An Unexpected Favor
567 Words
Marcus Pov
My youngest son, Dillian, was running a temperature.
I had already given him the fever medication we kept at home, but it was not working.
I was beginning to panic.
Today had started out perfectly.
The boys woke up smiling, breakfast went well and for a brief moment I almost convinced myself that things would eventually settle down.
Now everything was crashing down on me.
I honestly thought Maggie would come back after she calmed down.
I convinced myself that twenty-four hours away from the boys would make her miss them.
I even imagined her walking back through the front door.
I was ready to forgive her.
Again.
But I was wrong.
Not even a phone call.
Not a single message asking how the boys were doing.
I picked up my phone more than once, tempted to call her.
Each time I stopped myself.
The only thing I had left was my self-respect.
I had already sacrificed enough trying to keep my family together.
For once...
I needed to stand my ground.
I was hurting for Christ's sake.
Everything happened so fast that I had not even allowed myself time to process it.
Sooner or later, I knew it would catch up with me.
But that is not the problem right now.
Dillian needed a hospital.
Marcus Jr. was asleep upstairs.
He had a weak immune system and there was no way I was exposing him to a hospital unnecessarily.
I looked through my contacts.
Then stopped at one name.
Debbie.
I hesitated.
I had already stressed that poor girl enough today.
Still...
I had no one else.
The phone barely rang twice.
"Hello sir."
Her voice sounded surprised.
I explained everything as quickly as I could.
Before I even finished, she answered.
"I'll be there."
Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door.
"Good evening Professor."
She smiled politely.
She was carrying a backpack.
"I honestly feel terrible asking you for this favor so late at night."
She shook her head immediately.
"I really don't mind."
She lifted her backpack.
"I brought my laptop too. I can finish some work while the boys are sleeping."
I smiled.
A genuine one.
"Thank you."
She stepped inside.
I quickly showed her where everything was.
"The boys are already asleep. Marcus Jr. usually sleeps through the night. If either of them wakes up, my number is on speed dial."
She nodded carefully.
"I've got this."
I picked Dillian up gently.
He rested weakly against my shoulder.
Before leaving, I looked back once.
Debbie was already checking the doors and windows.
Making herself useful.
For some reason...
That made leaving easier.
The doctor examined Dillian almost immediately.
"He'll need to stay overnight for observation."
I nodded without hesitation.
"Whatever he needs."
A few hours later, the medication finally started working.
His fever came down.
His breathing became steadier.
Soon he was fast asleep.
I finally allowed myself to breathe.
I stepped outside the room and called Debbie.
She answered almost immediately.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes sir."
Her voice was calm.
"The boys are asleep. Marcus Jr. woke up once asking for water, but he's sleeping again."
Relief washed over me.
"I won't be able to make it back tonight."
"That's okay."
"I really appreciate this."
She laughed softly.
"Don't worry about it, Professor."
For the first time that day...
I felt like everything might actually be okay.
- Writer
