The Publisher

9. Harry

I had packed a bag for Allison and sent her off with my mother. Allison hadn’t been sick yet and I wasn’t about to push my luck. I stood in the driveway, watching my mother drive off with Allison firmly secured in her car seat and felt myself getting a little misty. Three months had flown by so fast, it didn’t seem possible. I went back into the house and made Emma some tea and dinner. I moved cautiously into the bedroom where Emma was sitting up, watching the television with dull eyes. She drank the tea and then picked at the dinner, with me perched on the end of the bed, telling stories and Emma smiling weakly.

“Why do you like chamomile tea so much?” I asked. She shrugged, setting the empty cup down.

“It calms me down.” She said her voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, I could understand that. I turned and looked at the television.

“What are you watching?”

“Nothing, all the shows here are boring.” I turned and smiled at her and she buried herself deeper into the covers until only her eyes and top of her head could be seen.

“Want to watch videos of Allison I took a couple weeks ago?”

“Of course.”

There was nothing much for me to do but worry about Emma or make her a meal that she barely ate. I went and got her some magazines which we read together. Emma looked carefully at every outfit on the pages. We watched boring daytime television and Emma slept. Her fever stayed at the same temperature but refused to break, no matter how much medicine she took. At the end of the day I was tempted to call the doctor when she started pushing blankets off her.

“It’s so hot in here.” She said. I could see sweat beading on her forehead.

“Your fever broke.” I said. She got up and opened the window, letting to cold November air in. She leaned her head out the window.

“Hey!” I said, laughing. I went over and pulled her away, still laughing. Emma was smiling tiredly too. She leaned her head against my shoulder as I closed the window, tired from the brief walk.

“So hot.” She murmured.

“It’s because I’m in here.” I said. She feebly punched my arm.

“I’m glad you feel better.” I said, kissing her hot forehead.