Love Will Find A Way

Part Two - Chapter Twenty-Two: Unwell Antony

Nicole groaned softly as she rolled out of bed as she was awoken by Antony cries, she was home alone with her fiancé since he was away playing Valencia in the Copa del Rey; the brunette knew that he would be back late the following night.

Antony was now fourteen weeks old and while he could sleep for around six or seven hours most nights, he still often woke up at four o’clock in the morning for a feed.

Nicole padded into her son’s room as her grey night maxi dress flowed around her, she yawned as Kodiak followed her from the master bedroom; he often slept with her when Cristiano was away playing.

Toby looked at the brunette as she moved to pick up her son, she smiled knowing that the family couldn’t have asked for better pets; they were both very protective of her and Antony when Cristiano wasn’t home.

Nicole shushed Antony as she picked him up and looked at the fourteen week old, she sighed as she spotted that Antony looked slightly flushed; she headed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Nicole picked up the house phone and quickly dialled her doctor’s number as she set Antony down in his rocker and leant against kitchen counter, she knew she was doing the right thing since he didn’t look well.

“Allison? It’s Nicole, Antony’s looking a little bit flushed,” Nicole said when the doctor answered the call, she watched her son knowing that if there was something wrong with him then the doctor would know what to do.

“I’ll be there within the hour,” the doctor said before hanging up while Antony looked to his mother and gave a small cry, he didn’t look well and the brunette knew that she had better let Cristiano know what was going on.

Nicole quickly picked him up and dialled her fiancé’s number, knowing she couldn’t keep this from him and if she did he’d get upset; the press would have a field day if they got wind that there was something wrong with Antony.

“Cris I know it’s early but I think Antony’s got a fever… call me back when you get this,” Nicole said once she hit his voice mail when he didn’t answer.

She wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t answered since she knew that Mourinho was strict about his players getting sleep before an important match.

The brunette sighed and put down the phone on the kitchen counter, before she made her way into the living room with Antony trying to sooth him; there was no doubt in her mind what was wrong with her son.

***

It didn’t take long for Allison to arrive at Nicole and Cristiano’s home and quickly set about checking the fourteen week old over before she smiled softly at Nicole; who had started to bit her nails nervously about her son’s illness.

“It’s just a slight fever nothing to be worried about,” Allison reassured the brunette as she handed the infant back to his mother, she knew that all mother’s worried about their children when they were ill and Nicole wouldn’t be any exception.

Kodiak and Toby watched from their large shared bed in the corner of the room, the fourteen week old was clearly very well protected and no one dared to offset that when it came to the family.

“Is there anything I can do to make him comfortable?” Nicole asked as she stood and led Allison to the door; the brunette knew that the doctor would probably want to get home and back to bed since it was still very early in the morning.

The brunette looked at her son, who rested his head tiredly on her shoulder, she wanted to do whatever she could to make him comfortable and better as soon as possible.

“Keep him cool by removing layers of clothing or give him a bath with lukewarm water for about five to ten minutes, it will reduce his body temperature. Feed him regularly and offer extra feedings to help prevent dehydration,” Allison said before saying goodbye to Nicole and heading back to her car before she left the brunette alone with her son.

Nicole sighed as she closed the front door and looked down at Antony who looked up at her; he whimpered softly making the brunette smile at him, she would give him a bath and another feeding before she settled him back to bed.

“How about a bath then?” she asked softly just as the house phone started to ring, the brunette sighed as she headed to collect it wondering who it could be; she knew that no one would be awake at half five in the morning.

“Hola?” Nicole said as she started back up the stairs carrying Antony as she went, balancing the phone on her shoulder; she knew that it would probably be a quick call, she wanted to get Antony settled as quickly as possible.

The fourteen week old whimpered as his mother headed straight for the main bathroom, she knew that he wouldn’t be able to settle for a little while if she didn’t cool him down. 

“I’m getting the first flight back,” Cristiano said making Nicole stop walking, she was a little surprised that it was him calling her; she had thought that he’d still be asleep and she wondered how Mourinho would take him leaving like that.

The brunette doubted that the manager would be pleased if Cristiano came home when she was perfectly fine handling things without him for the night.

“It’s fine… I can handle this until you get back,” she said as she settled herself onto the toilet seat with Antony now sitting on her lap; the brunette knew he’d do anything to come home to her and their son.

The footballer had told her that they meant more to him, but Nicole knew that she would be able to look after their son until he got home; she could handle a sick Antony for a while.

There was a silence on the other end of the line for several seconds before she heard Cristiano talk to someone; Nicole nibbled on her lip as she realised that it was Mourinho, she had a feeling that her fiancé had woken him up so that he could come home to her.

“Nicole,” the footballer murmured in warning, he didn’t like the idea of being away from her or their son when the little boy was ill; he could only imagine what could happen if he remained away from them.

Nicole smile as Antony started to play with the sterling silver cubic zirconia mini love knot pendant, that Cristiano had gotten her for Christmas, the brunette watched their son for a moment knowing that she would be fine until her fiancé got home the next evening.

“I don’t want you to miss the match plus if you’re that worried you can come back tomorrow night,” Nicole said as she rested her head on Antony’s, she knew that she would be fine and there was nothing that Cristiano could do even if he was with her.

The brunette listened as Cristiano spoke for a moment with Mourinho, they were speaking in Portuguese and Nicole had a feeling that she knew what her fiancé was going to do.

“I’m coming home,” the footballer said knowing that he wouldn’t be able to focus if he didn’t go home to her and their son; he would worry constantly during the match and he knew that his team would be fine without him, he just wanted to focus on Antony.

Nicole sighed as she nodded her head, she had known from the moment that she had called him that he would come home to her; she was a little pleased that he would do that for her and their son.