It was a cold, drizzly Monday when Melinda started her beloved coffee machine. "Great." The ghost whisperer muttered to herself. "As if Mondays don't suck enough." Melinda complained some more. This particular Monday was especially dreadfully hectic. The young brunette had to get Aiden off to school and then bring Andy along to Danny's speech therapy session. Jim's mom was working today and her mom was so not an option. When Melinda walked into Aiden's room, she found the energetic boy getting dressed already. "Hi Aid. I see you're ahead of schedule today. Go watch some TV while I get the twins ready okay?" She said. "Oh, eat some cereal on the couch too." Melinda added as an afterthought.
"Okay." Aiden readily agreed to his mother's plan. The curly headed brunette woman made her way to the twins' room and found that everything was backwards this morning. Melinda had a tough time getting Danny up, as was typical for Autistic children, but Andy too was not budging. Melinda sighed, it was going to be a long morning.
"Come on Andy, wake up sweet girl." The mother whispered to her daughter. Andrea moaned before rolling onto her back. Melinda touched Andy's shoulder and when her skin felt hot – hotter than normal- Melinda tested her forearm on the toddler's forehead. The young girl had a fever, perfect. Melinda made her way to Danny's bed to wake him before trying Andy again. "Danny." Melinda spoke while lightly shaking the young boy below her. Danny's little blue eyes opened slowly and he smiled.
"Hi." Daniel said with a small smile. Melinda beamed back at her son, feeling proud of his progress.
"Hi baby." She whispered. "Pick out some clothes okay? I have to get medicine for Andy." Danny's mother told him. He got out of bed wordlessly and dug into his drawer to get jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Melinda made her way back to the bedroom after grabbing Andy's medicine. "Here baby." Melinda offered the grape flavoured liquid to her two year old. When Andy refused to drink it, Melinda scowled. "Andrea Faith, I have a lot of things to do today drink up." She ordered her child softly. Andy drank the medicine with a whimper of disgust and then laid back in bed. Melinda kissed the toddlers head lovingly. "Get a little more sleep baby girl, I'm going to get your brothers ready. When I come back to get you, you have to get dressed." With that said, Melinda got Danny ready for the day and went downstairs to check on Aiden. Mother and son descended the staircase in a rush.
"I'm all ready Mama." Came Aiden's voice from the foyer. The eight year old was putting on his shoes and coat. Melinda smiled.
"Good boy. Is it time to go already?" Melinda asked aloud as she checked her watch. When the little clock on her wrist confirmed her enquiry, Melinda addressed her oldest. "Do you have your lunch?" Aiden looked shocked for a moment, but then shook his head no.
"I forgot." The boy whispered.
"That's okay baby. I'm very proud of you for getting ready all by yourself this morning. I'll get your lunch." Melinda spoke and turned towards the kitchen area. Aiden was handed his lunch and Melinda watched as he ran to catch the bus she could see pulling in front of the house. Melinda turned to Danny. "Go play buddy. I have to get Andy ready before we leave." Danny walked off silently. When Melinda walked into Andy's bedroom, she saw the young girl shaking and crying. "Oh Andrea, sweetheart." She cooed in concern. Andy whimpered loudly in pain.
"Mama." She whined. Melinda checked on the young girl and found her sweating from the fever, but also clearly freezing enough that her little body was shaking. She took quick action and wrapped the toddler in her Peter Pan blanket and rocked her to calm the shaking and crying.
"Sh sh baby. You're okay." Melinda comforted. Andy buried her head in her mother's neck as her whimpered subsided. "Do you want me to get Auntie Delia to close the store and come stay with you?" Melinda asked her daughter. When the thirty year old got a nod from the youngster, her decision was made. Melinda reached into her pocket and produced her cell phone. The brunette dialled the familiar number of her store and waited for a voice.
"Hello?" Came Delia's voice over the line.
"Hey, it's Mel." Melinda greeted. "Listen, Andrea's sick and I have Daniel's appointment soon. Could you close up and come look after her for me until we're done?" She asked frantically.
"Of course Mel." The answer came in the same second, no hesitation at all from her best friend. "Give me fifteen minutes and I'll be there."
"You're a life saver. I'll see you soon, bye!" Melinda departed the call.
"Bye." Delia reiterated before hanging up a second later.
"Okay my girl." Melinda spoke to calm both herself and Andy. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know dear how much I love you..." Melinda's voice trailed off when she realized Andy was out cold. The mother covered her daughter up and made her way downstairs to check on Danny. She found the toddler playing with his tonka trucks in the living room and sat on the couch to watch him until Delia showed up. She was smiling as she heard Danny making explosion noises and jumped when the front door closed behind her saviour.
"Hey Mel, I'm here." Delia called from the foyer. Melinda put Danny on her hip and made her way to hug Delia.
"Thanks so much for this. We really need to leave, but Andy had medicine half an hour ago." Melinda said as she put on Danny's shoes and coat.
"No worries, Supermom." Delia joked as the duo left the house.
Melinda turned a corner onto the street that held the office the family would need for awhile when she heard a fuss from the back seat. The brunette woman checked the rear view mirror and saw Danny wiggling in his car seat. "We're almost there baby. If you're good we can stop at McDonald's for lunch when we're done." Her soothing voice reached the boy in the back and Danny settled. Just then, Melinda pulled her Jeep into the parking lot of the therapist office. Danny and Melinda sit on chairs in the waiting room and wait to be called. They are waiting less than five minutes when Melinda hears a voice.
"Daniel Clancy." Melinda takes Danny's hand and follows the woman into a room set up for their session.
"Hello Melinda." Says the therapist. "This must be Daniel." He continues. Melinda smiles.
"Hello Doctor, yes it is, but he likes to be called Danny." Melinda informs the man before her.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The Doctor apologizes softly. "Hi Danny." He crouches down to the toddler's level. Danny pulls on Melinda's shirt, asking for his book. The determined little boy flips to hello in the book handed to him and shows it to the doctor. The older man smiles.
"Very good Danny." He praises the child. The doctor points to his shirt. "What colour is this Danny?" The young boy looks to his mother questioningly.
"It's okay baby. Go ahead." Melinda encourages. Danny's little eyes squint in concentration for a second before he speaks.
"Red." The boy declares with a smile. The doctor offers a high five for his efforts.
"Good." What colour is your shirt Danny?" The doctor asks again. Danny doesn't even hesitate this time.
"Blue!" The two year old cheers excitedly. The doctor lets out a chuckle, it's obvious that blue is Danny's favourite colour. The man sees a toy on the floor and picks it up.
"What is this?" He questions again.
"Mine!" Danny says as he reaches for the cherished toy. The doctor laughs wholeheartedly before trying again.
"Yes, it is yours. What else is it?" He speaks slowly.
"Twuck." Danny says this time. Melinda smiles at him when he looks to her again.
"Very good Danny, a truck." The doctor celebrates with the little boy before him. "I think that's it for today." Came the doctor's voice again.
"Thank you doctor." Melinda says appreciatively. The doctor shakes his head dismissively.
"No need to thank me Ma'am. It's my job. You should be proud, Danny's doing well. Have a good day." The doctors says as he goes to help his next patient. Mother and son leave the office and head for the Jeep.
"You were such a good boy." Melinda praises as she straps Danny into his car seat. "I think we should go have lunch." Melinda tickles her son and smiles at his giggles before shutting the door.
AN: There is it guys, this story is getting on the lengthy side. Is there anything else anyone wants to see or can I end it here? Please review with your opinions.