Bikeriders Serenade

A Family's Warm Embrace

Early the next morning, Austin was woken by the sound of Mia coughing and crying. His heart sank as he quickly but quietly got out of bed, not wanting to disturb Lucy, and made his way to Mia’s room. When he opened the door, he found her sitting up in bed, clutching her chest, her small frame trembling with each cough.

Seeing her in distress broke his heart. He walked over to her bedside, crouching down to be at her level. “What hurts, pumpkin?” he asked gently, his voice soft with concern.

Mia, unable to speak from the soreness, simply pointed to her throat and head, her eyes filled with discomfort. Austin reached out, feeling her forehead with the back of his hand. His heart sank further when he felt the heat radiating from her skin.

Without a word, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the master bedroom, carefully sitting her down beside Lucy. By this point, Lucy had stirred from her sleep, her motherly instincts kicking in as she noticed Mia’s distressed state.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice groggy but filled with concern.

“She’s burning up,” Austin replied, already heading to the bathroom to grab the thermometer. He returned quickly, took Mia’s temperature, and looked over at Lucy with worry in his eyes. “She’s got a pretty high fever.”

Lucy sat up, brushing Mia’s hair back with a tender hand. Austin reached for the medicine cabinet and returned with some children's fever reducer and a glass of water. “Here you go, pumpkin. This will help you feel better,” he said, handing her the medicine.

Mia took the medicine, her tiny hands shaking as she reached for the water. Austin smiled reassuringly at her and gently kissed her forehead. “Stay here with Mommy. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Mia nodded weakly and curled up next to Lucy, who pulled her close and wrapped her arms around her. “We’ll just relax for a bit, sweetheart,” Lucy whispered as she grabbed the remote, turning on Bluey, Mia’s favorite cartoon.

As the familiar sounds of the show filled the room, Austin headed downstairs to prepare something for Mia’s comfort, his mind racing with worry but determined to make her feel better.

After heading downstairs to find something soft and comforting for Mia to eat, Austin noticed Lori, Timmy, and Noah already sitting at the table, working on their school assignments. Lori glanced up from her book and smiled. “Morning, Dad. What are you doing?”

Austin gave her a quick smile. “Trying to find something soft and easy for Mia. She’s got a sore throat and a fever.”

Lori’s eyes softened with concern, but she quickly offered, “How about one of your world-famous PB&J sandwiches? They’re pretty soft and comforting.”

Austin chuckled, touched by his eldest daughter’s thoughtfulness. “Perfect. Thanks, sweetheart.”

He immediately set to work, preparing the sandwich the way Mia liked it—peanut butter spread evenly on both slices of bread with grape jelly in the middle. He carefully cut the sandwich into triangles, just as Mia preferred, and placed a small bowl of mixed berries on the side. He filled her favorite princess cup with milk, adding a lid to avoid any spills.

Before heading back upstairs, he turned to Lori, Timmy, and Noah, who were still hard at work. “Good job getting a head start on your schoolwork, you three,” he said, smiling proudly.

With Mia’s tray in hand, Austin returned to the master bedroom. He found Lucy cuddling Mia, who was nestled against her while they watched Bluey. He quietly placed the milk on the bedside table and handed Mia the sandwich.

“Here, pumpkin,” he said softly. “This should help make you feel better.”

Mia accepted the sandwich, her small hands wrapping around the plate as she gave a weak smile. Austin climbed into bed next to her, wrapping an arm around both her and Lucy.