Indefinite Love

Chapter 16

By the time we got home, the kids were crying worse than they ever had.

It's been an hour, and we've tried everything.

Brecklyn gives in, letting Rowan attach to her breast.

She starts sucking.

Caden though, is still crying.

Brecklyn is sitting with him, rubbing his back, but he's just miserable.

She gets up, walking into the kitchen.

She comes back with the nasal drip.

He starts screaming when he sees it.

She ignores him, forcing him to take it, and then she walks back into the kitchen.

She comes back with the thermometer, putting it under his arm.

102.4.

She sighs, and does it to Rowan.

101.7

I can see the worry on her face. Everyone is at Charlotte and Chris'.

We're all worried about the kids.

He keeps crying.

She grabs her phone, walking out.

When she comes back, Rowan is done eating and she's fussing.

She hands her to me.

Brecklyn kneels in front of Caden on the couch.

"Hey, hey, are you hungry?" she asks.

He nods while he cries.

"Come on. You can eat anything you want. I'll make anything."

Twenty minutes later, she comes back with a plate of French toast, drenched in syrup and sprinkles, and a sippy cup of apple juice.

"That's going to hurt his throat." I say.

"I know." She sighs. "But he needs to eat."

She feeds him.

"Hurt." He says.

"I know." She says. "I know baby."

He continues eating though, turning away the apple juice.

She takes his back to the kitchen.

She comes back with a sippy cup of water.

He's calmer now that he's eaten.

He refuses to drink.

"What do you want to drink? You can have anything."

"Momma milk." He says.

She hesitates. "What?"

"Momma milk." He points to her chest.

She hesitates.

"I'll be right back." She stands up, grabbing her phone again.

I hear her on the phone with the doctor in the kitchen.

She comes back, and she lets him try it.

He drinks for less than thirty seconds, and then he pulls away.

"Caden." She says, practically begging. "You need to drink something baby." She fixes her shirt.

"No want." He says.

She sighs slowly, looking at me.

"You've gotten further than I did." I say.

She sighs slowly.