Antonio made breakfast for Tracy this morning. He figured that she would want to sleep late. Plus what girl doesn't like being served breakfast in bed? He made her blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs (He drowned them in cheese because Tracy is such a cheese hound). He also made some freshly squeezed orange juice and poured it into a small glass. He puts everything on a small tray and walked out of the kitchen to her room.
When Antonio gets to her room he balance the tray in one hand to knock on the door. He doesn't get a response so he slowly opens the door. Now carrying the tray with both hands again, walks into the room and sees Tracy sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face.
He figured that she is dreaming about last night. He sets the tray on the nightstand and gently runs his fingers through her hair.
She looks so cute when she is sleeping. Antonio thought
The next thing Antonio knew he was smiling too. She opens her eyes. He notices that they don't sparkle the same way they usually do.
"Morning guapo who made breakfast?" she asks as she got a sniff of the food sitting next to her bed.
"I did" he answers.
"Aw you're so sweet you didn't have to do that you know." She says
"I know, but I wanted too." he says.
She sits up in the bed and gestures for him to move closer. He leans in closer and kisses him on the cheek.
"You really are the sweetest guy in the world you know that." she says.
"I know you have told me that like a million times." he says.
"Really that many?" she inquires.
"OK more like ten times but who's counting?" he jokes.
"You" she jokes back.
"Tracy I don't mean to ruin this romantic moment but are you feeling all right this morning?" he asks.
"I feel great." she replies.
Antonio can tell she is lying. She reaches for the orange juice, but it is like she is having more difficulty seeing (he knew she could see to a certain extent without her glasses) It was like she was blind. He hands her the glass. She takes a few sips and hands it back to him. He notices her face is red, and a little pale. He sets the glass back on the tray. He places his left hand on her forehead.
"Tracy, you're a little warm. I'll be right back." Antonio tells her as he leaves the room.
Tracy figured that the small cut on her shoulder is infected, but she didn't want to tell Ballade because she needs to get all the rest she can before the triplets arrive. She didn't want to be rude to Antonio because he went to a lot of troubles to make breakfast for her this morning. She sees a blueberry muffin on the tray, and it looked delicious. She takes it. She starts to eat it, and it still has the warm right-out-of-the-oven taste to it. Every bite is like she died and went to be with the Lord above. Tracy ate as much as she can stomach then put it back on the tray. She picks up the glass of orange juice and drinks the rest of it. She puts it back where it was before. A few seconds later Antonio comes back in the room. He looks over at the tray to see that she had eaten a little bit of what he made for her.
"So how was the muffin?" he asks.
"Really good," she answers.
She sees the thermometer in his hand.
"Tracy, the cut on your shoulder is infected isn't it?" he inquires.
Tracy nods and he asks if he can look at it.
"You're not going to touch it are you?" she asks.
He nods and walks over to the bed. He sets the thermometer on the tray and gently rolls up her right sleeve. Tracy tries not to wince in pain, but it's very sensitive. She looks down at it. The skin around it is swollen and red. There is a little puss leaking out. Antonio touches it with the tip of his finger and it feels warm.
"Tracy, you have to tell your mom so she can help you." he says very concernedly.
"I can't. She has more important things to do than to take care of me," she argue
"Ok, now that has to be the fever talking. A parent's job is to take care of their children," he points out.
"Yes, when they're little. I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself just fine." she says standing my ground.
Ballade walks in carrying the first aid kit and the bottle of medicine that Tracy can't stand.
"Hi, mom what brings you to my room this morning?" Tracy asks trying to crack a joke.
"You know why I'm here sweetheart," Ballade says with her motherly smile.
"Wait, you already know?" she asks surprised.
"Of course Tracy, I'm your mom you can't fool me," Ballade says with that same motherly smile on her face.
"You can't blame me for trying, right?" she says,
Ballade nods. She goes over to her daughter. She sets the tray near the edge of the bed. She hands Antonio the medicine. She opens the first aid kit and starts to clean the cut. She puts some peroxide on a cotton ball and dabs it on the cut.
