Page 26 of Ella’s Data

“Under bathroom sink,” I manage to say, “in the first aid box.”

“Hang on, Fee,” Data says, placing both phones on the bed and running out the bedroom. I can hear him in the bathroom and would laugh at the expression on his face at being successful if it wouldn’t hurt so badly. Instead, I wait for him to turn the thermometer on and place it under my tongue.

In no time at all, it’s beeping and I know it’s bad when I see his eyes widen. “Shit, Fee, it’s one hundred and two, what do I do?”

“Okay, what you’re not gonna do is panic,” she tells him. “I know she’s probably got a bottle of acetaminophen in the kitchen cabinet next to the stove, give her two of those, then alternate it with ibuprofen in about four hours.”

“I need to take her to the clubhouse,” he mutters.

“No, I want to stay here,” I plead. “If it’s strep, I don’t want my germs there because of the kids.”

“Ella’s right, Data. We’ll need one of you guys to go through the kiddy house to disinfect it to be on the safe side,” Fee cautions. “Meanwhile, Ella, you go to urgent care in the morning and outside of that, you let Data take care of you.”

I want to sob later that morning when the nurse comes back in and says, “Well, your strep test is positive.”

“Can I get a shot and carry on?” I ask, my tone optimistic.

“Dr. Chester prefers oral antibiotics over shots,” the nurse advises, sounding apologetic.

“Will she get a printout of today’s visit?” Data asks.

I thank him in my head; I know as soon as we get into his truck, he’s going to be on the phone and calling Thelma to see if she can order what I want. I can administer my own damn shot, I just can’t prescribe it, but swallowing right now is at a premium, as my voice clearly indicates every time I speak, and poor Data’s at his wit’s end.

“Yes, along with the prescription,” she replies.

“Come on, baby. We’ll meet you at the check-out desk if that’s okay?” Data questions, looking at the nurse.

“Yes, sir, that’s fine.”

“It pays to have friends in all places, sweetheart,” Data says as he signs for the courier package.

I wiggle my fingers in a ‘gimme’ manner and he grins, walking over to where I’m sitting on my couch since I was tired of sleeping. After opening the sealed package, I pull out the vial with the antibiotic in it, pop the sealed top then wipe it down with one of the enclosed alcohol wipes before I take the syringe they included, take those tops off, then draw the medicine out.

“Can you wipe my butt cheek with another pad?” I ask rolling up on my side. “Just on the side, like around my hip.”

He does as I ask, gently sliding my sweatpants down enough to expose my skin, then he holds it as I quickly inject myself. Once I’m done and he’s put a small bandage on the spot, which has me grinning, I gather all the detritus, slide it in the packaging it came in and get up to toss it out.

“I’ve got it, honey.”

“Data, I’ll be fine here by myself. You can’t let the club down,” I insist. “See, I already sound better.”

Okay, I sound like a two-pack-a-day smoker instead of one who smokes three packs, but it is better than it was this morning! “I don’t like leaving you here by yourself,” he grumbles.

“I promise I’ll just sleep. Besides, you’re the computer geek and they need you. I can’t stay with Fee because of the babies and won’t do that to Holly or Marnie either. Esther is out because she and Paul will be watching the kids so that the women can take my place. Who else do you suggest?”

“Colt?” he questions. At my raised brow, he smirks. “I mean, neither one of you can really talk, but at least if something happens, he can text one of us and get us quickly.”

“Will it make you feel better if he comes and sits with me while you go to the haunted house?”

“Definitely.”

I finally give in, sighing deeply to let him know I’m only doing it to appease him. “Go ahead,” I mutter.

He leans in to kiss my forehead then says, “Thanks, sweetheart.”

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN