The woman tipped her head towards the door and Aurora nodded. Before she could tell Leah she’d be right outside, Mark joined them.
“I told them I was her father,” he said to Aurora, as he hurried inside.
Aurora stared at him, surprised. She didn’t like it but she knew he cared, and it was the only way he could get back here to check what was going on.
Aurora stepped away from him and strode to the bed, running her hand over Leah’s hair. “I’m going to talk to the nice doctor. Mark will stay with you and you’ll be able to see me right outside the door, okay?”
Leah opened her mouth to answer and a loud barking sound came out instead. Tears formed in her eyes and it was all Aurora could do to hold back her own. She wished Nick was here but he was in Florida and she was alone. So she nodded at the doctor and followed her outside.
“I’m going to keep her overnight so I can give her IV fluids,” the doctor said. “It’s normal for children to get dehydrated when they can’t eat or drink without coughing. We’ll monitor her oxygen levels and get some steroids going in the IV.”
Aurora managed a nod. “She’s had croup before, just never like this.”
“She’ll be fine.” The doctor whose name tag said Dr. Fleischer, gave Aurora a reassuring smile. “We just want to help speed things along and make her more comfortable.”
“Thank you, Dr. Fleischer.” The tag had been helpful. Aurora would never have remembered it on her own. “I can stay with her, right?” The thought of leaving her baby alone was enough to give Aurora a panic attack.
“Of course. Our pediatric ward is set up for parents.”
“Thank you.” Aurora walked back into the room, pasting on a happy smile for Leah’s sake. “We’re going to stay tonight,” she said. “How about that for an adventure?”
Leah nodded, obviously having decided to stop trying to speak. Dammit. Aurora’s heart squeezed in her chest.
She turned to her neighbor. “Mark, thank you so much for getting us here. I didn’t want to traumatize Leah more with an ambulance ride.”
“I’m here for you both,” he said, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder.
“Thank you. But why don’t you go home now? Mimi will be scared if she wakes up and you’re not there. I’m going to text my family and let them know what’s going on.” And Nick. She’d intended to call him but had decided to wait until she knew more. She’d probably missed his late-night call and she hadn’t checked her phone at all. She’d been focused on Leah. She was going to have to get better about remembering she was now part of a team where Leah was concerned. She’d been a single parent so long, she was having trouble adjusting.
It took a few more minutes to convince Mark to leave and Aurora admitted to herself she was relieved when he’d gone.
Then she turned her attention to her daughter. A nurse spoke gently to her as she opened everything needed to put an IV into Leah’s arm. Aurora stood by the edge of the bed and held Leah’s legs—the only part of her she could reach—and prepared herself for a long night.
Once the ordeal with the needle was over with, she called Nick.
* * *
Nick finished dinner with the manager for the Meridian Miami. He’d poached the man from another five-star hotel a couple of years ago and he’d been a great addition. Thomas Breckenridge had wanted to work for a family-owned company with smaller boutique hotels, had twenty years of experience and the employees responded to him. After the long couple of days they’d had overseeing the flood, and dealing with contractors and upset customers, Nick felt obligated to take the man to dinner.
He’d just signed the bill and had shaken Breckenridge’s hand when his phone rang. The other man walked away and he reached into his pocket for his cell.
Aurora’s name showed up on the screen. He’d tried to call her before dinner but nobody had picked up. He assumed she’d had Leah in the bath.
“Nick?”
“Hey. It’s good to hear your voice.” He strode across the lobby, towards the elevators, where there were less people and noise. “What’s going on? How’s Leah feeling?” He’d struggled being away while she was sick. Talking to her on Facetime, seeing her little red nose and sad expression, hit him hard.
“Umm, don’t panic, but her cough got bad, her chest hurt, and she had trouble catching her breath. I took her to the hospital,” Aurora said.
“Shit. Is she okay?” He began to pace the lobby, one hand on the phone, the other running through his hair.
“She is. They’re keeping her overnight as a precaution but she’s going to be fine.” Aurora sounded exhausted and worried.