"One cup of broth, ready to drink." I pushed open her door with my foot. "I'm going to turn on the light so I can give this to you as it's still quite warm so make sure to blow on it." Hearing the blanket rustling beneath her, I saw her sitting up in bed as the light flipped on.

"Okay." As I looked her over, she still looked slightly pale but better than she had looked earlier in the I made sure she was holding onto the handle before giving the cup to her. She blew on the liquid softly for a few minutes, before taking a small sip. "It tastes pretty good. Kind of salty."

"It should help you feel better." Tilting my ear towards the door, I heard a slight rapping noise that I realized she hadn't picked up on. "I'll be right back. I didn't make you a lot, so try to drink it all." She nodded and I retreated down the hallway towards the door. "Natalie, what are you doing here?" I asked upon opening the door and stepping onto the patio.

"When you called me and weren't answering any of my calls, I called Jay to ask if you were around and he told me you were home this weekend. He then added if I wanted to know what was going on I would need to ask you."

"I'll admit things have been a little crazy lately." The word crazy seemed like an understatement considering that both mine and Eva's lives had changed in a matter of days, hers more than mine. "I think I needed the weekend off work to try and figure things out."

"Okay. So this has nothing to do with what happened with Ronald Booth?"

"Not in the way you think." I gestured for her to follow me to the door and kept my voice down since Eva was still resting. "A little over six years ago, I met a guy who I was originally paired up to take down Booth. We became more than friends and then we got her." Looking down the hall, I saw Eva's light was still on and decided it was better for her to see this one for herself.

Eva had placed the cup on top of the dresser, the paper towel underneath it. She was now half buried underneath her covers and was facing the wall as I snaked my hand around the corner to turn out the light and closed her door so we wouldn't end up disturbing her with our conversation.

"You have a daughter." Natalie stated as we walked up to the former living room and sat down to talk. "That's why you called."

"And the reason I haven't been answering my phone. She hasn't been feeling well since yesterday and I guess a part of me panicked and called you, even though she seems to be doing okay now."

"What are her symptoms?"

"Her stomach has been hurting ever since she arrived a little over a couple weeks ago. I thought it was because she was anxious about going to a new school, but it's continued ever since. She's been complaining about her stomach hurting, headache and she's been super lethargic since yesterday morning. I just gave her some broth to see if she can keep it down before feeding her anything else."

"Has she not been able to keep food down?"

"She's thrown up once so far but hasn't been awake or has an appetite enough to eat much." I thought back and realized she had hardly eaten anything since the weekend had begun. Not that I had opened up to Natalie, I hoped she could help navigate me to what was best to get Eva back to good health.

"What about fluids?"

"She's had a little but probably not enough. I still don't know what I'm doing."

"Most people don't." Natalie gave me a reassuring smile, which made me feel a little better about not knowing much yet about parenting."We all have to start off somewhere. Try not to be too hard on yourself."

"Thanks."

"Well, based on what you told me, there could be more going on but it's hard to tell without examining her. What I can tell you is that there are definitely germs and viruses always floating around during the time kids are in school, and since she's just beginning there, she could be picking up some germs she's never been exposed to. What school is she enrolled in?

"Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary."

"You know my son Owen just started kindergarten there. What's Eva's schedule look like now that you're working?"

"She goes to school until about three-thirty, and then stays in the after school program until I can pick her up at night. I'm staying home on the weekends until I can figure out a good schedule and somebody who can watch her while I'm working."

"That makes for a long day. So does she like the program?"

"I'm not sure she does. When I drop her off most days at school, she calls me later crying that her stomach hurts and she wants to go home. When I pick her up, she's sitting against the wall and is more than ready to leave long before I get there."

"Hmm. I'm sorry. As a doctor, I would definitely say her symptoms are worth getting checked out for both her stomach and whatever may be going on, especially if her symptoms are still present in a day or two. I would be glad to check her out, just let me know. Or I can refer you to a pediatrician if you want to do that."

"Can I think about it?"

"Yeah, no rush. If there is anything you need to help navigate parenthood, let me know." Natalie stood up as she grabbed her keys out of her purse. "You have my number if you need anything."

"I actually do have one question."

"Ask away."

"What do you do with your son while you're working?"

"I hired a nanny. She's a family friend and Owen absolutely adores her, which is a relief because I don't have to really worry about him while I'm away."

"Thanks Natalie."

"Take care of yourself and let me know if there's anything I can do." Adjusting the strap over her shoulder, she opened the door with a gentle smile and disappeared as she closed the door behind her.

"I will, thanks."