"Frank, we made it back from the doctor's office," she said.
"Well?"
" There is a fifty fifty chance. If he takes the medicine and it works, he will be fine. If it doesn't work-"
"Yeah, we just have to pray now don't we?" asked Frank.
"That's right. I love you." she said before ending the call to give Fenton the medication.
Callie returned from work and started making dinner.
"I can fix it, dear." he offered although he burns Mac and cheese.
"No, I need to get my mind off work anyway. How's Charlotte's cough?"
Upstairs, there was a faint cough followed by a wheeze. Callie sighed and Frank looked around for the medicine.
"So, how's your dad?"
" 50/50 chance, " he said.
" Oh, well today Iola came in. She was talking about having abdominal problems." she said with a smile.
Frank's eyes widened.
" Is she pregnant? Does Joe know?" he immediately asked.
"I'm don't think so. I'll find out tomorrow when I go to work!" she said with an even bigger smile.
"Are you pregnant too?" he asked with a horrified expression.
"No! I just think it'd be wonderful to be an aunt to another niece or nephew,"
Charlotte was their 'miracle child'. They were always so busy with work that nobody ever thought that they'd have any children. Whenever she was born, Fenton was also very depressed, one look at her and the depression seemed to diminish.
"Me too. I'm going to go give this to Charlotte." he said.
Upstairs, Charlotte lied in bed holding the teddy bear. He handed her the medication and kissed her forehead.
"Charlotte, you feel a little warm. Hey Callie, can you come feel her forehead?"
Callie walked up to the bed and put her hand on Charlotte's forehead. She then got a thermometer and checked her temp.
"100.2, you need to rest. I'll bring you a cold washcloth."
After dinner, Frank and Callie took turns checking on Charlotte. Then, they went to their room and tried to go to sleep. After twenty minutes, he finally got up and checked on Charlotte again.
She moaned in pain and quickly ran passed her dad to the bathroom where she threw up. Then she returned back to her bed.
" You alright?"
"My head and stomach hurt, daddy." she whined.
"I'll get you some medicine,"
After she took the medicine, Frank tucked her into bed. He walked back into his room and told Callie how Charlotte was throwing up.
The next morning, Frank went to wake up Charlotte. It was 10:30, Charlotte was notorious for waking up early. He opened the door.
" Charlotte? Get up, sweetie."
She remained asleep.
" Charlotte? " he said shaking her slightly.
Her arm felt very hot and she began wheezing.
"Callie!" he yelled.
She ran upstairs and saw what was happening.
"Pick her up! Keep her head elevated in case she vomits!" she ordered.
He carried her out to the car and they rushed to the emergency room. Doctors quickly put her on a stretcher and wheeled her away from a very worried Frank and Callie.
They weren't allowed with Charlotte at the time and Frank became very impatient. Callie nervously paced the waiting room back and forth while the minutes ticked by.
An hour. One impatient and confused hour passed before doctors finally let them see Charlotte. In a hospital bed, she lied with the television on Scooby Doo and her weakly turning her head. She smiled.
"She's smiling, that's a good sign." Frank reassured himself.
" She has bronchitis. Charlotte can return home along with some antibiotics. " a doctor told them.
Frank helped walk Charlotte back to her room before settling on the couch, head in his hands.
"What is it?" asked Callie.
"I should've known. I should've done something."
"Frank, she's going to be alright. She has medication."
"I know, I just don't like to see her sick."
"I know you dont. Well, Iola isn't pregnant. She called me."
"Is that good?"
"Most likely. I don't think Joe can handle another Joelene or Joe running around."
Frank laughed and called his parents. Laura answered.
"Hello? How is Charlotte?"
"She has bronchitis, but she's going to be okay. How's dad?"
"That's good. He hasn't moved around much today."
Frank closed his eyes. " Is that bad?"
"Not necessarily, the medicine said it caused drowsiness."
" How is he really, mom?"
" He is slower, Frank. He barely talks, just sits and looks out the window. I don't know what to do."
"I'll come over tomorrow," Frank said.
He thought of his nightmare, hoping it wouldn't be the last time he'd see his father.
