Reid

25

i just needed to say that this story is everywhere and i never wrote birthdays, but there's no possibility that this is all still in the same year. Harlow is 2, Atlas is 9, and the twins are two months old. i apologize.

Bryn Reid

"I already called Aaron." I say, setting his phone on his nightstand.

"What? Why? I can handle being sick. What if they get a case?" Spencer sits up, before falling into a coughing fit.

"Then you can go tomorrow when you hopefully feel better. As of right now, it's just a paperwork day and someone can come and drop that off later." I explain. He opens his mouth, but closes it when I start again. "If you go while sick, you're risking getting everyone else sick."

"Germs are-"

"Baby, as much as I absolutely love your adorable rambling, you're not going to win this one. Aaron already knows you're not coming in. Just lay down and let me take care of you." I say, caressing his cheek.

"Okay," he mutters, leaning into my touch.

"Why don't you go back to sleep while I take Atlas to school and Harlow, Jaxon, and Em to daycare?" He nods, cuddling back into the bed.

I kiss his head. "Love you."

-

I set my phone on the counter and I grab a bowl and scoop some soup into it. Spencer has been asleep since I left, and hasn't eaten anything since yesterday evening as he had to miss dinner.

"Hey, bubba." I say softly, setting the bowel on the nightstand and shake his shoulder.

"Mmm," he hums, cuddling further into the blankets. "Five more minutes."

"Honey, you need to eat something. Once your belly is full then you can take a nice nap, okay?" He groans, pushing the blanket off of him.

"Okay," he mutters.

I lay the bed tray over his lap after he sits up and set the bowl on top. I kiss his head, explaining that I need to grab him a drink.

I pour him a cup of water and place it on his tray.

"Thank you, love." He smiles, then breaks out in a coughing fit.

"Of course. You wanna watch Star Treck?" He nods feverishly and I laugh, turning it on as I sit.

Spence scoots closer and sets his head on my shoulder, spooning some soup into his mouth. He swallows before sneezing.

Kissing his temple, I lean my head on his. My arm wraps around his shoulders and both of our attentions shifts to the tv.

I've always hated seeing loved ones sick. It's just something that's been stuck in my head ever since I found out that my grandmother had died of cancer. I never knew her that well, but I noticed her getting cold symptoms at first and then she got really sick and ended up in the hospital, leading up to her diagnosis.

Maybe it's the part of me that still remembers that and categorizes small symptoms to big health issues, or maybe it's the doctor in me. I'll never truly know.

"Hey, baby?" Spencer's croaky voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Hmm," I hum, facing him.

"Can I go back to sleep now?" He asks like a little kid.

"Yeah-yeah. I just wanted to make sure you ate something." I say, standing. I take the bowel and set the bed tray on the wall.

I take the bowel into the kitchen and fill it with water, letting it soak for a bit. I walk back into our room and see Spencer cuddled up into the pillows and blankets.