Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
The cool water soothed her abused throat. “Thanks. Stupid cough,” she rasped.
“You’ve definitely got something going on with you. It could be viral or need antibiotics. I’m going to keep a close eye on you. Your job is to rest. I’ll call your supervisor and let her know you won’t be at work for a couple of days.”
“I can go to work,” Pippa protested, shaking her head.
“Not going to happen. That’s not good for both you and the kids in the daycare. You don’t want anyone else to get this ill, right?”
She wanted to argue, but how could she? Pippa definitely didn’t want anyone else to feel this bad—especially the kiddos she loved seeing each day at work. Sighing deeply, she whispered, “Okay. I’ll stay at home. But I’ll call my boss.”
“Of course. If you’d rather. Let’s call her now.” Zale picked up her phone and handed it over.
Bristling, Pippa glared at him. It was so obvious he’d already decided this and even gotten organized for it. Who did he think he was?
“Don’t frown at me, little girl. Your phone was next to the puzzle we worked on earlier. I brought it over here to answer it quickly while you slept.”
Instantly, her ire fizzled out. “Sorry.”
“Apology accepted. Call your boss.”
Pippa found her number in her contact list and called. When her supervisor answered, Pippa apologized, “Sorry, Elizabeth. I’m sick and running a fever…” A spasm of coughing erupted from her mouth. As her eyes watered, Pippa handed her phone to Zale.
“Elizabeth, this is Zale Reynolds. I’m a medic on the base. Pippa can’t talk without coughing. Plan for her to be out for two days. I’ll update you as soon as possible if she’ll need more time off.”
He listened to the phone for a few seconds before saying, “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll test her for that.”
When he disconnected the call, Zale explained, “There’s a flurry of strep throat and some children are dealing with a nasty stomach virus. They’re closing the daycare tomorrow to do an intensive cleaning.”
Pippa shook her head. Of course, everyone was sick. She instantly felt better, knowing she wasn’t creating more work for the other staff members. “Thank you for making me call. I do feel awful.”
“I know, kitten. I had already planned to test you for strep. Now, it’s even more important. And for you to rest and let me take care of you.”
She nodded reluctantly. Inside, she celebrated he loved her even when she was sick and grumpy. Pippa clung to him when he stood and carried her to the changing table where the swab test waited.
When he’d finished, her daddy settled Pippa on the couch with the soft blanket from her crib, a fresh sippy cup of juice, and Toothie. Wrapped in his arms, she watched the animated movie she’d always wanted to see but hadn’t found the time. He always made things better. Even when she got embarrassed by his intimate care.
CHAPTER 16
Glaring at the characters on the screen, Pippa hated that they were so happy. She’d wanted to go back to work today, but Zale had vetoed that. Who cared if she still had a fever? A couple of days on the antibiotics for her strep throat and she’d stopped coughing. That hadn’t been good enough for her daddy. He hadn’t been willing to negotiate at all. A fever meant no way.
Pippa looked around the empty room. Zale returned to work with his team after laying down the law that she stayed home. Lifting her alligator stuffie so they could talk face to tooth, she fussed, “This is totally unfair, Toothie. It’s not like I’m contagious. He said I have no energy. I’ll show him.”
Determined, she stood up and paused for a second when the world spun around her. That was just a fluke. She must have gotten up too fast.
Stomping into the bedroom, she grabbed one of Zale’s hoodies and tugged on her new sneakers. Pippa braced her forearms on her thighs as she sat on the bed. She must need to eat more. Her energy was gone.
Confident that she would feel better when she got in the fresh air, Pippa got up and forced herself to walk to the front door. Pulling it open, she inhaled deeply and then pressed a hand to her chest as she started coughing.
“Damn it!”
The last thing she wanted to do was admit that her daddy was right. Stubbornly, she headed down the stairs. She’d walk around the block a couple of times. At the end of the driveway, she changed that to one block. Three houses down, she amended the plan to forge on to the end of the street. In the middle of the next house’s driveway, Pippa turned around.
How had she ever thought she’d make it all day trying to keep up with kids?