Conversations From Afar

sick kids / 90

"Oh, hi Kat." Cam's mom greets me while guiding her youngest children out to the SUV. She reminds me of Angelia Jolie with her chic black coat and sunglasses and ethnically diverse group of kids.

"Kat!" I get a fist bump from the boys and Vivienne flashes me a peace sign. Milo gives me a side hug because he's nearest and just that kind of teenager.

"You go right in, but I'll warn you Cam's awfully sick. Isaiah stayed home to take care of him."

"I think I can handle it, see you." They embark on their - probably - Christmas shopping and I step inside and hang my coat on the (unusually) empty rack.

Cam is sprawled on the couch with his head resting on his father's knee and he hugs a tasseled throw pillow to his chest.

"I hate being sick," he says in a vaguely whiny voice and Isaiah places a hand on his forehead.

"Your fever's going down, do you want some juice?"

"No, I just want to die. Or get better. Either."

"Not with that attitude." He laughs at his own remark and Cam groans.

"Hey," I say, stepping into the living room and cursing the soundless staircase.

"Katherine!" Cam cranes his neck to see me, looking bored and restless but also exhausted and his cheeks are fever-flushed. "How are you?"

"Better off than you." I take a seat on the opposite armchair and curl my legs beneath me. I address Isaiah, who's a pediatrician and the parent who usually stays home to nurse: "How's he doing?"

"Complaining as much as usual." Cam takes personal offense when his body has the audacity to get sick. "Did you enjoy Quebec?"

"Loved it, totally understand how you lived there for so long."

"Montreal's nice, I like it here, though. Much quieter." Cam makes a whiny noise and turns on his side to face me, his head still propped on his father's knee. He smiles tiredly.

We watch some Doctor Phil while Isaiah keeps absentmindedly combing his hand through Cam's hair and sporadically checking Cam's forehead for his temperature. It's quite endearing; partially so because Cam's legs are all folded up awkwardly just so fit on the couch but he seems content.

The pager on the coffee table goes off loudly, and he sits up to check it. His cellphone goes off from beside it.

"De luca. Shit, okay. Yeah, I'm coming in." He hangs up and Cam sits up actively not pouting. "My patient's septic I need to go to the hospital but tell your mom I'll try and be back for dinner." Then he's gone out the door with a messenger bag flapping against his leg and no coat.

"Alone at last," Cam says without any real intent. "Would you mind getting me a glass of water?"

"How long have you had the fever?" I fill one of those glass Lululemon bottles and he rises up on an elbow to take a drink. He's wearing one of those really loose, old t-shirts and it makes him look more skinny than usual.

"Woke up with it. Wasn't feeling too bad when I dropped you off but after dinner I just went to bed and I woke up freezing, but actually with a fever."

I sit in his father's seat because even though it's probably a bad idea I know I'll crack at some point so it might as well be now. I rest my legs on the coffee table and let him out his head in my lap.

"Hi," he says, smiling with the cute crinkly nose. I just run my fingers through his hair (very warm) and he closes his eyes like a cat.

The Social comes on and I listen to them talk about the latest Bestseller-turned-movie while Cam dozes.

He wakes momentarily, turning against my leg. "Mm, Kat? Did you end you talking to your mom?"

"Yeah, we talked. It was fine."

"Do you feel better?" His voice is rough and he cringes every time he speaks.

"I don't know... maybe, I'm not sure." He takes my hand and holds it to his chest before he goes back to sleep.

I feel comforted even though he's the one who should because his white blood cells are at war right now and I'm just...

"Shh..." he murmurs.

"What?"

"Stop thinking, you'll just think yourself into a mess." His eyes are closed but he's smiling. I poke one of his faint dimples and he grins wider.

****

sick cam is so cute you'll be seeing more of that

i highly recommend following me on spotify (exoticfinn) bc my playlists give me life they are my horcruxes (are you curious now?)(i just came up with that) rlly into the arkells and melanie rn