"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 20 - "Chicken Pops..."

Chapter 20 - "Chicken Pops..."

Clara's PoV

'Just as I thought' John mumbled as he analysed Poppy's back full of spots. She looked pretty much fine all day until this afternoon where she had started to look a little drained with red cheeks and dark circles under her eyes.

'What?' I asked as he had Poppy on the counter of the kitchen and poked at her little cheeks.

She hadn't really been right for a couple of days now.

She's much like Evie in the fact that she's very bouncy and questionable, so we pretty much know when she's not very well.

'Chicken pox. It's about time one of them got it. I mean 4 kids and not one of them has had it yet. But it does mean that their all going to get it' John pointed out.

'Hmm. So what your telling me is we've got two or three weeks of hell?' I hummed. 'They've only just started school and now their going to need a week off each' I said rolling my eyes.

'Nothing we can do' he scoffed, as he pushed the hair in Poppy's face out of the way and she threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck wanting comfort from John.

Their all very much about their Dad - which is to be expected - so when their ill all they want is attention from him.

'Come on little one. How about we go and have a bath? We can play with the fish toys?' He suggested and she nodded happy enough to settle for that, as he took her up the stairs.

- - -

John yawned as he woke up the following morning about to go back to sleep for 5 more minutes, but when he turned in his bed - his wife to be wasn't even there.

He rose his eyebrows seeing Poppy curled up on Clara's side of the bed and snoring gently.

Overnight she had exploded in spots which was quite amusing.

Her cheeks were red, and her eyes looked to be puffy and red from where she had obviously been crying and in discomfort but she had spots everywhere.

They were covering her - with the exception of her face which wasn't that bad at all. It was just about keeping her from scratching them x4 because none of the kids had, had the chicken pox.

John wasn't sure why they hadn't contracted them years ago - but if it's not going round then it's not going to spread.

John climbed out of bed and found Clara asleep in Poppy's bed in her room, which was quite amusing because the bed was a fairy princess bed which was made for the size of a 5 year old.

Clara barely fit and looked pretty uncomfortable.

'Cup of tea?' John suggested as I opened one eye and glared at him.

'Your a heavy sleeper' I scoffed, climbing from the infant bed and walked straight past him.

It was known that when Poppy climbed into bed with you then you wasn't getting any sleep because she moves so much in her sleep throwing her limbs anywhere.

We had, had several complaints when she first went into a bed from Avia that Poppy kept climbing in with them and they could never get any sleep.

'I've got work as well' I mumbled.

'Yeah. I'm staying here with Lil today I think. She's going to take Henry to school with Ollie and then he's coming to stay the night' John said filling me in.

'Are we making this some kind of party? She's only brining Ollie over so that he'll get them as well' I said rolling my eyes but understood her logic.

Ollie and Henry were very nearly three and the younger they get it the better it is for them.

'Looks like our weekend plans are screwed' I mumbled boiling the kettle.

'No. Why?'

'Well I'm supposed to be having my hen party this weekend and going away with a couple of girls. And what about Lilly she isn't going to want to come?'

'I think Richard and I can handle 5 kids between us. Richard and Ollie can move in for the weekend. It'll be fine. We'll have loads of fun'

'I don't think lilly will approve' I pointed out.

'She can't deny him seeing his child Clara. He is his Dad. And a pretty good one at that'

'Are you sure you can handle it?' I asked a little worried biting my thumb nail, and looking at him.

'I admire your faith' he said sarcastically in a grumble, and went to get the kids ready for school.

Those that were going anyway.

- - -

'Daddy' Evie mumbled as she stood in the doorway of the lounge in her pyjamas still and had a worried look on her face.

'Hmm?' John asked still dressing Ollie and realised he was going to have to inform the misery of the outbreak in the Smith household.

No doubt the whole nursery of three year olds who haven't had the chicken pox would get them now.

Evie and John's relationship was still a little frosty since Clara had demanded that she come home. But John was doing everything in his best interest to make things right between them.

This might be his opportunity though.

He looked up and noticed Evie's crazy brunette hair flowing into a messy pony tail and sniffed.

'I think I've got the pox' she mumbled guiltily as if it was a bad thing. John was thankful.

'Good. You all need them. Spend as much time around Avia as you can' he smirked, as she came and sat beside him on the sofa.

He realised very quickly that she had come over it overnight and that it is very fast.

She had rosy red cheeks as if she had a temperature but not as many spots yet. She had enough however to notice that she was certainly coming down with them.

'Mummy. Evie has the chicken pops too' Poppy squeaked as she came into the kitchen in much better sports knowing probably that then she'd have someone to spend the day with.

Downside of the chicken pox is that they come down with temperatures but otherwise they are pretty much as active as before with the exception of being house bound.