Chapter 12: Seasonal Cold

Maryanne dips further into the water, embarrassment causing her body to go numb. She should be yelling at him to get out, to look away. Maryanne holds any words at bay, not sure of what to say.
“Uh, I’m sorry,” Max pivots away, his knuckles turning white as he grips the door knob tightly. Red tints his ears and he clenches his jaw. “I was trying to find you. I—no sorry—this is stupid, but Geneva left and won’t be back until the morning.”
Maryanne wants to ask where she has gone, probably back home, but the fear that is now taking over Max’s features has her overlooking that topic.
“What is it?”
“Riley is acting strange. I think she might be getting sick.”
It takes a moment for Maryanne to understand what he has said, as his face is turned away while he speaks.
“What, does she have a fever?” Fear begins to pound in her head.
“I’m not sure.”
“Well go get a thermometer,” she commands, standing up abruptly as her mind races with thoughts of Riley being sick.
Dizziness comes over her and she sways, catching herself against the wall, before realizing that her body is still bare, and Max is still in the bathroom.
“Hurry,” she cries out.
Max hesitates, his eyes glancing in her direction every so often. Heat continues to build in his face, but he eventually rushes out the door, slamming it shut.
Heaving as warmth explodes in her chest, Maryanne steps from the tub and wraps herself in a bathrobe before wrapping her hair in a towel and exiting the bathroom, searching for Riley.
The little girl lay bundled up in her bed, a glisten of sweat beading along her temple. Her cheeks are flushed and her breathing is labored.
Maryanne crouches near the small bed and lays the back of her hand on Riley’s forehead. The heat emanating from the child hits her skin before she even makes contact.
“Riley,” she says softly, her heart aching.
“How is she,” Max questions rushing into the room.
“Not good, do you have the thermometer?” She tightens the blankets around Riley, making her more comfortable.
He shakes his head, “I’m not sure where it is.”
Maryanne sighs, standing up straight, “How do you not know?”
“I usually ask Geneva,” he shrugs, scratching his temple.
Maryanne grinds her teeth together in order to hold back any retorts. The new maid that started a few days ago wouldn’t know either, as she hasn’t been completely trained in yet.
“We should bring her in to the hospital, just to be safe.”
She leans over to untuck Riley, trying to pick her up.
“No, wait,” Max states.
“I am not going to wait,” she counters roughly.
“No, I mean, I have an on-call doctor. He makes house visits. I’ll call him.”
As Max wanders away, cellphone in hand, Maryanne whispers exasperatingly, “Of course you do.”

>><<

“Riley has a fever of a hundred. How long did you say she has been like this?” The doctor questions, writing in his notepad as he exits Riley’s bedroom.
“Um,” Maryanne bites at her lip, anxiety eating away at her thoughts. “A few hours? She was fine this morning, right?” She turns to Max who is standing near her. She doesn’t understand how she couldn’t see the signs. Riley should’ve started getting sick before they ever went to the park, otherwise how could it have hit her so quickly?
“Yeah, that’s right.” He clears his throat and turns his head down toward her, nodding. “It’s not anything serious is it, doctor?”
“No, just a cold. To be safe, I gave her acetaminophen. If her fever does not break in twenty-four hours, give me a call and I will be back. If it gets worse, bring her into the emergency room.”
Maryanne watches Riley through the doorway as she takes a shaky breath in.
“Thank you,” Max shakes the doctor’s hand.
He sighs, his shoulders rolling, “Just keep taking great care of her and she will be fine.”
As the new maid, Sarah, walks the doctor out, Maryanne and Max stay with Riley.
Maryanne moves to her side and makes sure that her blankets are wrapped around her tightly. She is peaceful, fast asleep.
Max wavers near the door, using a cloth to dab at his temples. He then folds his arms, his brow tight, as he watches Maryanne.
“What’s wrong,” she questions, turning toward him.
He shrugs and doesn’t move. “Nothing, I just haven’t been feeling well, either.”
“Maybe you caught whatever Riley has.” She eyes him carefully, but other than the sheen of sweat on his forehead, there is nothing indicating that he is sick.
Max shakes his head abruptly, but it causes him to become dizzy and he leans against the doorframe to steady himself. “No, I don’t get sick.”
Maryanne tries to inch closer to him, but Max moves out of reach. “Are you sure.”
“Yes,” he grumbles before turning away. “I am going to go lie down.”