Hey! Happy New Year. I've missed you guys.
I'm sorry it's been SO long since I updated this story! I've wanted to write it, but my ideas haven't been coming the way I wanted. I have a few in mind but they aren't written yet. I'm open to suggestions for Belle and Adam, Robert and Lissa, and Gaston and Sarah!
The passed weeks have been extremely stressful. I had COVID around Christmas (though my case was extremely mild), my sister is dealing with life-altering health problems, we got scammed which effected our bank accounts, and I actually talked to a guy who was finally interested in me, which kept me from being able to think of ideas for writing (which I didn't like at all! I missed my writing!) but that didn't last. I am trying to get a job.
I am glad to be back though! Hope you enjoy.
Little Isabelle becomes very sick.
At first it was just a few sniffles. Robert took extra effort to insure that plenty of firewood was at Lissa's hands to keep the house cozy from the crisp February air that kept trying to creep in. Lissa not only had baby Isabelle, two-years old now, dressed in warm winter clothes, but made sure she kept close to the fireplace in the parlor or the stove in the kitchen.
For a couple days, Isabelle only had a mild case of sniffles. Robert gave her an herbal remedy to squelch it. She slept better...for a few hours. But a couple hours passed midnight, Lissa and Robert were awakened to their child moaning loudly and wailing for her momma. "Momma! Momma!" Isabelle hollered pitifully.
"I'm coming, Isabelle!" Lissa called back, throwing her covers over Robert's head and racing to the nursery. Robert sat up and followed her. "Isabelle? What's wrong?" Lissa asked as she crouched down over Isabelle's small bed. Jesse was whimpering at her feet.
"Momma, 'old me!" Isabelle wept hoarsely, anxiously reaching her arms out and coughing. Lissa picked her up. She gasped when her daughter's hot face rubbed against her own. She anxiously felt her forehead.
"Lis, is she okay, darling?" Robert asked from the doorway. Lissa gazed back at him, panic on her face.
"Robert, she's running a fever!" Lissa exclaimed.
"What?" Robert stepped forward and felt Isabelle's face himself. "She is." He gulped. "Bring her to our room." Lissa quickly carried Isabelle to the master bedroom, Jesse at her heels. She gently lay Isabelle in the middle of the larger bed. Robert quickly returned.
"Momma..." Isabelle mewed miserably.
"I'm here, love." Lissa assured her. Robert sat on the opposite side of the bed and gently touched his daughter's hot face with a cool, wet cloth.
"Cold!" Isabelle cried.
"You're sick, sweetie." Robert said. "This will help you feel better." Isabelle wiggled in protest, shivering and crying. Lissa removed her flannel nightgown so she wouldn't be so hot. As Isabelle cried, she started coughing harshly.
"Robert..." Lissa looked at him frightfully.
"I'll be right back." Robert said evenly, but Lissa could see the fear in his blue eyes. He briskly left the room then returned with his medical bag. He sat back down and took out his stethoscope and pressed it against Isabelle's bare chest. The poor thing was so uncomfortable she just kept crying. Robert listened intently, his features becoming more and more drawn as Lissa dabbed her baby's forehead. Isabelle was trembling violently with chills.
"Robert, she's shaking so hard!" Lissa exclaimed.
"That's from the fever. We have to get it down quickly." Robert tried to say calmly. "Keep patting her down with the wet cloth. I'm going to get some water." He stood up and hurried to get a cup. Jesse was whimpering at the foot of the bed, gazing up anxiously at his frantic owners. Lissa was dabbing Isabelle's arms, her neck, her small belly, and her face. The child was burning up, yet shivering as if she were left out in the cold.
"Cold!" Isabelle wailed, which turned into an ear-splitting cough.
"Shh. I know, love." Lissa bit her lip hard to keep from crying in front of her little girl. Hysterics wouldn't help Isabelle calm down. "Momma's here." Lissa crooned. Jesse hopped onto the bed and crawled toward Isabelle, laying his large black head on her shaking legs.
