Between Boundaries

Chapter 5

Trevor came back downstairs, into the living room with the thermometer in his hand.

When he got back into the living room, he saw Sierra cuddling with the pillow.

Sierra looked at him and began to sit up on the couch.

"Hey, sweet pea... Can you hand me that journal right there on the coffee table?" Trevor said as he was now sitting right beside her.

Sierra saw the brown journal that was on the coffee table.

She picked it up.

"Is this it, Daddy?" Sierra said as she was now handing the journal to him, shaking nervously.

Trevor reached his hand out as she was giving the notebook to him.

He took it, with gentle gratitude.

He opened the notebook to a clean page and got a pen ready to write.

"Okay, sweet pea... Open your mouth. I'm going to put this thermometer in." Trevor said as Sierra silently opened her mouth and he placed the thermometer in.

He pressed the button and the thermometer began to start recording the young girl's temperature.

The scientist watched in concern as his daughter's temperature was beginning to rise, insignificantly.

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100.2 degrees.

The thermometer beeped three times.

Trevor took the thermometer out of Sierra's mouth.

"Very good, sweet pea." He said, praising her for being calm the whole entire time.

He now turned to look at the thermometer.

100.2. A human body's temperature can't go above 105 degrees. Still raises the question as to when I came back into the living room, why was Sierra cuddling with a pillow? Was she trying to find a cool spot to help her cool down? Maybe. Though...Why do the bad things happen to Sierra and not to me? *Sighs* I guess I'll never know. Sierra has been so hesitant lately. Is it something she isn't telling me? Is she... Afraid of me? Is she afraid that I'll get mad at her and not believe her? I would never do that. She is my baby girl and I'm going to keep that promise that I made to Layla. I am going to take care of her and always be by her side. Trevor said to himself as he wrote down the temperature and the date, which is June 19th.

He then looked back at Sierra.

"Sweet pea, you're burning up. Perhaps I should stay home today and take care of you." Trevor said as he sat back down beside her on the couch.

"But, D... Daddy... You have a class to teach today..." Sierra said, remembering that Trevor had a weekday and a weekend class to teach.

Trevor smiled at his clever little girl.

"I'll tell you what, sweet pea... You and your friends can go to the museum today and do research on what you need to do it on while I'm at the University, teaching the students. Once you're done, you girls can either come back here and wait for me to come back or y'all can head over to the university and go to my classroom. How does that sound?" He said as he gave Sierra some options.

Sierra looked at him, a little bit confused.

"Sure. My friends and I will go to the museum, do some research and then after that, come to the university but, I still have one question..." She said, deciding the best plan for her and her friends to follow.

Trevor looked at her, in confusion.

"What is it, sweet pea?" He said, in response.

"How are we going to get in contact with my two friends?" Sierra asked, curious but concerned.

She was worried that her friends ditched her for someone else or that they forgot about her.

Trevor chuckled and looked in the direction of the telephone that was near his lounge chair, on a wooden table.

"Don't worry, sweet pea. I have their numbers written down in a little black book, near the phone. Now... You go to the kitchen and get cooled down with ice water. After that, you can go upstairs and get dressed while I call your friends. Is that okay, sweet pea?" He said as he looked back at her, with a smile.

Sierra looked at him and smiled.

"That sounds great, Dad and thanks for being concerned about me." She said as she got up off of the couch and was about to head into the kitchen.

Trevor looked at her and smiled.

"You're welcome, sweet pea. Anything for you." He said as he watched her go into the kitchen.

Just after Sierra went into the kitchen, Trevor opened the little black book up, unhooked the phone and began to call the two numbers.

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30 minutes later...

Sierra came downstairs, wearing a gray t-shirt, skinny jeans and her gray and black tennis shoes.

She was beginning to feel much better.

When Sierra got into the living room, she saw that Trevor was sitting in his chair, near the phone.

He looked over and saw his little girl dressed up in comfortable clothing.

"Hey, sweet pea. Welcome back." Trevor said as he got up and walked over to where Sierra was standing.

Sierra blushed red.

"Aww. Thanks, Daddy." She said as the two were now embracing each other, in a family hug.

He looked at her and smiled.

"You're welcome, sweet pea." Trevor said as the two were hugging each other.

As they were hugging, the doorbell began to ring.

Twice.

Trevor pulled out of the hug.

"Daddy, did I do something wrong?" Sierra asked, worried.

Trevor smiled at his little girl.

"No, sweet pea. You didn't do nothing wrong. Someone's here. I'll be right back, okay?" He said as he was about to head over to the door.

Sierra smiled and nodded her head yes.

Trevor began to walk over to the door.

Sierra was standing right behind him.

Why is Dad hiding things from me? Who's at the door? Is it my friends? I hope so. She said to herself as she crossed her arms and stood there, peeking her head from behind her father.

Sierra hoped and prayed.