From the future with love
As I gaze out of the window, I hear the hacking cough of Teddy from behind me. I turn to see Christian sitting on the end of Teddy's bed, his eyes swimming in anxiety. In rare moments like this, I see Christian's inexperienced childhood still effecting him. I sigh and look at my two boys.
" Christian, it's perfectly normal for children to get coughs and colds at this age. You didn't have to miss work for this." I tell him, and he surrenders a glance to look at me. I feel a pure sense of happiness as I watch Christian's eyes dart back to Teddy lying on his bed. Years ago, I was the only one he would ever consider loving like this.
" It appears you've taken the day off too, Mrs Grey." He smirks, glancing at my pyjamas and bed hair. I feel my cheeks burn at being caught out, which is followed by a quiet laugh between struggled coughs. Both me and Christian's eyes dart to Teddy, who is going through another one of his many coughing fists this morning. Though I know this is normal, my heart still stretches in pain at watching my own child suffer like this.
" Mr and Mrs Grey?" I hear Mrs Taylor's voice from Teddy's doorway. I look over to see her standing with Teddy's favourite breakfast, soldiers on toast, and also notice another figure standing behind her. As Mrs Taylor walks into the room, she is followed by Sophie.
" I wouldn't stand too close to Teddy, sweetheart." I warn her, and she stops a couple of paces away from Teddy's bed.
" Will Teddy be alri-" Sophie begins to ask, but soon begins to cough as Teddy has done.
" I'm afraid that Sophie has taken the day off sick too, Mrs Grey." Mrs Taylor says apologetically. I notice that Sophie is able to cope better with her illness than Teddy due to being the older one of the two.
" He'll be fine, don't worry." I say to both her and Christian, who still refuses to take his eyes away from Teddy for a moment. Still so protective, fifty.
" When can me and Sophie play outside?" Teddy's whisper of a voice asks. I walk over to him and place my hand on his head, testing his temperature.
" It won't be too long, but it depends on how much breakfast you'll be willing eating today." I say to him. Teddy begrudgingly picks up his toast and begins to slowly bite around the sides of it.
" I wonder where he gets his lack of appetite from?" Christian asks, and I glare at him and his abrupt change in mood. My glare is greeted with a small smile that soon spreads across my own face.
" Let's leave Teddy to rest, dear." Mrs Taylor suggests, walking towards the door. Sophie looks at Teddy and waves goodbye.
" Bye Ted, I hope you feel better!" She croaks, and then follows her mother out of the door. Teddy watches her go, his eyes glaring at the door frame after she had gone.
"Smitten." Christian mimes to me with his lips, and I smile in response. We both stay with our sickened son, watching young love blossom in his blue eyes.