Fever(2)

It was noon when she awoke again. The fever became worse than earlier and she could barely lift her hands or any part of her body.
Her taste bud was bitter and nausea danced around in her throat.
She winced whilst attempting to shield the light that was streaming into the room from the opened window with her hand.
Her body trembled, then she tugged the blanket she barely used when she was healthy to cover herself up to her chin.
She wondered if this was how she often felt whenever she had a fever.
But, she couldn't remember the last time she had been this ill. Nevertheless, she was aware she hadn't been this worse and down with fever.
"Shit, I feel like my head might fall off from thumping too hard." Janice groaned, shivering.
She caressed her tummy as the baby kicked. She sat up slowly on the bed, squinted whilst glancing around the room.
It was just as she had left it before she became unconscious, everything was in order and out of place. She turned to her right and she glimpsed the tulips sitting in a vase on the nightstand. It was her favourite flower and it often made her cheerful whenever she sighted it. Also, no matter the mood she was in, it would alleviate it.
Glancing at it now did nothing to subside the pain she was feeling in her head.
She noticed a sticky note attached to the vase.
"Jules" she murmured whilst staring at the neat words he had scribbled down. She wondered where he had gone. But, she remembered he had promised to be by her side when she came awake.
Maybe, he had left to take care of things. It wasn't like he needed to spend the whole day watching over her.
She shook her head slightly and winced as the headache she was feeling multiplied.
Gracie breezed into the room as usual. She hummed to herself and a huge grin was plastered on her face.
Janice tried to smile as she glimpsed the happy demeanour of her maid. But, it came out as a wince instead. Also, it felt like she hadn't used her face muscle in like forever as smiling felt a bit strange to her now.
"Hey."
"My lady!" Gracie jumped. "I thought you were asleep."
"I've been awake," Janice mumbled.
"How are you feeling? I mean, how is your health? I was told what happened yesterday, so I tried to come as early as I could." She said come to her side.
"I'm fine, it's just a fever." Janice asserted.
Gracie placed her palm on her forehead. "Shit!" She exclaimed, blushing. 
"I'm sorry for using a cuss word." She stuttered.
Janice shrugged. It wasn't like she was the queen that would punish her for using bad language. She used some cuss words sometimes, especially when Jules aggravates her.
He did that a lot. But, not recently. He seemed like he was a changed person or he didn't just feel like getting on her bad side.
"You are burning up," Gracie said. She walked into the bathroom, then stepped out again. She walked towards her with a bowl filled with water and a clean towel.
"It seemed so." Janice grimaced.
She moaned as Gracie touched her head with the wet cloth. She shuddered due to the coolness of the towel.
She knew it wasn't because of the temperature of the water. The water wasn't even cool, to begin with. It was lukewarm.
But, it was the fever that was making her feel that way.
"You will be fine, My lady," Gracie assured. "I'll make sure you are."
Janice nodded, she took the pills Jules had left for her and laid back down. The effect of the medicine kicked in soon after, she watched in a blur as Gracie walked around in the room.
Her movement seemed sluggish and her figure was hazy or maybe it was her brain that interpreted it that way.
She shut her eyes, then opened it back to clear the haziness in her vision. But, all she could see was blackness.
★★★★
"Jules." Janice opened her eyes.
"Hey." He said, setting the paper he was holding on the nightstand. "How are you feeling?"
"Better than before." She replied, gripping the hand he held out to her.
She sat up on the bed and he set a pillow at her back to brace it. 
His hand went to her forehead, "The fever had gone down."
"It has," Janice affirmed.
Jules stared at her for a while. He was glad to see some colour seeping into her pale cheeks. At least, she looked healthier than earlier when she had been pale.
His eyes strayed to her stomach as her hand wandered there. Reflexively, he placed his hand on top of her as she caressed her bump.
A slight smile, more like a grimace graced her lips. "Do you feel that?" She mumbled.
Jules shook his head. "Maybe I touched it a little too late."
"Maybe," She gripped his hand.
Jules didn't pull away from her touch and he liked the feeling that was surging through him as she drew tiny circles inside his palms. He had been wanting to feel his child whom he strongly believes was a son.
But, he hadn't gotten the opportunity to. He wondered how he would feel when he later did.
He was already overwhelmed with how her bump was getting larger. He doubted if more of the overwhelming emotion would be surfaced if he felt the baby kicked.
He had heard a lot of stories where some fathers that had rejected their children came around after feeling his kick.
But he was different. He hadn't rejected the child outrightly. He had wanted to be sure Janice wasn't pranking or trying to take advantage of his status.
After confirming she wasn't playing with him, he had accepted and had got to love the child he hadn't seen or touched.
He glanced at her as he felt a pull on his shirt.
"I want to use the bathroom." She muttered.
He helped her out of the bed and towards the open bathroom. He took her back to the bed after she was done.
"I believe you must be hungry." He said, standing from the bed.
Janice nodded and watched as he stepped out of the room.
A little while later, Jules came back all dressed up.
"You never said you were going out."
Janice tilted her head whilst staring at him. She had thought he was going to bring her something to eat, Gracie had done so instead.
"Something came up."
She assumed Jules was caught up with something, that was why he didn't come by himself. But, seeing him all dressed up was weird.
He had not said he was going anywhere until now. Maybe it was an urgent meeting because it happens most times.
At least, he was not sneaking out or telling her on the phone. He was here to tell her and she should be grateful about it.
Still, she felt oddly jealous. She didn't know why, but she believed his sudden meeting was unusual. And the way he was avoiding eye contact with her was making it worse.
"When will you be back?"
"Before you know it." He responded. The response was a bit off. But then, his mood had always been that way sometimes. Or maybe she was the one interpreting it like that.
So, she didn't take it as anything.
He placed a brief kiss on her lips, before going towards the door.
"I hope before the baby is born." Janice sighed as she watched him step out of the room. Because he didn't look like he would be coming back anytime soon.