"It will go faster if you stop squirming," Ballade says.
"I can't help it, mom, it stings," Tracy whines.
She wipes the peroxide off the cut and follows by putting some triple antibiotic cream on it. Then she puts a bandage on it and closes the first aid kit. She picks up the thermometer. She puts it under Tracy's tongue and when it beeps it reads 101. She asks Antonio to hand the medicine to her. She opens it, then pours some onto a teaspoon. She knows that there is no way Tracy is going to take the medicine because when she was five it was an old family remedy to help bring down my fever and now it was an ancient remedy. She quickly puts the spoon in her mouth and removes it just as fast as she puts it in.
"Don't even think about spitting it out now swallow." Ballade orders.
Antonio watches as Tracy slowly swallows the medicine and see her face fold in half. He does his best to not burst out laughing.
"I didn't think that was possible. It actually tastes worse than it did when I was five." Tracy whines.
"Very funny, sweetheart, now I think it's time for you to get some rest," Ballade says.
She leaves the medicine and thermometer on the end table. She takes the tray with her as she leaves the room. Tracy looks over at him and looks kinda sad (at least that's what Antonio thought. It was hard to tell because her face had a feverish appearance).
"Antonio, I'm sorry" she apologizes.
"Sorry for what angel?" he asks.
"You went to all that trouble to make me breakfast this morning and now it's going to waste." She answers.
"It's all right really. I can always try again when you're feeling better." he says hoping it would make her simile.
A small smile comes to her face as she lays back down. Antonio fixes the sheets and a few seconds later he watches as she slowly drifts off to sleep. He knew she is going to be fine, but for some reason he didn't want to leave her side. He pulls the chair that was along the wall next to bed and sit down.
A four hours pass so Ballade goes back to check on Tracy. She walks to her room and sees Antonio has been looking after her daughter. He has gone to get some cool water and rags to help bring her fever down. She walks over to him and taps him on the shoulder. He jumps a little but recovers quickly.
"How is she doing?" Ballade asks.
"She a little better I think but I'm no nurse." he replies.
"I hate to wake her up but I need to take her temperature again." Ballade says.
Ballade shakes her daughter gently and she wakes up slowly.
"What's wrong mom?" she asks half asleep.
"Sorry sweetheart but I need to take your temperature again." Ballade answers.
She takes the thermometer off the end table and put it under her tongue again. When it beeps again she takes it out from under her tongue. It reads 102.
"It's time for some more medicine." Ballade tells her.
"Why?" she asks/whines.
"Your fever has gone up. Every four hours or so the medicine wears off which means you have to take another teaspoon." Ballade says.
Ballade knew Tracy would fight with her. She pours another dose of medicine, and gives the spoon to Antonio. Tracy takes it effortlessly.
"Antonio, I'll leave Tracy in you hands and to make sure every four hours that she gets another dose Remember to change the dressing as well." Ballade says
"You can count on me." he says.
Then she leaves the room. A few days later Tracy wakes up and sees Antonio fast asleep with his head on the edge of the bed. She runs her fingers through his hair and smiles. She is glad that her fever broke and that she feels back to 100 percent. She gets out of the left side of the bed and walks over to Antonio.
"Despierta handsome." she whispers in his ear.
Antonio rolls his head to his left and smiles.
"Well good morning to you too angel." he says, half awake.
"How dose breakfast sound to you?" she asks.
"Good. But who is going to make it?" he replies.
"Why don't we make it together," she suggests.
He nods and pulls his head up. He kisses her on the forehead. Tracy could tell he was glad that she is back on her feet again. She kisses him back on the lips. It catches him by surprise but he recovers fast. The kiss lasts for a few seconds but to him it feels like a few minutes. When they back away, Tracy can see the same smile on his face he had the very first time they kissed. They leave her room and walk to the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Thanks for being my golden nurse." she tells him.
"You're welcome and remember I'll always be there when you need me." he says.