Chapter 375 Guardian
As soon as the car stopped, Alaric jumped out, dashed around to my side, opened the door, and we hurried towards the house.
Melissa was at the door, holding a flushed and crying Skylar.
Skylar's face was streaked with tears, and when she saw me, she squirmed in Melissa's arms, crying out loudly, "Mommy, Mommy!" Her tearful voice tugged at my heart.
Melissa gently patted Skylar, her eyes full of worry. She said, "Diana, I don't know what's wrong. Skylar woke up with a fever this morning and has been asking for you."
I quickly reached out and took Skylar from Melissa, holding her tightly and soothing her softly, "Sweetie, I'm here."
Skylar clung to me, wrapping her little arms around my neck, but her crying didn't stop.
I carried her swiftly to the bedroom, with Alaric following closely behind.
I sat gently on the edge of the bed, letting Skylar rest in my arms. Her little face was burning hot, her brows furrowed tightly. I gently smoothed her sweat-dampened hair, and Alaric stepped forward to feel her forehead.
The heat made Alaric frown, but he remained calm. He said, "Melissa, can you grab the thermometer so we can check Skylar's temperature?"
Melissa nodded quickly and hurried to the cabinet, retrieving the thermometer.
Alaric turned to me. "Diana, let's lay Skylar down on the bed so we can take her temperature more easily."
Together, we settled Skylar on the bed. She held onto my hand, refusing to let go even for a second.
Melissa skillfully took Skylar's temperature while I gently stroked Skylar's forehead, trying to ease her discomfort. I murmured, "Sweetie, just hang in there; it'll be over soon."
While we waited, Alaric brought a basin of warm water and soaked a towel.
The thermometer read 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit. I took the wet towel from Alaric and urgently said, "Let me wipe her down."
I carefully wiped Skylar's face, hands, and feet, trying to bring her fever down.
Alaric frowned and asked Melissa, "Do we have any children's fever medicine at home?"
"Yeah," Melissa replied, rushing to get the medicine box. Alaric searched through it meticulously.
I sat by the bed, watching him anxiously. Sensing my worry, Alaric spoke gently, "Diana, don't worry too much. This is common. With the right medication and cooling, Skylar will be better soon."
I nodded slightly, trying to calm myself, and joined him in reading the medicine instructions.
We measured the correct dose with a small spoon and poured a small cup of warm water. I leaned against the headboard, holding Skylar gently, while Alaric patiently coaxed her, "Skylar, take this medicine, have a good sleep, and you'll be bouncing around like a superhero tomorrow."
Through her tears, Skylar reluctantly opened her mouth and took the medicine.
Alaric took a thin blanket from Melissa and gently covered Skylar, adjusting it to a comfortable position, and let Skylar rest against the pillow.
He brought over a small stool and sat beside Skylar, continuously changing the cold compress on her forehead with the wet towel.
Watching him work tirelessly, I felt a pang of guilt and said, "Let me change the towel. You should rest."He shook his head, smiling. "You were worried the whole way here. Sit and rest. I got this. I'm strong and used to it."
His eyes were filled with a gentle determination that left no room for refusal. I sat by the bed, watching him change the towel with such care. I kept my eyes trained on Skylar's face, anxious not to miss any subtle change.
Gradually, Skylar's crying subsided, though she still whimpered in discomfort.
To distract her and ease her pain, Alaric picked a fairy tale book from the shelf and began reading animatedly, "Once upon a time, in a beautiful castle, lived Snow White..."
He mimicked different characters' voices, sometimes sweet and gentle like a princess, and other times funny and endearing like a dwarf. Skylar, who had been crying nonstop, was gradually drawn into the story. Her sobs turned into quiet sniffles as she listened intently, occasionally wiping her tears with her little hands.
"Mr. Kingsley, what happened next?" Skylar asked, her voice full of concern.
"Then, the prince rode his white horse through the thorny bushes and arrived at the castle..." Alaric continued, his eyes filled with endless tenderness.
Time passed, and Skylar's fever seemed to subside a bit. Her face was no longer as flushed, and her breathing became more even.
Alaric gently touched her forehead, a relieved smile finally appearing on his tense face. He got up to pour a cup of warm water, and I slowly helped Skylar sit up to take a few sips.
I asked softly, "Skylar, do you feel better?"
Skylar nodded weakly, looking at us and whispering, "Mommy, I want to sleep."
As I watched Alaric's skilled and caring actions, a warm feeling surged in my heart. Under Alaric's gentle soothing, Skylar's eyelids began to droop, her little head nestling into the pillow. Soon, her breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Her face, no longer flushed thanks to the fever medicine, relaxed as her fever broke.
After a while, Alaric signaled to me with his eyes, and we quietly got up, tiptoeing to the door. I couldn't help but glance back one more time as Alaric gently closed the door without making a sound.
We walked softly to the living room and sat on the couch.
I let out a long breath, turning to Alaric with genuine gratitude. "Alaric, I never expected you to be so good with kids. Every detail was handled perfectly. Without you, I would have been completely lost."
Alaric's lips curved into a gentle smile as he explained, "Actually, I have a sister who's much younger than me. I used to take care of her a lot when she was little. She was often sick, so over time, I learned how to take care of her."
He paused slightly, his gaze drifting to Skylar's toy castle, as if lost in thought. He continued, "Taking care of my sister taught me how important patience and attention to detail are. When kids are sick, they're not just physically uncomfortable, they're also scared. Every move we make, every look we give, means a lot to them. Just like now with Skylar, I think about how I'd want someone to care for my sister in this situation, and that's how I care for Skylar."
I listened quietly, my gratitude for him growing even deeper, and I realized how rare and precious his kindness and gentleness truly were.
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