Carson's POV
The morning was quiet as I sipped my coffee, the warmth of it grounding me. I had already checked on Rae, making sure she was doing alright after the dentist, and it looked like today was going to be a little easier for her. Her anxiety had faded some, though I could tell she still wasn't feeling 100%.
My phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw a text from Gaby.
"Hey Carson! I'm going to swing by this morning and later this evening to give Raelynn her two shots. Let me know if anything changes!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. Gaby was always so reliable when it came to Rae's care, and it made my life a little easier knowing she'd be around. I quickly texted her back.
"Thanks, Gaby. I appreciate it. I'll be here."
After sending the message, I placed my phone back down and let out a long sigh. There was still a lot on my plate today, but I'd make sure Rae was taken care of first. I could handle the rest once she was feeling better.
I glanced toward Rae's room and made a mental note to check in on her again before Gaby arrived.
Raelyn's POV
I woke up feeling groggy, the events of the previous day still lingering in the back of my mind. The pain in my mouth had dulled a little, but the memory of the shots, the dread, was still there, making my stomach churn.
I rubbed my eyes, pushing myself to sit up. My limbs felt heavy, like my body wasn't quite ready to wake up. But I had to get up. I couldn't stay in bed all day, no matter how much I wanted to. I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom, my reflection in the mirror reminding me that I needed to pull myself together.
I took a deep breath, running a brush through my hair as I tried to ignore the way my hands trembled. It felt strange to be moving so slowly, but I forced myself to go through the motions. I brushed my hair carefully, taking the time to smooth out the knots, even though my head felt foggy. A quick glance at the clock told me it was still early, but I had no idea what time it was when Carson and Gaby had planned to come over.
I grabbed a simple outfit from my closet and slipped into it quickly. The soft fabric of my sweater was comforting, and I tried to focus on how normal this morning felt-like any other day. But the thought of Gaby being here made me uneasy. I didn't know what she was coming to do exactly, but the last time we'd spoken, I knew she had something to check on. The thought of shots loomed over my mind again, but I didn't want to think about it. I couldn't.
Once I was dressed, I glanced at the hallway outside my room. The quiet was soothing, but I could hear faint voices in the kitchen, muffled but unmistakable. Carson and Gaby were here. I didn't know why, but something about the sound of their conversation made the pit in my stomach deepen.
I hesitated, standing by the door for a moment, unsure of what to expect. Carson had been so calm the day before, so reassuring, but I knew this day would be different. He'd probably be expecting me to act like I was okay, like I was fine, but the fear was already creeping back in, just beneath the surface.
Taking a deep breath, I finally forced myself to leave my room, stepping quietly into the hallway. I could hear Gaby's voice now, a little clearer.
"Well, she's been through a lot lately, Carson. I'm sure she'll be fine, but I want to make sure she's ready before we move forward with anything."
Ready? I had no idea what that meant. A thousand questions swirled in my mind as I slowly crept closer to the kitchen, trying to make sense of it all. Carson's voice followed.
