Page 81 of The Doctor

To be loved by him.

It dawned on me then how important Zeno was. Not just to me but to everyone in the Syndicate. He was the trusted doctor. The friend who would listen to your troubles and make you feel better however he could.

With Arik hovering in the doorway and Sarah fretting and wringing her hands, I watched as Zee turned and sank to the cushion of the couch, Chaya’s arms around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist. He settled her in his lap, and I rushed to his side with his bag, unzipping it without him having to tell me to.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Chaya’s crying quieted a little more, though her response was a hard, “No!”

“Does your tummy hurt?” He tickled her belly as he said it, and a giggle wove through her cries.

“No!”

“What about your toes?” Zee asked, moving one hand to grip her little foot. “Do your toes hurt?”

No longer crying, Chaya giggled and kicked, and I swore, my heart grew in my chest.

Zee edged back, looking down at the little girl. “Can you show me your throat?”

With her brown eyes wide and her lashes spiky with her tears, Chaya hiccupped, then opened her mouth. I had his otoscope ready for him—I wasn’t new to this method of examination. I was pretty sure it came about because of me.

Zeno peeked into her mouth, then her nose, before he lowered the device, screwed up his face, and gave her a crooked smile. “I think the tickle monster might be hiding in your ears.”

Chaya giggled again and clamped her mouth shut.

“Can I look and see?” She shook her head, and he widened his eyes. “If I don’t catch him, he’ll come back and tickle you in your sleep.”

Another giggle, and Chaya shook her head.

“What if I promise it won’t hurt?”

“Pwomise?”

Zee made an X across his chest, then held his hand up to his side. “Cross my heart.”

With her lower lip trembling, Chaya turned her head, allowing Zee a quick peek in each of her ears. He handed the otoscope back to me, then pulled the girl back into his chest.

“See, no pain at all.” He looked up at Sarah as he rubbed his hand across the back of the girl’s head. “Looks like a double ear infection. Explains her refusal to eat and sleep. Has she had a cold or is the mucus just from her crying?”

“She’s had a cold for the past week.”

“Alright. I’m going to write a prescription for an antibiotic. I want you to keep her hydrated and try to get her to sleep if you can. You can alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen, like I’ve told you before. She might not have much of an appetite for a couple days, but she’ll bounce back once the infection goes away. Call me if she gets worse or if anything changes.”

“Thank you, Zeno.”

“Of course.” He looked down at the little girl, who’d fallen asleep against his chest. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he murmured, “Clara, can you get my prescription pad from my bag?”

I helped him write out the prescription, then tore it off and handed it to Sarah. As Zee carefully settled himself back into his seat, running a calming hand over Chaya’s head and back, Sarah walked toward the door, close to tears. Arik wrapped her in his arms before she pulled back.

“I’ll have Margot run to the pharmacy to get this filled.”

Sarah left the room, and Arik turned a pleading look my way.

“I’ll keep her company.” I rushed past the man, following Sarah through the house to the kitchen, where she handed the prescription to her housekeeper and gave her a few instructions. Once the woman left, Sarah sank into a chair at the table, putting her face in her hands.

“Are you okay?” I went to her, offering comfort the way Zee had taught me while I was growing up.

She sighed. “I will be. I’m just sleep deprived and worried about Chaya.”