Chapter Eight (pt.3)
Syd and Riley's departure wasn't too sad knowing that they would return in less than one month. Thanksgiving dinner was a fun and delicious event. Even Rex enjoyed it, playing in the yard with his human dads and grandfather. The pleasant weekend was nice because both Brianna and Cori had another round of doctor's check-ups this week. Neither liked their temporary physicians as much the ones in Texas but Cori was much more vocal about her dislike during her appointment. Her mood wasn't good generally that day or two days prior because she had sores on her feet. Besides the fact they hurt anyway, it meant she couldn't play in the freshly fallen snow. The good news that Brianna's blood work was fine despite having a minor cold. The teenager was given an antibiotic and follow-up appointment for two days later. She couldn't go ice skating again till her cold cleared up.
That was the real bummer.
Having a grouchy sister was no fun either.
Cori had a prescription cream for her feet. She could barely stand to wear socks let alone shoes. The same cream worked well to make her feet hurt less quickly while they healed, putting her in a better mood. Brianna assured her there would be more snow.
"Then we can build a really big snowman," she said.
Overstuffed from turkey and hoping to cheer both daughters up he offered to take them to the bookstore and then order pizza for dinner. He would carry Cori so she enjoy it. Brianna bought the Beautiful Creatures Series. Cori choose The Mouse and the Motorcycle, the used copy she had at home was ready for the garbage. She also found the two books that followed that story Runaway Ralph and Ralph S. Mouse. He and Drew could take turns reading to her later. The three stopped at Subway for lunch. Drew called to check on the girls' appointments. He was very happy to hear about Brianna's results and hoped Cori would feel better with the cream the doctor gave her. He wasn't worried about Cori's behavior towards her doctor and neither was going to scold her for it. If the man hadn't seen it before he hadn't seen many patients. Drew was just a resident and a patient's tone didn't bother him. Not many patients were in the best mood.
Drew was asked to go for a beer before he left the base.
"Nah. I'm going home for pizza and root beer with the kids. Neither princess had a good day," he said.
"Everything okay?" the other soldier asked knowing Drew had two daughters with serious illnesses.
"Yeah. Minor stuff, just big enough to put a wrench in their day."
Cori was sitting on the sofa in bare feet that was covered in cream when Drew got home.
"Hi baby," he said. "Did you have a good day?"
"No," Cori scowled. "My feet hurt and now they're slippery, too."
The bookstore trip had been the only good thing in the four-year-old's day.
Drew gave her a hug. "I know," he said gently. "How 'bout after dinner you get your pyjamas on early and we had read a whole book from your new ones?"
Cori perked up some.
"Okay."
"Can I get a bigger smile than that or do I have to find tickle monster?"
Cori grinned.