All My Tomorrows

  Again, Skylar just nodded her head and snuggled deeper into Billie's neck.

  "Billie, why don't you bring her inside and put her to bed? I'll get a couple of children's pain relievers from the medicine cabinet and bring them up to her, right after I call her pediatrician," Cat said.

  Billie carried Skylar to her room and stripped the little girl of her shoes and jeans, leaving her socks and T-shirt on. She tucked her into bed and pulled the covers up under her arms. Billie kissed her on the forehead and once again, frowned at the heat radiating from her daughter's skin.

  "Baby girl," Billie said, running the back of her hand across Skylar's forehead. "You feel hot, honey. Does it hurt anywhere?" she asked.

  As before, Skylar just shook her head 'no', then yawned broadly while fighting to keep her eyes open.

  Moments later, Cat entered the room with two chewable pain relievers and a glass of water. She approached the opposite side of the bed from Billie and sat down. "Here, sweetie," she said to the child, placing a hand on the child's back to help her sit, while her clinical mind, tempered by years of medical training, registered the intensity of heat she could feel through Skylar's T-shirt.

  Skylar took the tablets from her mother's hand and chewed them, then drank the glass of water. Both mothers tucked her in and then sat with her while she drifted off to sleep.

  Billie looked at Cat. "What did the doctor say?" she asked.

  "He said just what I expected him to, that children will run fevers for no reason at all. If she's still sick tomorrow, we need to bring her in," Cat replied.

  "You're a doctor, Cat. What do you think is wrong with her?" Billie asked worriedly while she stroked the hair from Skylar's forehead.

  Cat hated to be put in this position. She completely understood why most doctors preferred not to treat family members. She was so afraid of making a bad diagnosis and having her loved one harmed or to suffer because of it.

  "It's hard to tell, Billie. The doctor is right. It could be anything from an ear infection, to cutting her molars. If the fever is still there tomorrow, we'll have her looked at," Cat explained again.

  "Okay," Billie replied.

  "Come on, she's asleep," Cat said.

  She kissed Skylar's cheek then rose from the bed and followed Billie out of the room.