Sous-Sus: Premier Jewels

Chapter Twenty: The Runaway Mom

ILSE

I woke up feeling awful, my body aching all over and my head throbbing like never before. It was as if a heavy blanket of exhaustion had wrapped itself around me, making every movement a struggle. All I wanted was to curl up in bed and sleep until I felt better again.

As I slowly made my way out of my room, trying my best to hold back tears, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. He looked at me with concern in his eyes, and without saying a word, he enveloped me in a warm hug.

"Dad," I mumble into his shirt. "I want Dad."

"I know," he rubs my back before walking me back into my room and tucking me in. "Sleep. I'll get Dad."

I close my eyes, and in what feels like hours, I feel a cold hand on my head. Squinting, I find Dad smiling down at me.

"You're burning up, sweetie," Dad tells me, a worried expression etched on his face. "Can you open your mouth for me so I can take your temperature?"

I nod, slowly opening my mouth. As Dad gently placed the thermometer under my tongue, I could feel the tension in the room. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally read the result.

"102.5 degrees. It's confirmed you have a fever," he takes the thermostat out of my mouth.

"I need to go to dance. Mom's gonna be mad at me."

"You can't, sweetie," Dad tells me. "I'll call Ariadne so she can break the news to her."

I snuggled into my comforter, closing my eyes. A shiver racked my body as I coughed. "Don't. She's pregnant. You shouldn't stress her out."

"Then I'll call your Mom myself," Standing, Dad promises he'll bring me some medicine to lower the fever and food.

I must have fallen asleep because I was startled awake when the door to my room opened. Dad walks into my bedroom with a tray.

"Sorry," Dad tells me. "Did I wake you?"

I sat up. "Yeah, it's okay." my voice came out hoarse.

Dad places the tray down and lays his hand on my forehead. "You're still warm but not as bad as you were this morning."

"What time is it?" I asked him.

"It's already five, I don't know if you remember, but I woke you up around two to give you a fever reducer, but other than that, I thought it was best to let you sleep," he responds. "I brought you some tea and medicine."

"You didn't go to work?" I ask him after swallowing down two tablespoons of liquid Tylenol. I quickly accepted the tea to chase the taste down.

"You needed me more," was his response; I sent him a tired smile. "Now, if you're feeling up to it, Val made you biche de pescado."

"I can eat," I told him, wrapping the blanket around me and swinging my body out of the bed, where Dad then picked me up.

I was snuggled into the couch watching The Looney Tunes with a bowl of biche de Pescado on my lap when I heard the door open. Myla rushed into the house with Neil and Joah behind her. She bounded up to me as soon as she saw me, stopping right in front of the couch. My brothers headed up to their room to change out of their uniforms.

She tilts her head at me, looking me up and down while worrying her bottom lip. "Do you feel better?"

I smile softly at her. "A little. Wanna tell me what happened at the studio today?"

She grinned before taking a seat on the sofa. Myla might be quiet, but when given the opportunity to talk, she can talk. She told me about Mom putting Kendall back on prohibition, which caused Jill to take Kendall out of the group. How Nia was on top of the pyramid and has a lyrical solo.