" 'Esse!" Isabelle moaned, coughing again. Jesse began licking her shaky arm, letting his long, warm, rough tongue run up and down the small limb.
"Good boy, Jesse." Lissa breathed as she stroked Isabelle's hair. "That's my boy." Robert returned with a wooden cup. "Robert, what's wrong with her?"
"I cannot tell for sure." Robert shook his head. Truth was, he had a horrible knot in his stomach that his mental diagnosis was spot on: pneumonia! But he didn't want to add any more fear to Lissa's mind than what she already had, and as he had said, he didn't know for sure.
"Her coughing is wretched." Lissa sniffled.
"I know. Here, honey." Robert said gently to Isabelle. "Drink this, baby. Come on." He brought the cup to her lips. Isabelle shrank back, moaning and shaking. "Isabelle, it will help you feel better." Robert said firmly. "Drink it, sweetie."
"Isabelle, do as papa says." Lissa begged. Isabelle hollered and continued to tremble in Lissa's arms. Robert finally grabbed a spoon and snuck some remedy syrup down Isabelle's mouth. She protested loudly. Robert kept giving it to her when he could sneak it in. Jesse kept licking Isabelle's arms, and gradually, she began to tremble less. "She isn't shaking so much now." Lissa said with relief.
"Good." Robert agreed, feeling Isabelle's face. "Her fever's lower, thank God. Here, let's try to get her back to sleep." Isabelle was still crying and coughing. Robert fluffed up the pillows so she would be upright and not on her back.
"Momma..." She whimpered.
"Yes, Isabelle." Lissa kissed her sweaty head. Isabelle clutched Lissa's arm, but then a convulsing cough overtook her.
"Lis, stay with her. I'm going to get Dr. Tanner!" Robert instructed Lissa.
"Hurry, Robert!" Lissa nodded. She crouched next to Isabelle, gently covering her body up with the coverlet and doing her best to keep her fever at bay. Jesse lay up against the little girl, trying to add his warmth and whatever comfort her could. Lissa's ears hurt from listening to her baby's harsh coughing fits. She prayed every minute for Robert to return quickly, and that Dr. Tanner would be able to help her little girl.
It was a mere half hour, but it might as well have been twenty-four by the time Robert raced into the house with his mentor closely following him. Robert pulled Jesse back to give the elder doctor some space. Dr. Tanner did his best to examine the little girl who was tossing and turning, and hacking dryly. Lissa would not leave her side and tried to shush her into compliance. Isabelle was exhausted by the time Dr. Tanner had managed to listen to her lungs, but the cough persisted, making it nearly impossible for her to relax.
"Robert, I brought Ipecac in my bag. Please hand it to me." Dr. Tanner said. Robert quickly obeyed and handed the older man the small, brown bottle. This time, Isabelle took it without barely any protest, save a sour facial expression and whimpering. "That should dull the coughing for a time, and hopefully enable her to get a bit of sleep. I'm going to leave this bottle here for her."
"I'm sorry. We had barely any left here. I need to restock it quickly!" Robert exclaimed guiltily.
"Don't worry, Rob. You know we have enough at my office. With the cold weather and all, I make absolutely certain to be well stocked."
"I should've had more here, just in case." Robert said dejectedly.
"Dr. Tanner, what is wrong with her?" Lissa asked cautiously.
"I don't want to scare you, Lissa. Or you, Robert, but Isabelle is developing early symptoms of pneumonia." Dr. Tanner said gravely. Lissa gasped and huddled closer to her little girl. This time, she couldn't hold back the tears of fear.
"Ohh, Isabelle..." She moaned, hugging her.
"We'll do all we can." Dr. Tanner said, touching Robert's shoulder. "The main thing is get her fever down, and do our best to rid her of this vile cough."
"Will she be alright, Sir?" Robert asked timidly.
"I hope so, Robert." Dr. Tanner said.