barely able to hold him I was so faint.
Ty, who looked so flustered when I opened the door with my messy hair, red nose and glassy eyes.
A banging on the door that woke me up…
Sammy had a fever. I needed to get up and check on him. I rolled onto my side, trying to gain some momentum to get up. I was so weak I feared my legs wouldn’t hold me.
I cracked open my eyes. The gas lantern was on in the cabin. I could feel the warmth coming off the fire. And then I heard him. Whimpering, fussing. My baby. He needed me. I needed to get to him, but what if I couldn’t lift him out of the crib? I tried to lift my head but couldn’t. I was failing Sam. He needed me and I was letting him down. What if his fever was even higher? I needed to cool him down. Snow. I needed to bring some inside. Maybe let it melt then use it to give him a cool bath. Would that reduce a fever?
How could I not know these things? I was his mother! I could feel tears leaking from my eyes, but they didn’t help. I needed to get to my baby.
Then I felt it. A heavy hand that settled on my back. “I got him. Go back to sleep.”
The tears came even harder. Caleb was doing this. Caleb was watching over Sammy. He’d been a father. He knew how to take care of a sick baby.
I heard Sam’s soft cry then Caleb’s gentle tones.
“Yeah, buddy. I know. It sucks being sick. I need you to drink all this water. That’s right.”
I could hear him pacing the cabin. He must be holding Sam, patting his back. I opened my eyes again and I could see him settling in the chair, Sam in his arms as he fell asleep on Caleb’s shoulder.
Sam had Caleb. It was all I needed to know to allow myself to drift off again.
* * *
Vivienne
I woke up and this time my teeth were chattering. This was impossible. Everything was too hot and too cold at the same time. Then I felt arms wrap around me, hands running up and down my arms to warm me up so I would stop shivering.
“You need more aspirin.”
I couldn’t really understand what he was saying. I could only feel the movement of the bed as he got out of it. Wait? Caleb was in my bed? That, somehow, didn’t make any sense.
Then I felt the touch of a cup of cool water on my lips.
Yes, please. I was so hot and thirsty. So cold and achy. I coughed and the rattling in my chest triggered another round of coughing.
“Put these in your mouth, Vivienne.”
He was handing me pills. I took them without thinking about what they were or why I needed them. I only knew the water was back on my lips and, even though it hurt to swallow, I drank as much of it as I could. When I was done, I felt those arms dragging me down onto the bed, holding me in a way that infused my body with warmth until the shivering went away.
“Sam,” I croaked.
“No fever. Resting. Go to sleep, Vivienne.”
Sam was okay. Of course he was. Caleb wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him. He knew what it was like to love a child.
