Chapter 2
Cooper ran to the doors of Seaside. Two members of the health department then greeted him.
"I'm sorry," a worker said. "This whole building is under quarantine."
"I know," Cooper said. "I'm a pediatrician. I work here. My wife is in there. You have to let me in."
"I'm so sorry," the other worker said. "It's too risky. No one goes in and no one comes out until further notice."
"Cooper!" Charlotte shouted from the other side of the sealed off glass door.
"That's her," Cooper said. "Can I at least talk to her?"
The health employees walked led Cooper to the glass.
"Charlotte," Cooper said. "They say I can't come in."
"I'm so scared," Charlotte said.
"I am too," Cooper said. "But you are a stubborn woman and I know you're not going to let an airborne virus get you."
Meanwhile at the café, Addison did her best to keep the customers and employees calm and the health department workers sealed off the cracks in the doors.
"Is this airborne virus deadly?" a woman asked.
"Obviously it is, lady!" a man screamed. "Why do you think we're being quarantined?"
"We're all going to die!" another man shouted.
"Stop it!" a young woman, holding a little girl in her arms shouted. "You're scaring my daughter!"
"Everyone needs to calm down," Addison said calmly. "We're just being quarantined as a precaution. I am a doctor, so if you need anything…"
"How do we know if we have the infection?" a woman asked.
"One of the early symptoms is rash," Addison replied.
"Like this?" a teenage girl asked, rolling up her sleeves to reveal a rash.
Everyone began panicking.
"Silence!" Addison shouted.
Addison walked over to the teenager and examined her arm.
"How long have you had this rash?" Addison asked.
"Since yesterday," the teenager replied.
"You don't have the infection," Addison said. "You have dermatitis, or eczema as it is commonly known. I recommend seeing a dermatologist."
"Thank you," the teenager said.
Addison looked over at the young woman holding her young daughter.
"Hello there," Addison said. "What's your name?"
"Amy," the little girl said.
"How old are you, Amy?" Addison asked.
"5," Amy replied.
"She'll be 6 in February," the mother informed her.
"She's the same age as my son Henry," Addison said.
"Where is Henry now?" Amy asked.
"He's on a fishing trip at Lake Tahoe with my husband," Addison replied.
"Are you scared you'll never see them again?" Amy's mother asked.
"I am," Addison said. "But the important thing is to stay positive."