That night Kris wakes up to a crying baby. She rolls out of bed, and wanders to his crib. She lifts him out of his crib and gives him a pacifier. He spits it out. She holds him closely hoping that he'll quiet down. He screams at the top of his lungs. She knows something has to be wrong. He never cries like this, and he generally sleeps through the night. She returns to her bed. She sits down on the bed with him and flips on the lamp. He continues to cry no matter what she does. She kisses his forehead, and prays that he'll quiet down. After kissing his forehead she puts her hand against his forehead.
"Oh baby you're burning up," she tells him.
She opens the top drawer of her bedside stand and pulls out a thermometer. She sticks it in his ear. He howls even louder. Finally it beeps and she takes a look at it. It reads a hundred and one. She lays him back in his crib so she can get dressed. She quickly throws on some clothes and then returns to his crib. She removes him from his crib and grabs his stuff. She zips up his jacket, and once again attempts to give him a pacifier as she grabs his diaper bag and moves toward the door. He quiets down somewhat as she makes her way out the door. She drives him to the hospital. While they're waiting he falls asleep.
Finally after just over an hour and a half a doctor comes in to examine him. He thoroughly checks out the baby. He returns the baby to Kris.
"He's got a double ear infection. He probably feels pretty lousy. I'll send a prescription up to the third floor pharmacy for an antibiotic. It should be ready in a few minutes. He should quiet down some after you give it to him. Give him half a dropper full twice a day,"
"What do I do for the fever?"
"Take him home and give him a luke-warm bath to regulate his temperature. He should feel better soon,"
"Ok, thank you," she sighs as she holds the exhausted baby close to her body.
When she returns home she gives the baby some medicine, and then runs a bath for him. After placing him in the bath she wipes him down with a wash cloth. Ethan starts to fall asleep as she bathes him. She drains the water, and dries him thoroughly. She puts a fresh diaper, and pair of pajamas on him, and then returns him to his crib. She snuggles a blanket around him, and peels off her own clothes. She puts on a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt and returns to her own bed.
8:30 am: Kris is in a deep sleep when she starts to hear ringing. She wakes up and quickly answers her cell phone which is in bed with her to prevent waking Ethan up.
"Hello?" she answers.
"Hey Kris it's Dani where are you?"
"What time is it?"
"Eight thirty,"
"Oh I'm so sorry I meant to call you. I was up with the baby. I had to take him to the hospital at three. I didn't get home until five thirty,"
"I'm sorry. Is he alright?"
"Yeah. I'll be in soon,"
"Kris I know that you probably want to be with him,"
"Yeah, but I also want to continue to feed him,"
"Why don't you just bring him with you?"
"I won't get any work done,"
"I'll take care of him. And you can come and check on him,"
"Ok," she agrees.
"I'll see you soon,"
"Ok bye Dani," she hangs up.
She takes a three minute shower followed by a three minute blow drying session. She then gets dressed and throws together Ethan's diaper bag. She gets him out of bed changes him, and puts fresh clothing on him. She gives him his medicine, and a bottle and returns the medicine to the refrigerator. She puts his coat, and hat on him and then heads out the door once again. Ethan sleeps peacefully through the whole process. This takes close to fifteen minutes. She arrives at the office at 9 o'clock on the dot.
By the time she reaches Dani's office Ethan has awaken. She sits the carseat on Dani's desk.
"What happened?"
"He woke me up in the middle of the night crying,"
"Babies do that,"
"He generally doesn't. And he wouldn't calm down. I realized that he had a fever so I took him to the hospital,"
"What was wrong?"
"He had a double ear infection,"
"Oh," she replies sadly as she looks at the infant sitting on her desk.
"Are you sure that you'll be alright?"
"I'm sure, now get to work,"
"Ok," she agrees.
As Kris leaves Dani's office Dani lifts the baby out of the car seat and takes off his jacket and hat. She gently wraps him up in a blanket and snuggles him.
Just before lunch Kris goes into Dani's office to check up on baby Ethan. She finds Kris holding her sleeping son.
"Hi," she says softly so not to wake her pride and joy.
"Hey are you getting ready to go to lunch?"
"Yeah,"
"Have you told Junior yet?"
"About Ethan?"
"Yeah,"
"No,"
"Kris I really think that you should. It's not fair to him. He's my brother and I don't want to see him get hurt. Please tell him,"
"I will,"
"When?"
"Soon,"
"You can tell him today,"
"What?"
"He's coming to take you to lunch. He should be here any minute,"
"Fine," she huffs. She quickly kisses her son and heads for the door. "Oh Dani he needs a bottle,"
"I just gave him one ten minutes ago," she informs her.
"Ok," Kris sighs in relief as she leaves the room.
As she gets to the lobby Junior is just coming in.
"Hey you ready to go?"
"Yeah," she nods and feigns a smile.
They arrive at their destination. He takes her for a picnic. After a few minutes of eating and an awkward silence Kris begins.
"Junior I need to tell you something," she admits as she looks into his eyes.
"What?"
"It's something big,"
"Are you having second thought about this?"
"About what?"
"About us?"
"No,"
"Then what? Why do you look so guilty? Is there someone else?"
"Not exactly. I mean kind of I suppose,"
"Which is it? Yes or no?"
"I guess yes,"
"Who is he?"
"Let me explain because it's not what you think at all,"
"To me someone else means that there is another man in your life,"
"Yeah,"
"So do you love him?"
"Yes," she says whole-heartedly.
"Then why are we having this conversation?" he asks becoming irrate.
"Junior please just let me explain. It isn't what you think,"
"You keep saying that. Are you in a relationship with someone else?"
"Yes but it's a different type of relationship,"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to explain it,"
"I'm trying to be patient, but I'd really just like for you to explain it,"
"Don't blow a gasket," she warns him.
"There is someone else monopolizing my time. And to be honest he takes priority over you. But I hope that you'll share me,"
"You want me to share you with another man? Kris that's asking too much,"
"He's not a man,"
"He's a kid? You're in love with a kid? Kris that's disgusting and illegal,"
"No it isn't,"
"Yes it is,"
"How?"
"Because the other man in my life is..."
"Is who? What's his name?"
"His name is Ethan,"
"Where does he live I'd like to pay him a visit,"
"He lives with me,"
"What? Where is he right now?"
"He's with Dani,"
"Kris I'm really confused,"
"Junior I love you and I hope that you love me enough to get through this because I don't want to lose you,"
"Then just spell it out. Tell me what is going on,"
"Junior I have a son,"
"What?"
"I've got a son,"
"How old is he? Have you been hiding this the entire time I've known you?"
"No. He's only three..."
He cuts her off, "He's three?"
"Let me finish. He's three months old,"
"He's a baby? You've got a baby?"
"Yes,"
"Is he mine,"
"No," she shakes her head.
"Who does he belong to?"
"That's the thing,"
"What do you mean that's the thing?"
"You know his father,"
"I do who is it?"
"He's your best friend,"
"What?"
"My son's father is Matt,"
"Ritter?"
"Yes,"
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"I just told him,"
"Oh,"
"Let's go,"
"What? Where are we going?"
"I want to meet him,"
"Want to meet who?"
"Your son,"
"I don't know that it's a great idea,"
"Why?"
"He's sick,"
"With what?"
"He's got a double ear infection,"
"Oh. I won't bother him I just want to see him for a minute,"
"Ok,"