Reaper Unleashed by Michelle Woods, Mary Bogart Crenshaw Page B

out of the car grabbing her purse and opened the door to her room. The sight that greeted her made her burst out laughing.
    Derik was covered in applesauce. He looked up at her with goo dripping from his chin and smiled. “He’s been a little moody today.”
    Sarah stopped laughing because Josh didn’t become moody much. He was normally a really happy baby. If he was moody he was likely getting sick. Sarah entered the room and shut the door. “He didn’t want to eat the applesauce I take it?” she asked.
    “Nope, he hasn’t eaten anything actually. A few bites, that’s all. I was going to call you if he didn’t eat this batch. I think he might be running a fever too.” Derik looked concerned. He stepped out of the way when she lifted Josh into her arms. She’d noticed he was a bit cranky earlier but he’d eaten breakfast and taken a nap before she’d left him this afternoon just before lunchtime.
    She felt his forehead and he was a little warm. She sighed; she would have to take him to the doctor’s over in Grandyvillle if he wasn’t better in the morning. It was a three-hour drive and it always took a while for them to see the patients because it was a walk-in clinic.
    “I’m sorry he was trouble for you. I will use the fever strips I have for him and hopefully he’ll be better.” She was a little worried about the time. “Can you keep him tomorrow? I know he might be a bit sick but I just found a job and I will have to go in tomorrow night.”
    Derik smiled as he used a towel from the counter to wash the applesauce off his face. “Sarah, it’s no problem. He’s sick and he’s being cranky, it’s understandable. Of course I’ll keep him. Congratulations on the new job too. That’s some fast work. I figured it would take longer. Is it the daycare?”
    Sarah felt her cheeks heat and her eyes turned away as she bounced Josh, who was fussing, on her hip. “Umm…no. I got a job doing the books for someone.”
    “Oh, well that’s great. I’m going to head home I think. Josh, buddy, I hope you feel better,” he said as he gathered his stuff and left. Sarah had already found the fever strips and put one on Josh’s forehead. He fought her when she tried to stick it on and she knew she was in for a rough night. With a sigh, she sat back on the bed and rubbed his back.
    At five the next morning she was blurry eyed and knew she’d have to take him to Grandyville to see the doctor. He’d been throwing up and his fever had spiked three times.  She loaded him into the car and headed out at six. She had to stop three times on the way to clean him up when he got sick in the car and a sense of panic was filling her chest by the time she got to the doctor’s office at ten. There were twelve cars already in the lot and she knew that meant they were ahead of her. She wanted to cry because Josh was still running a fever and she was exhausted.
    Entering the waiting room, she wasn’t happy to see it full. She went to check in and found that she was number forty and that the doctor was on patient fifteen. The woman gave her a juice box for Josh to drink and while she fought with him trying to get him to drink it, her phone rang and she dug it out of her bag.
    “Hello,” she answered, not really paying attention as she tried to get Josh to drink the juice.
    “Sarah! Why the hell didn’t you call me and tell me that you’d lost your job at Hal’s?” Sammy demanded angrily.
    “Sammy, I can’t talk right now. Josh is sick and we’re in Grandyville.”
    “Oh my God, is he okay?” she demanded. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    “No, Sammy, you don’t have to come all the way here. It’s fine, we’re just waiting to see the doctor and…” Sammy cut her off.
    “Sarah Banner! I know you didn’t just tell me that I can’t come make sure my nephew is okay. I know that did not just happen!” she screeched. Even while Sarah sighed and shook her head at her friend’s dramatics she was glad that