Chapter 7 - The Fever
When Julian walked through the front door of his estate, the house was eerily, terrifyingly quiet.
He rushed up the sweeping spiral staircase, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
He found Nora sitting on the edge of Harper’s bed, gently pressing a cool, damp washcloth to the little girl’s flushed forehead.
“She spiked a very high fever about an hour ago,” Nora whispered softly, her green eyes filled with deep maternal worry.
“The pediatrician came and said it is just a stubborn seasonal virus, but she has been crying for you.”
Julian’s breath caught painfully in his throat.
His daughter was actually calling for him, not a nanny, not a distraction, but him.
He immediately rushed to the bedside, taking over the damp washcloth from Nora and stroking his daughter's damp hair.
“Daddy is right here, sweetie,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her burning cheek.
Nora stood up slowly and retreated toward the heavy bedroom door, thinking her job was done now that the father had finally arrived.
“Nora,” Julian called out quickly, stopping her dead in her tracks.
“Please do not leave us.”
Nora hesitated in the doorway, her heart beating wildly, before she slowly walked back into the dim room.
She sat down on the opposite side of the small bed, resting her hand gently over Harper’s tiny feet.
They spent the entire night exactly like that, taking turns holding Harper’s hand and monitoring her temperature.
It was an exhausted, silent partnership united by a fierce, unconditional love for the child sleeping between them.
May you like
As the sun began to rise, painting the room in soft gold, Julian looked across the bed at Nora’s tired, beautiful face.
He realized in that quiet dawn that he was undeniably, hopelessly in love with her.
