"Do you want any water, sweetheart?" asked Ellie.
Juan shook his head.
"How about a snack?" she asked.
He shook his head again. He was lying on Ellie's bed, cuddling up to her with his head on her chest. He had woken up feeling ill and Pete and Ellie had decided that he should stay home from school. As Ellie could do design work from home, she had stayed with him while everyone else was away.
"Okay honey, just let me know, alright?" she said.
Juan nodded. "Can we watch the one with the cat again?" he asked.
"The one with the orange one from a couple videos ago?"
"No, the one with the black cat."
"Oh, sure," said Ellie.
Both were watching funny YouTube videos on Ellie's phone to pass the time. Juan had spent all day resting, first on his bed, then on the couch in the living room, and now on Pete and Ellie's bed. Ellie was gently stroking his hair with one hand while the other held her phone up.
"Hmm, honey," she said. "You're feeling a little bit warm again. Let me go get more wet towels for your forehead."
She started to move away but Juan stopped her.
"No, stay with me, mommy," he protested.
Ellie pursed her lips but went back to stroking his hair. "Okay, let me text your dad, see how long until he gets home," she said before pausing the video to text Pete.
Almost immediately Pete texted back to say he was on his way.
"Oh good, daddy's coming back soon. Once he gets here, we'll put a wet towel on your forehead, and then we'll try and eat a little something again, okay?" she said.
Juan groaned but didn't say anything.
"Buddy, you gotta eat to get your energy back up," she said.
"Okay," said Juan, reluctantly.
They went back to watching YouTube on Ellie's phone. After about ten minutes, they heard the downstairs front door open and close, and Meatball barking to greet Pete home.
"Hey, I'm back!" Pete shouted. "Where are you guys?"
"Upstairs in the master bedroom!" Ellie shouted back.
When Pete got to the room, he took in the sight of Juan resting on Ellie, and his heart melted a little bit.
"Aw buddy, still not feeling great?" he asked.
Juan looked up at him and shook his head.
"I'm so glad you're back," said Ellie. "I'm a little bit worried about his temperature. Can you feel his forehead?"
Pete rested his hand on Juan's forehead for a moment.
"I mean it's a little warm, but I don't think it's a high fever," he said.
"Do you think we should take him to the ER?" asked Ellie, ever the worried parent.
"Don't be crazy, he'll be fine," said Pete.
"I'm just worried his temperature has been up and down the whole day," said Ellie.
"That's normal, his body just needs rest to fight off whatever he has," he said. "Shall I bring some wet towels?"
"Oh yes please," said Ellie, "And maybe some chips from downstairs, he's barely eaten anything today."
"Got it," said Pete as he scrambled around the master bathroom preparing the wet towels. "Hey, how about I go pick up some chicken soup from the shop out front? I'm sure that will help make him feel better."
"That's a good idea! In between doing design work and taking care of him, I haven't done any cooking today," said Ellie.
"No problem." Pete brought a bowl full of cold water with a couple of face towels inside and put it on the bedside table. "I can also get some dinner on the way back from picking up the girls," he said.
"Sounds great" said Ellie, passing the phone to Juan and turning to get a wet towel. "Alright buddy, let's get this on your forehead."
"Alright, be right back."
"Thank you honey," said Ellie as she waved Pete goodbye.
"Mommy will you stay with me here?" asked Juan.
"Yeah, I'm staying right here with you, baby" she said as she kissed the top of his head and the put a wet towel on it. She took the phone from him and put her free arm around him, allowing him to cuddle up to her again.
"What do you want to play next?"