Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 98 - Childhood Illness

Melody was officially 'burning up' by the time the Abernathy family arrived home. It was the afternoon following their shortened visit to the Rose Garden in Los Angeles in honor of Susan's birthday.

Susan put Melody to bed right away, then took her temperature while Greg hovered in the doorway. He noticed the flicker of concern on Susan's face when she read the thermometer, before carefully arranging her features in a positive expression as she informed Melody she was getting her some Tylenol.

"How high is it?" Greg asked when Susan stepped out into the hall.

"One hundred six. We have to get her temperature down immediately," Susan told him.

"What are you going to do?" Greg asked.

"I'm getting her the Tylenol, like I said. Then I'm going to give her a sponge bath. You are going to call Dr. Bowers."

"The pediatrician? Instead of calling Dr. Lin, her cardiologist?" Greg questioned as he followed Susan to the bathroom while she found the medicine.

Susan hesitated for a second or two. "Dr. Bowers will probably want to tell Dr. Lin about her illness, but she doesn't treat contagious disease. As Melody's pediatrician, that is something Dr. Bowers would do. Besides, his office is closer if he wants to see her."

"Today is Sunday. Wouldn't his office be closed?" Greg said.

Susan shrugged. "I'm sure his exchange is open. Call his number. See what they tell you."

Greg nodded then went off to make the call while Susan turned her attention to caring for Melody.

Matt came back upstairs while Greg was on the phone and stood listening to what he told the person on the other end.

"Yes, I'll wait for his call. Thank you," Greg said and he hung up the phone.

"Melody has a fever of a hundred and six?" Matt asked in alarm.

"That's what your mother said. She's given her Tylenol and is giving her a sponge bath now," Greg said.

Matt winced. "I used to hate those."

"Jessie does too," Greg said, thinking back to when Jessie was their youngest daughter and it was she who was sick.

He was about to say something more about it when the phone rang. It was Shelly who heard Melody was ill via Zack, who was at Kelly's house, taking her home.

"We don't know yet, Shelly. We have a call in to the doctor now," Greg told her.

"I'm so sorry Susan is missing her birthday dinner out," Shelly said. "It sounded like a really special place you had planned to go."

"It is a favorite of hers from childhood. I was introduced to it by her parents years ago," Greg said. "I'd love to tell you more about it sometime, but as I've said, we are waiting for a call."

"I'll let you go," Shelly told him. "Just let us know if there is anything we can do to help."

"We will," Greg promised and he hung up the phone.

"What do we do while we wait?" Matt wondered.

"I don't know, Matt. I never know what to do in these situations," Greg told him.

Taking the phone with him, Greg carried it back towards Melody's room where he and Matt stood helplessly in the hallway watching Susan bathe her. Melody didn't look happy about it, but she never said a word. Nor did she struggle against what Susan was doing.